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Chess on the Loose

Chess on the Loose

2 players • 45 min • 8 & up

Focus: Strategy

Regular price $25.00
Regular price $32.00 Sale price $25.00
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This monstrous twist on traditional chess will test your ability to strategize and make winning decisions. Three variations of the game bump up the fun factor on basic chess. Comes with a full chess set and additional cards and tokens.

Skills: Strategy, Decision Making

Game Includes

  • 1 Game Board
  • 32 Plastic chess pieces
  • 1 Frankencheck monster
  • 28 Frankencheck Cards
  • 8 Treasure Tiles
  • 1 Checkmate Tile
  • 2 Dice
  • 20 UFO battery letter Tokens
  • 6 extra chess pieces
  • Rules Booklet

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How to Play

Discover three new ways to enjoy the classic game of chess! First, Frankencheck is loose on the board and is under nobody's control. Second, search for treasure in the center of the board. Third, find batteries that let you control UFO's and gain the advantage.

Educational Standards

Core Standard*: Math

Math
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Generate and analyze patterns. Grade Level 4th
Analyze patterns and relationships. Grade Level 5th
Mathematical Practice
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Grade Levels 3rd and up
Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Grade Levels 3rd and up
Attend to precision. Grade Levels 3rd and up
Look for and make use of structure. Grade Levels 3rd and up
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. Grade Levels 3rd and up

Skills

Explore

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players examine pieces for curves, dead ends and other pathways.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Parents can support children by encouraging them to look at all of the chess pieces on the board, not just the ones that are closest; at the openings on the board that would allow opponents pieces to move freely; and at the location of pieces that are unique to each variation (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!).

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Playing Chess on the Loose helps children develop spatial reasoning skills, planning, strategic thinking and perspective changing. Educators can support children by encouraging them to look at all of the chess pieces on the board, not just the ones that are closest; at the openings on the board that would allow opponents pieces to move freely; and at the location of pieces that are unique to each variation (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!).

Determine

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Chess requires a high level of determining, as do all the variations of Chess on the Loose, as players examine the board and arrangement of pieces in order to decide what possible moves they can make.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess involves examining the board and creating mental models of the consequences of moving different pieces. When first learning to play, players will think about consequences of the immediate move. As they become more proficient, children will think about multiple moves ahead in order to evaluate what piece would be best to move on their turn. Treasure Chessed!: Encourage children to keep track of their score and think about how many other points are potentially available. This will help them decide whether to continue going for treasure or to try to avoid negative point treasure.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess involves examining the board and creating mental models of the consequences of moving different pieces. When first learning to play, players will think about consequences of the immediate move. As they become more proficient, children will think about multiple moves ahead in order to evaluate what piece would be best to move on their turn. In addition to determining where to move a piece on a turn, children need to determine what type of strategic approach, offensive or defensive, to use during the game. Educators can encourage children to discuss their options and to declare whether they want to make an offensive (try to take another's piece, capture a Treasure or spell a word in U.F.O. Spell Check) or defensive (try to protect the King or block opponent from landing on Treasures) move prior to placing a piece on the board. Treasure Chessed!: Encourage children to keep track of their score and think about how many other points are potentially available. This will help them decide whether to continue going for treasure or to try to avoid negative point treasure.

Compare

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Like determine, chess requires a high level of comparing. Players will create mental models of the outcomes for moving different pieces. Based on those models, they will compare to determine the best move. U.F.O. Spell Check: In this variation, children will compare the letter tiles with a mental image of the word in order to obtain the correct letters.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
To help children evaluate different options, encourage them to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help them spend time considering different moves and the consequences of those moves, which is needed for making comparisons of move options. This will also help with impulsivity and planning. Using such verbal cues can give children a model for approaching future play.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Making mental models of a space and movement in Chess on the Loose is an advanced, complex cognitive skill that supports learning spatial relations, pattern recognition and creative problem solving. To help children evaluate different options, encourage them to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help them spend time considering different moves and the consequences of those moves, which is needed for making comparisons of move options. This will also help with impulsivity and planning. Using such verbal cues can give children a model for approaching future play. U.F.O. Spell Check: To help younger children match correctly, spell out the different possible words (Rook, Bishop and Knight) on paper.

