Chess Merit Badge Activity Planner

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Usually the BSA awards nearly twice as many Chess merit badges as Robotics merit badges. In fact, since its introduction in 2011, Chess has consistently ranked among the 25 most popular badges — even beating out Eagle-required badges like Lifesaving.

'Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide for the Chess Merit Badge

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*** Activities for the Youth Lead Patrol ***

Exploring Chess can be a fascinating youth adventure when done right. Here are a few tips to help the patrol leader get started.

  • Scouts may never add or subtract from the actual merit badge requirements
  • This Planner is only a suggestion of different ideas to make working this Merit Badge both fun and easy.
  • While doing the Worksheet is not a requirement for earning this badge, in many cases it can help you learn key concepts and track your progress.
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A. Make Your Plan

 
  1. Merit Badge Activity Planning Tips - 14 tips for a successful patrol activity. Read carefully before you start your plan!
  2. Share Your Plan - Meet ahead of time with your patrol, scout leaders, parents and especially with the Merit Badge Counselor. Make changes to the plan as needed.
  3. Prepare Activity Flyer - Keep your fellow scouts informed - events, activities, pre-requisites and more.
Patrol Activity GREAT Awesome MB to work as a patrol / Max Size 12 scouts
Virtual Field Trip GREAT Require presenter shares Chess in virtual meeting
Family Activity POOR Requires access to Chess Transmitter
Service Activity FAIR Useage in Emergency Preparedness Drills
S.T.E.M. Activity GREAT Learn how to use Modern Digital Technology
Field Trip FAIR Find a remote broadcast location
Duty-to-God POOR N/A
MB Day GREAT But only if you broadcast equipment. Many special Chess MB Day groups abound.
Overnighter GREAT Find a remote broadcast location
Summer Camp GREAT Pre-requisite: Scout Camp has their own broadcast transmitter


Online Resources

B. Introduction Meeting

Most merit badge activities do best to have a "introduction" meeting where the patrol can discuss how to get started and to plan out their field trips. Send out the activity flyer in advance to use as an meeting agenda. Your scouts will then know what to expect.

News Flash

C. Homework / Prerequisites

Assign one or more requirements that the scout can do at home, perhaps as a family activity.


D. Study Hall Patrol Night

While some scouts may be adept at self-study, others may do better in a small group setting and taking notes on worksheets. Make an agenda. You can facilitate discussion by asking them why each of the principles introduced here would be relevant. Schedule one or more patrol meetings to work this merit badge.

MBC Discussion Group

  • Req 1: Discussion - History of Chess
  • Req 2: Discussion - Sportsmanship and Game Benefits


Discussion Resources:

EDGE Demonstration Activity

Req #3: Demonstrate to your counselor that you know each of the following. Then, using Scouting's Teaching EDGE*, teach someone (preferably another Scout) who does not know how to play chess:
a. The name of each chess piece
b. How to set up a chessboard
c. How each chess piece moves, including castling and en passant captures

Chess Moves Demonstration

Req #4: Do the following:
a. Demonstrate scorekeeping using the algebraic system of chess notation.
b. Discuss the differences between the opening, the middle game, and the endgame.
c. Explain four opening principles.
d. Explain the four rules for castling.
e. On a chessboard, demonstrate a "scholar's mate" and a "fool's mate."
f. Demonstrate on a chessboard four ways a chess game can end in a draw.

Checkmate Demonstration Activity

Req #5: Do the following:
a. Explain four of the following elements of chess strategy: exploiting weaknesses, force, king safety, pawn structure, space, tempo, time.
b. Explain any five of these chess tactics: clearance sacrifice, decoy, discovered attack, double attack, fork, interposing, overloading, overprotecting, pin, remove the defender, skewer, zwischenzug.
c. Set up a chessboard with the white king on e1, the white rooks on a1 and h1, and the black king on e5. With White to move first, demonstrate how to force checkmate on the black king.
d. Set up and solve five direct-mate problems provided by your merit badge counselor.

Pre-Open Gathering Activity

A gathering activity before the official meeting start is a great way to set a fun theme for the meeting.

  • Some of the items in Req #3 can be done as a pre-opening
  • Some of the items in Req #4 can be done as a pre-opening
  • Some of the items in Req #5 can be done as a pre-opening (Particularly item 5c or 5d)

E. Field Trip

A related field trip with the MBC will be a great time to do the second half of this merit badge activity:


F. Extra Credit

While none of these are actual requirements for this merit badge - they are terrific opportunities to show Scout Spirit, Do A Good Turn Daily and to have FUN!

  1. Activity Reflection: Use this meeting for scouts to ask questions and to reflect on what they gained personally from this adventure. You can also have a discussion on what future opportunities are here.
  2. Court of Honor Exhibit: Pictures, handiwork and other memorabilia from this adventure will make for a great presentation at the next Scout Troop Court of Honor.


Related Merit Badges

Sometimes it is easier by doing two or more merit badges together as a joint activity:

G. See Also

  • 9 Things to Know about Merit Badges - BoysLife.org - There are more than 135 merit badges. By earning them, you can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers. Here’s how to get the most out of your merit badge experience.
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