CT Beau Scarbrough, eighth grader from Fannin Middle School plays chess at the Amarillo Chess Club. That's music to the ears of Gary Simms, a Life Master chess champion, and Brenda Alambar, Scarbrough's teacher at Fannin. Simms and Alambar believe that this deceptively simple game of capturing kings can work wonders on a kid's brain and self-esteem. Playing chess improves critical thinking, cause and effect and prediction. Joshua Dudley, a fifth grader at Humphrey's Highland Elementary plays chess with another student.
Chess is really a struggle between two intellects.
The kids are kind of introverted, it gives them a chance to excel at something and improve their self-esteem. Fannin Middle School teacher Brenda Alambar, left, listens to discover check instructions from Eric Johansen. He is the president of the Amarillo Chess Club. They meet at Amarillo College once a week. In chess, they can learn to control their emotions, their destinies and their thought processes.