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Coach by Questions

Four short lessons for coaching a child who is better at the game than you are: ask what they see, ask before they move, ask after they lose, and let them teach you.

For grown-ups, from what GambitTales teaches children at Spark & Anvil.

  1. Lesson 1Ask what they see
  2. Lesson 2Ask before they move
  3. Lesson 3Ask after they lose
  4. Lesson 4Let them teach you
At the table · A child who plays, and one grown-up

The question coach

You'll need: A chess board, or any strategy game.

  1. Watch a game and ask only one question: "What is your opponent trying to do?"
  2. In the next game, ask before each move: "What could go wrong?"
  3. After the game, ask which moment it turned, and play back to find it together.
  4. Finish by asking them to teach you one idea from the game.

Print the guidebook (all lessons + the table activity) →