Remember

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players may remember moves from prior games that were successful or not.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Adults can remind children of similar situations from prior games and what happened when a player moved a particular piece. Treasure Chessed!: Remind children that there are two ways to end the game. If they think that their opponent is getting close to checkmate, suggest that the child try to get all the treasures off the board. This will prevent the opponent from gaining 50 points for checkmate.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Adults can remind children of similar situations from prior games and what happened when a player moved a particular piece. Treasure Chessed!: Remind children that there are two ways to end the game. If they think that their opponent is getting close to checkmate, suggest that the child try to get all the treasures off the board. This will prevent the opponent from gaining 50 points for checkmate.

Predict

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Prediction is essential to chess, as players are consistently thinking about what their opponent might do in response to their move. Frankencheck: This variation introduces a new element of surprise that can alter a player's predictions. A player may reasonably think an opponent will move in a certain way. But, Frankencheck may take a piece or move into a location that makes the opponent move differently than as predicted.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess is one of the greatest strategy games. Strategies are built based on identifying numerous move options and the risk/reward for each option. Additionally, players can decide to be more offensive or defensive, and change these approaches throughout the game. To help children predict, ask them to share different moves they are considering and what they think an opponent might move in response. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning. Frankencheck: The Frankencheck Monster adds an element of surprise that requires children to react to the Monster's actions. This type of reaction helps children learn adaptive thinking skills and creative problem-solving. Also, surprise is a great motivator, propelling children to try new things and to play again.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess is one of the greatest strategy games. Strategies are built based on identifying numerous move options and the risk/reward for each option. Additionally, players can decide to be more offensive or defensive, and change these approaches throughout the game. Predicting involves skills like analysis, observation, empathy and interpretation. Also, children need to learn how to change perspective, imagining being their opponent, in order to have optimal predicting skills. Educators can prompt children to practice predicting by asking them to share what opportunities they see on the board, different moves they are considering and what they think an opponent might move in response. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning. Frankencheck: The Frankencheck Monster adds an element of surprise that requires children to react to the Monster's actions. This type of reaction helps children learn adaptive thinking skills and creative problem-solving. Also, surprise is a great motivator, propelling children to try new things and to play again.

Plan

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Like prediction, planning is essential to the game as players think about future moves and how to make choices on their current turn that help advance their strategy on future turns. The variations in Chess on the Loose introduce entirely new goals for chess, thereby, engaging players to combine the planning from traditional chess with that of the new elements from Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!

How Parents Can Assist Learning
For each of the variations, encourage the children to discuss the goal for the game and how they might play their pieces to reach the goal. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning. To help children plan their next move(s) encourage them to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help them spend time considering different moves and the consequences of those moves, which is needed for making comparisons of move options. This will also help with impulsivity and planning. Using such verbal cues can give children a model for approaching future play.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Planning is an important skill for developing strategic thinking, persistence and reaching a goal. For each of the variations, encourage the children to discuss the goal for the game and how they might play their pieces to reach the goal. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning.

Experiment

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players can experiment with different approaches to winning the game, adopting offensive strategies, defensive strategies, as well as feints, traps and other tactics.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for experimenting with strategy and tactics. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for experimenting with strategy and tactics. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Practice

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players will increase proficiency the more they play Chess on the Loose.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) have almost unlimited levels of mastery. Therefore, the more children play the more capable they will be in developing and executing increasingly sophisticated strategies. Also, as they become proficient, they will be able to teach others. Teaching others demonstrates mastery, the final stage of learning, and is wonderful for building self-esteem, confidence and intrinsic motivation.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) have almost unlimited levels of mastery. Therefore, the more children play the more capable they will be in developing and executing increasingly sophisticated strategies. Also, as they become proficient, they will be able to teach others. Teaching others demonstrates mastery, the final stage of learning, and is wonderful for building self-esteem, confidence and intrinsic motivation.

Solve

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players solve the game by either checkmating an opponent (traditional chess and Frankencheck), gaining the most points (Treasure Chessed!) or spelling a word first (U.F.O Spell Check).

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess and all the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for trying different strategies to win. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages. Once children understand different strategies, they can shift and adapt strategies within a game.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess and all the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for trying different strategies to win. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages. Once children understand different strategies, they can shift and adapt strategies within a game.

Review

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players will often reflect back on choices they made.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
When a child moves a piece and an opponent responds in an unexpected way, ask the child to share how they decided to make their prior move. Help the child examine their thinking, identifying areas where they may be able to consider options and potential consequences more thoroughly on future turns.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
When a child moves a piece and an opponent responds in an unexpected way, ask the child to share how they decided to make their prior move. Help the child examine their thinking, identifying areas where they may be able to consider options and potential consequences more thoroughly on future turns.

Demonstrate

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players may demonstrate if encouraged. See Implications for Learning and Adult Support.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
During or after the game, discuss moves and what worked and did not work as expected.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
During or after the game, discuss moves and what worked and did not work as expected.


*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards

Special Needs

Cognitive

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: Have the child with cognitive delays be a third player, i.e. they get to be Frankencheck. On each play of the game, this player draws a card and moves toward whichever player they want. After they capture a piece (ex: white pawn),they need to pursue the other player's pieces (ex: black). After they capture a black, they switche back to pursuing white. And so on.
Treasure Chessed: Remove the -20 token. This will make it easier for children with cognitive delays who may not be able to use the same reasoning ability as other players, who incorporate knowledge of what they have drawn in tokens and what is left on the board into their strategy. For example, if a player has drawn several tokens with many points on them, this player may avoid getting more tokens in order to avoid getting the -20. The child with cognitive delays who is in the same position may not think of the hidden -20 token and keep trying to get them. For this reason, removing the -20 token evens the playing field a little.
UFO Spell Check: To make the game easier for children with cognitive delays, start with finding just one word. Add a second, then a third.

Communication

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: The Frankencheck player can add an element of drama by using various spooky or silly voices, as well as announcing where they are going, what they are going to do to the piece, etc. For example, "I'm hungry. Want to eat pawn."
Treasure Chessed: Use the treasure chests as "bribes" to keep your opponent from taking one of your pieces or a treasure chest. For example, "I'll give you two treasure chests if you don't take my bishop."
UFO Spell Check: After a child successfully obtains tiles to spell a word, make up a story together inspired by the word or the piece related to the word. For example, if the word is "Knight" you might make up a story about knights, dragons and castles or a story about horses, the wild west and cowboys because the knight piece looks like a horse.

Sensorimotor

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: Play in teams. The child with sensorimotor issues helps think about strategy and decide on moves to make. The other teammate can move the pieces on the board.
Treasure Chessed: Play in teams. The child with sensorimotor issues helps think about strategy and decide on moves to make. The other teammate can move the pieces on the board.
UFO Spell Check: Play in teams. The child with sensorimotor issues helps think about strategy and decide on moves to make. The other teammate can move the pieces on the board.

Social Emotional/Behavioral

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: Play the game as a team. This allows discussion of moves and strategy. This will be helpful for players to think about future moves or the other player's potential moves. Two heads are better than one!
Treasure Chessed: Losing 20 points could potentially make some children frustrated and make the game less fun. Remove the -20 token for children with low frustration tolerance. Also, play in teams for learning the game, pairing children of different skill and temperaments.
UFO Spell Check: Play the game as a team. This allows discussion of moves and strategy. This will be helpful for players to think about future moves or the other player's potential moves. Two heads are better than one!

Vision

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Not recommended for children with low vision.

Hearing

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
No modifications needed.

*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards

Autism

If your child likes playing chess or is learning to play chess, Chess on the Loose may be a fun addition to motivate continued play. Children with autism often have good visual spatial reasoning and chess may be a preferred game. Like in regular chess children who can visualize the results of moves and think about options for their next turns will do well. The four options in Chess on the Loose provide variations that may appeal to the interests of the child. Frankencheck appeals to children who are interested in monsters or action figures. Treasure Chessed may appeal to children who like numbers and math, and U.F.O. Spell Check may interest children who like letters and figuring out words.

Autism Strengths & Interests

Short Summary of Strengths & Interests

  • Is interested in or good at chess
  • Is good at strategy and spatial problem solving
  • Likes patterns and visualization

Is good at matching visual items

This game is not appropriate

Has a good memory for sensory details, including visual, touch, taste and smell

This game is not appropriate

Has a good memory for words, phrases and dialouge

This game is not appropriate

Has a good memory for pictures, numbers and patterns

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Like checkers or traditional chess, the more you play Chess on the Loose the more easily you can see the patterns of the pieces. Children who are good at patterning games and spatial reasoning will be able to use and sharpen that ability playing Chess on the Loose.

Likes to put things in order or a sequence

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Chess on the Loose involves sophisticated sequencing skills, as players predict what will happen on subsequent turns in order to decide how to move on their current turn. Children who are strong at logic, patterning and examining sequential options will uses those skills playing any of the Chess on the Loose variations.

Learns through visualizing or "replaying" actions in their mind

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
If your child likes playing chess or is learning to play chess, Chess on the Loose may be a fun addition to motivate continued play. Children with autism often have good visual spatial reasoning and chess may be a preferred game. As in regular chess, children who can visualize the results of moves and think about options in next turns will do well.

Likes activities with rules, such as math and phonics

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Chess on the Loose is governed by very specific rules of how the different pieces can move and when. Additionally, the variations of Treasure Chessed and U.F.O Spell Check introduced math and spelling features and rules. Therefore, children who enjoy understanding and playing according to the rules may like Chess on the Loose.

Is very concrete and literal

This game is not appropriate

Learns in small "chunks" (for example, phone numbers are 3 chunks of number xxx-xxx-xxxx that are combined together)

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Some children are strong in learning by "chunks," e.g. they assemble information into a single concept and then combine that with other concepts to create and/or remember something more complex. In Chess on the Loose, players learn to chunk over time. In the beginning, they learn how different pieces move and how they affect other pieces. As players progress, they learn simple sequences of moves or patterns which can be combined together to create more strategic approaches to the game.

Is good at nonverbal reasoning and logic

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
No verbal reasoning is required to play Chess on the Loose. Rather, players demonstrate their thinking by moving their pieces. Children with autism who are strong at logic, patterning and examining sequential options will uses those skills playing any of the Chess on the Loose variations, and they will not need to verbalize their rationale.

Likes spatial problem solving

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Like checkers or traditional chess, the more you play Chess on the Loose the more easily you can see the patterns of the pieces and recognize the move options for yourself and the opponent. Children with autism who are strong at logic, patterning and examining sequential options will use those skills playing any of the Chess on the Loose variations.

Can read well with good vocabulary, though may not fully comprehend content

This game is not appropriate

Likes to use and has good fine motor skill

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Some children with autism like fine motor activities like playing with building toys and games with small pieces. When playing Chess on the Loose, players need to be able to move pieces to the desired location. Thus, children with good dexterity will display their skills playing this game.

Likes established routines or set ways of doing things

This game is not appropriate

Likes manipulating, constructing or building things

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Some children with autism like fine motor activities like playing with building toys and games with small pieces. When playing Chess on the Loose, players need to be able to move pieces to the desired location. Thus, children with good dexterity will display their skills playing this game.

Likes to use and has good musical abilities

This game is not appropriate

Likes to use and has good drawing skills

This game is not appropriate


Autism Special Considerations

Appears to ignore other's communication and/or has difficulty giving eye contact to a communication partner

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Look at the game instead of each other. Eye contact is not required for the game.

Has difficulty understanding complex verbal directions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Break down directions into small steps. Don't go through all the directions at once.Combine short verbal instructions with visual and physical examples of each step.Use photos to illustrate what needs to be done. These can be taken ahead of time. The combination of pictures and actions reinforces learning the steps. Also, take pictures during the game for use in later discussions about the game and what happened.
Use hand-over hand guidance if needed, so children feel the actions as the directions are being given. This helps develop the child's memory for the correct movements. Gradually reduce the support as the game is learned.Check for comprehension by asking the child to show you what to do next.
Let children read the directions as they are explained. Visualizing the words is often a stronger learning method for children with autism.Directions for all levels of the games are complex. If the child has difficulty with complex directions, the Chess on the Loose may not be appropriate.

Uses vocabulary inaccurately or demonstrates echolalia (repeating another's speech)

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Respond to immediate echolalia (repeating what was just said) by rephrasing the child's response into a correct format, so the child can hear and repeat that phrase. For example, assume you are playing with a child named Andy and you say, "Your turn," and Andy repeats, "Your turn." You can say, "It's Andy's turn. You say, my turn." This allows the child to hear and repeat the correct response. Eventually, the child will pick up the pattern of response.
Delayed echolalia (repetition of previously heard comments) may have a hidden meaning or association. Look for connection in the phrase used to the current situation. For example, the child says, "After these messages we'll be right back!" Think what the repeated phrase is associated with for the child. Try to interpret what is meant and rephrase it for the child. For example, you might respond by saying, "It sounds like you want a break for a few minutes. Is that what you mean? You can tell me, 'I need a break.'"

Gets stuck repeating a verbal topic or physical actions and/or has difficulty attending to others' actions or topic.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
All games in Chess on the Loose require attention to the other players moves and thinking. Children need to be able to anticipate what move the other player will make next. If this is an issue for the child, the game is probably not appropriate.

Has difficulty producing speech/communication

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Use augmentative communication, such as picture cards. For example, a picture of person pointing to another person means "your turn."
Use gestures and sign language to illustrate actions or concepts. For example, use the sign for 'finished' (two hands facing down, spread out from the middle of the body), point to the next player and say, "I'm done. It's your turn." The signs and gestures add a visual component to support understanding.

Has difficulty sequencing multi-step actions and/or doing complex abstract tasks

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Chess on the Loose and all the variations in the game require complex abstract thinking. Children have to be able to think several steps ahead, both for themselves and the other player.

Demonstrates difficulty initiating and maintaining social interactions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Develop a social story to be read at the start of a game. A social story is a short booklet that illustrates how a child can use positive social skills. It includes two to five descriptive statements and a directive statement. For example: "When I watch others, I will know when it is my turn. Others like me when I take turns. I will watch what others do with their pieces and listen to what they say. Others like it when I talk about the game." Add photos or drawings of the child doing the actions described in the story.
Role play social situations and reinforce appropriate words and actions. For example, role play someone blocking a road and what you might say to him/her, "You blocked my road!
Use video feedback of positive social behaviors. Video of actual play enables children to see what they or others did. Appropriate actions and interactions can then be discussed.Chess on the Loose does not require much social interaction, but if children can play the game, there are many opportunities for discussion of moves.

Acts out or demonstrates avoidance behaviors when frustrated, overwhelmed, or needs more sensory input.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Reduce extraneous noise or allow the child to wear head phones or ear plugs if loud sounds cause anxiety.A weighted vest worn during the game may provide additional pressure input and thus reduce fidgeting due to sensory needs. Pressure can be calming when used for no more than 20 minutes at a time.Practice a phrase to ask for help and role play situations in the game where it is needed.
Provide techniques for self-calming, such as holding a special toy.
Allow time for movement. For example, a child who needs to move frequently can be given an opportunity to 'celebrate' his/her turn by running around the table or jumping up and down 10 times.

Has short attention span for non-preferred activities

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification?

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Chess on the Loose requires focused attention. If the child does not like visual spatial games requiring concentration, this game may not be appropriate.

Needs sameness or consistent routines and/or has difficulty with transitions from one activity to another

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Play games at the same time every day, so the child anticipates the game routine.Change the location of the game, so the child may play in different rooms, at the table, or on the floor. This will build tolerance for variation.Prepare the child ahead time for the introduction of a new game. Talk about aspects that will be motivating for the child, and let them explore the parts of the game before setting out the whole game.Provide a structure for placement of game pieces that can be the same each time the game is played. For example, have a specific location for where the board goes, the pieces, etc.
Provide choices for how the child can be involved in set up or clean up. For example, you might ask, "Do you want to make three or four piles of tiles here?"Use an object cue. Let the child hold an object from the game or activity you want to introduce prior to the transition. For example, if you were intending to play Bypass you would hand the child road cone and say, "Look here is a road cone? What game does it go with?"

Has difficulty understanding others' feelings, intentions, and the reasons for others' actions.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification?

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Success with Chess on the Loose requires understanding the other player's intentions. Children who have difficulty with this may find the game frustrating.

*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards

Extended Play

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Frankencheck: An expansion for Frankencheck is to play with 3 players. One player is Frankencheck. Use a die instead of the cards. When Frankencheck throws the die they can move in any direction the number of spaces on the die. For example, if Frankencheck throws a 5, they could go 4+1, 3 + 2, etc. in any direction to capture a player. Frankencheck must alternate between going after white and black pieces.

Materials Needed
Add one die.

Developmental Benefits
This variation allows three players to play and involves some simple strategy on the part of Frankencheck.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Treasure Chested: Experiment with placing the treasure chests in different locations on the board, as long as they are equally distributed from both sides.

Materials Needed
No additional materials are needed.

Developmental Benefits
Depending on where the treasures are located, players will use different pieces and strategies to get them.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
UFO Spell Check: Turn over the tokens so the battery side is exposed. Players now have to find the letters without seeing them. With they exception of the letter O, players can only pick up one of each type of letter tile.

Materials Needed
No additional materials are needed.

Developmental Benefits
By not seeing the letters, a random element is added to the game and players will need to try to capture as many tiles as they can without regard to location.

*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards

Collapsible content

How to Play Video & Transcript

Hi! And welcome to Simply Fun’s on-line School of Play-ology!

In today’s session, we’ll share with you our simplyfunified version of chess, Chess on the Loose. Although the object of the game is the same as it has been for hundreds of years – capture your opponent’s King -- Chess on the Loose is no ordinary chess game. Simply Fun’s three variations on the classic game of strategy take chess to a new and very fun level!

Chess on the Loose is for players ages 8 and up and, like classic chess, is played with 2 players. Each game takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Every Chess on the Loose box comes with:

• The standard pieces and board for classic chess but also include pieces for 3 other games built around chess:

For newcomers to chess, we include instructions in the Chess on the Loose box for the fundamentals of classic chess play, including board set up, how to move pieces, special moves and how to win.

But for now, let’s talk about what happens when Chess goes on the LOOSE!

Chess on the Loose adds three optional variations to the classic game of chess:

1. Bring a fiendish friend to the party by adding the Frankencheck piece to the board in Frankencheck

2. Dig for treasures and uncover special points in Treasure Chessed. OR,

3. Win UFO Spell Check by collecting letters, spelling the names of chess pieces, and adding those bonus pieces to the board.

You may never want to play chess the same again!

Let’s take a look at how to play – and win – the individual variations.

With Frankencheck, set up the board like you’re starting a regular chess game. You’ll need the Frankencheck monster piece and the 28 Frankencheck cards to play.

Shuffle the cards and lay them next to the board, face down. Then place Frankencheck on the board in the direction shown.

Just like regular chess, each player takes turns and tries to checkmate your opponent, BUT, in addition, after each player moves, the Frankencheck pawn takes a turn! Draw a card from the deck and move Frankencheck according to instructions. Sometimes he’ll move straight ahead. Other times he’ll turn and walk. Sometimes he won’t move at all. But wherever he moves, if there’s a piece on the square, Frankencheck captures it and it’s off the board!

The Frankencheck game ends when one player checkmates the other, OR when Frankencheck grabs someone’s King. Either way, the surviving player is the winner.

In Treasure Chessed, you also set up the board like you’re starting a regular chess game, only this time, you load the center of the board with buried treasure.

Place 8 random treasure chest tiles, chest side up, as shown on the center squares. Place the “Checkmate! 50 Points” token and the 2 dice next to the board.

In Treasure Chessed, the winner is the player who collects the most points during the game.

Begin taking regular turns. When you move a piece on top of a treasure tile, your turn is over. On the next turn, though, you have three options:

1. Continue to move the piece off the tile

2. Move a different piece, OR

3. Spend your turn “digging for treasure” by rolling the dice

If you roll less than 7, you must wait till your next turn to dig again. If you roll 7 or higher, you may claim your treasure by taking the tile off the board Be careful and don’t show your opponent the points as you want to keep your points hidden until the end of the game.

Treasure Chessed ends when one player checkmates the other and collects the Checkmate marker, OR the last treasure is dug up. Both players then add up their points to see who Chessed the Treasure!

For our third game we use letters on the board to earn the opportunity to add extra chess pieces into play.

In UFO Spell Check, there are 6 bonus chess pieces, but you’ll have to earn them by landing on – and collecting – letter tiles to spell the name of either rook, bishop or knight. Once you have enough letters to spell the piece name you can add the piece into play.

To begin, set up UFO Spell Check like you’re starting a regular chess game. Then, place the letter tokens on the board as shown.

Begin play by taking regular turns, but, whenever you land on a space with a letter token, you collect the letters!

As soon as you are able to spell ROOK, BISHOP, or KNIGHT with letters you have collected, you may trade your tokens for one of the bonus chess pieces and add it to your back row. The more pieces you get, the more you help you have to win.

The game ends when one player checkmates his opponent, just like regular chess. But keep your head in the game and don’t get too distracted trying to collect letters: even if you have more pieces in play, you can still lose if your opponent’s strategy is superior!

Chess on the Loose provides fun new variations for beginning chess players. Alternate rules provide variety for players who already know chess rules. And ALL players will add new layers of depth to their spatial orientation, problem solving and logical thinking skills.

Chess on the Loose is monstrous fun with four games of chess in one!