(PHOENIX, Ariz., May 11, 2004)—Attention chess enthusiasts: Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the first ever chess class offered this summer at Phoenix College. This class is designed for beginners to chess novices, but everyone is welcome to register for this three-week summer class from July 12 to July 29, 2004. The only requirement is that participants have FUN while trying to improve their chess game.

Facilitating Phoenix College’s chess class is Dave Small who has played chess for the past 55 years. According to Small, chess is the oldest known game and has many proven benefits. Some of the benefits of chess include memory improvement, pattern recognition, concentration and focus, math and problem solving skills and successful planning tactics. As a medium spanning all cultures and languages, chess also provides opportunities to meet and compete with people from throughout the world.

The Phoenix College summer chess class will discuss the basic elements of the game, piece movement, chess etiquette, tactics, traps, practical exercises and an overview of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) official rules. For those wishing to join USCF, official USCF National Ratings will be established during the course of the class. USCF players desiring to play rated games are welcome to attend the class.

Small is an ex-military officer with the United States Army, former high school science teacher, retired as a Special Agent with the FBI, and recently retired as the Director of Worldwide Security for Intel Corporation. Small is an active USCF tournament player and USCF tournament director. He is a 2004 Arizona delegate to the USCF and is running for President of the Arizona Chess Federation Inc.

The Phoenix College chess class is three days a week and students can choose from a morning or an evening session. The fee is $85 dollars and students should provide their own regulation chess set and board. Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the length of time the student is in class.

For further information about the Phoenix College chess class, please call (602) 285-7800. To register for the class, call (602) 285-7777 or register through the Phoenix College website, www.phoenixcollege.edu.

###