The Doorway › Playing games

Chess

The same love, at every age. This door has games for 2 of the four age groups so far.

The ladder

Ages 3–5 Not made yet.
The nearest rung is two up, Ages 9–14: Grains on a Chessboard →
Ages 6–8 Not made yet.
The nearest rung is one up, Ages 9–14: Grains on a Chessboard →
Ages 9–14
- Grains on a ChessboardDouble the grains on each square and count squares
Ages 15–18
- Counting the Game TreeCount chess positions after each move, then estimate the tree

Two rules every rung keeps

The Fade Rule. Every game ends on a plain screen: the same numbers with the chess words gone, so the maths leaves with you.

The Own-Lane Rule. Your numbers are compared only with your own past, never with anyone else's, and they stay on this device.

Problems built on something you love help most when the context carries the maths, not when it decorates it. These ladders are a design, not a promise.

Ask a grown-up tonight: “Which move today surprised you most?”

Grown-ups: Spark & Whetstone has a Chess door too.

Other doors · Your door and your ages