Coach Rey: My estimate is that fewer than half of kids in afterschool chess programs learn how to play legal chess! Why? Because most instruction starts with straight memorization of how the pieces move. That works for some, but a lot of kids forget the little they learned between classes, and they get turned off before chess proves its value. I guarantee you that most chess teachers have seen this scenario play out.

My partner (“Coach Mac”) has developed a simple strategy game--two wizards have to catch a baby dragon without getting torched--that teaches chess. Again, this is a big deal because, while kids can’t play chess right away, they can play Dragon Tag right away... and Dragon Tag teaches them chess!

And guess what? Not surprisingly, on average, kids who learn with this fun, problem-solving approach learn faster and play better than kids who start with piece movement memorization. Our first wave of “Dragon Tag Kids” is already crushing it in local and national tournaments.