Madison chess players can hone skills at chess camp

MADISON – Local chess enthusiasts can broaden their knowledge and savvy for the board with summer camp at Rasberry Chess Academy (RCA).

Madison City Chess League or MCCL members can maintain their game or absorb fresh strategies with these summer sessions. MCCL Executive Director Todd Guthrie posted background information in the league’s recent email newsletter.

Jonathan Rasberry founded Rasberry Chess Academy in 2021 in Montgomery. The academy, a chess education organization, primarily offers after-school classes at local elementary and middle schools but also hosts camps, directs scholastic tournaments and teaches evening classes and private lessons.

The academy believes that chess enhances children’s problem- solving, decision-making, retention of complex concepts and even socializing skills. RCA partners with Montgomery City-County Public Library to bring a free chess club to children across the city; many children don’t have access to a school chess club. The academy strives to bolster the youth’s capabilities by training tomorrow’s thinkers, one move at a time.

Camp will be available during three weeks: June 29 through July 3 in a fun and skill-building camp for all levels; July 13 through July 17; and July 27 through July 31. All camps meet from 9 a.m. to noon at Young Meadows Presbyterian Church, 5780 Vaughn Road in Montgomery.

The camp offers instruction and practice in three different categories:

• New to chess – Learn how the pieces move, explore checkmates and build a solid foundation in basic strategy. Best suited for four- through sevenyear- olds.

• Intro to competition — Move beyond the basics with opening strategies, tactical patterns and tournament skills, like notation and clock usage.

• Advanced competition –Dive into middle-game strategy, solve challenging puzzles and learn key theoretical endgames. Campers must have U.S. Chess Federation rating.

Camp fee is $210. Parents will receive $40 off for additional children, along with $40 off for extra weeks.

Rasberry graduated from Troy University with a master’s degree in accounting. He worked as a licensed CPA until jumping into chess. When not working in chess, he loves playing with his son, reading and playing tennis or golf.

Jonathan has a passion for chess and the benefits it brings to young minds who pursue it. He will continue growing chess, especially scholastic chess.

For more information, visit rasberrychess.com/camps.