All the king’s men

Deirdre Newman

There comes a time in children’s lives when they outgrow their

parents’ expertise. For some, it’s math when they reach algebra; for

others, it’s science when they start performing complex chemical

equations.

For Julian Beach, it was chess.

Julian, 11, started playing with his parents when he was 7. After a

few years, though, he had progressed to the point where his father felt

like he could not teach him anymore. So he brought Julian to the Orange

County Chess Academy in Costa Mesa.

That’s where he met Matthew Beelby, who has earned the accolades of

senior master, life master and internationally ranked master. Beelby has

been imparting chess wisdom out of a church in Costa Mesa for the past

three years, attracting a devoted following of chess aficionados, some as

young as 8.

At the academy, the young students are surrounded by peers who are as

passionate about chess as they are about learning lifelong skills that

can be applied in more places than on a board.

“Chess is about looking at your choices,” Beelby said. “We don’t have

to believe we’re limited. If we have the willpower and self-discipline,

we can recognize and carry them out.”

Beelby -- the academy’s equivalent of Yoda -- began the academy three

years ago with about three students. Now he teaches 12 to 14.

He doles out new strategies, different ways to think about the game.

He also shows them games played by chess masters to illustrate strategies

and gives his students homework and projects to work on during the week.

He starts his students in a group setting to polish their basic skills

and then works with them individually when they are ready.

His best advice? Always have a plan.

On a recent weekday evening, seated at two tables in the dining room

area of the house, the students were engaged in heated games of timed

chess, laughing and chiding each other as they moved their pieces around

the board.

Immersed in one game were William Tsai, 8, and Sherman Lau, 11. As

they scoured the board and moved their pawns and bishops around, they

discussed their strategies.

“I know what he could do,” Sherman said. “I’m building off his best

[potential] moves, predicting his plan, trying my plan.”

“He’s thinking he has the advantage because he has more pieces,”

William said. “I don’t have a plan. I’m trying to come up with a plan.”

At another table, Francis Chen, 11, was involved in a bitter

competition with Frank Plochan, 43 -- the only adult in the group, who

says he comes to test his mettle against Beelby’s sharp proteges.

“Francis is so tough -- he turns all my adult students into raw meat,”

Beelby joked.

Many of Beelby’s students display such mastery of the game that they

make strong showings in chess competitions. William, who started playing

chess last fall, took ninth place in his first tournament.

“It doesn’t give him credit because he got the same score as someone

who got third,” Beelby said.

Julian has won almost 35 trophies in the three or so years he has been

studying with Beelby. His father credits Beelby with keeping the chess

flame burning inside his son.

“He’s improved a lot,” Chris Beach said. “His understanding of the

game is much better. [Beelby] is inspirational, as well as technical.”

More important than the trophies though, are the intangible rewards of

chess, said Beelby -- the critical-thinking skills that students gain

from playing.

“It makes science easier to predict things,” Sherman said. “It also

helps in instrument practice . . . Normally with most instruments, you

need to see what note comes next or else you will miss it.”

Playing in a group setting also has an effect on the students’

personalities, Beelby said, reminiscing about the difficulties he

experienced as a child grappling with a severe case of shyness.

“Francis reminds me a lot of myself,” Beelby said. “You have to deal

with people. It took effort in learning how to deal with groups.”

As the parents come to retrieve their kids, there is a palpable

feeling of dismay in the room -- many of the students find it difficult

to tear themselves away. Sherman and William must end their game before

someone declares “checkmate.”

“My favorite thing is playing chess,” Sherman said. “I feel like if I

had more time I could have won.”

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .