13th Activity 7th Season (May 29th)

The last one

Hi there

This is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to some new activities

We're very excited because it's been a great year with a significative increase in our participants, so from the EXPLORA project we are very grateful

¿Sabías que el ajedrez no solo enseña estrategias, sino que también entrena el cerebro? Diversos estudios han demostrado que este milenario juego estimula habilidades cognitivas clave como la memoria, la atención, la planificación y el control emocional.

Aquí te presento 5 actividades lúdicas que combinan ajedrez y neurociencia para niños de 6 a 12 años. Ideales para usar en el aula, en talleres o incluso en casa.

🎓 ¿Por qué ajedrez y neurociencia?

El ajedrez es una excelente herramienta para potenciar funciones ejecutivas en los niños. A través del juego, se trabajan:

• ✅ Planificación y toma de decisiones

• ✅ Control de impulsos

• ✅ Concentración

• ✅ Tolerancia a la frustración

Curiosidades mentales con ajedrez

• ¿Sabías que Magnus Carlsen puede jugar partidas ¡con los ojos vendados?!

• Tu cerebro puede quemar hasta 6.000 calorías en un torneo largo de ajedrez debido al esfuerzo mental.

Did you know that chess not only teaches strategy but also trains the brain? Several studies have shown that this ancient game stimulates key cognitive skills such as memory, attention, planning, and emotional control.

Here are five fun activities that combine chess and neuroscience for children ages 6 to 12. Ideal for use in the classroom, in workshops, or even at home.

🎓 Why chess and neuroscience?

Chess is an excellent tool for enhancing executive functions in children. Through play, the following skills are developed:

✅ Planning and decision-making

✅ Impulse control

✅ Concentration

✅ Frustration tolerance

Mental Chess Curiosities

• Did you know that Magnus Carlsen can play games blindfolded?!

• Your brain can burn up to 6,000 calories in a long chess tournament due to mental exertion.

The CHALLENGES:
Try to play with your chessboard. Close your eyes and answer to a friend what color are next squares: a1/g-5/ b-3/ h-8/ c-7

Los RETOS:

Intenta jugar con tu tablero de ajedrez. Cierra los ojos y respóndele a un amigo de qué color son las casillas siguientes: a1/g-5/b-3/h-8/c-7

Challenge for beginners                                          Reto para principiantes

Whites win material in just one move.           Las blancas ganan material  en un movimiento.

Solution last week (May 15th)

El caballo mueve a d-7 y amenaza con Jaque al Rey negro, pero además se aprovecha que el rey tiene que salvarse puede capturar el alfil o el peón, obviamente el alfil: C d-7 +

The knight moves to d-7 and threatens the black King with check, but it also takes advantage of the fact that the king has to be saved and can capture the bishop or the pawn, obviously the bishop: C d-7 +

And that's all for this 2024-25 see you next course and DON'T forget to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY SEPTEMBER 2025 

12th Activity 7th Season (May 15th)

Hello everybody this is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to a new activity

May is already here and after some clouds and rain sunshine came back

Let's use Chess to solve other challenges.

All we already know how Knight works

(check it on this video) 

But based on the move of this spectacular piece let's solve a special wordsearch

There is one in English: (download it here if you can't see it)

y otro en Español: (descárgalo aquí si no lo puedes ver)

Challenge for beginners                                                   Reto para principiantes

White pieces win material in one move.                   Las piezas blancas ganan material con un solo movimiento.

Solution last week

(April 3rd)

K c-7 ++/ R c-7++ The bishops attacks and the Black King doesn't have escape

El alfil ataca y el Rey Negro no tiene escapatoria

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY MAY 22nd 

11th Activity 7th Season (April 3rd)

Hello everybody this is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to a new activity.

Why does the bishop piece have a slot in its "head"?

Read this document and learn a lot about this wonderful piece

Download in English

Descargar en Español

Now the Challenges:

From an empty board:

1. How many squares does a bishop dominate from its starting position?
2. How many squares could it dominate at most from another point on the board?
3. What is that position?
4. What "warlike" animal does the bishop represent?
5. Who is the bishop in medieval tradition?

Ahora los Retos:

Responde a las siguientes preguntas:

En un tablero vacío:

1. ¿Cuántas casillas domina un alfil desde su posición inicial?
2. ¿Cuántas casillas como máximo podría dominar desde otro punto del tablero?
3. ¿Cuál es esa posición?
4. ¿A qué animal "bélico" representa el alfil?
5. ¿Quién es el alfil en la tradición medieval?

Challenge for beginners                                                            Reto para principiantes

Whites win the game in just one move.                  Las blancas dan mate en un movimiento.

Solution last week (March 20th)

 K X f-7 ++/ C X f-7 ++ The pawn on h-6 controls g-7

El peón en h-6 controla g-7

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY MAY 8th 

10th Activity 7th Season (March 20th)

 Hello everybody and welcome to a new activity

today it's time for...

MUSIC

Let's go with a couple of VIDEOS there're one in Spanish and the other in English

VIDEO (in English) You can sing along with the lyrics included

VÍDEO (en español) Puedes cantar a la vez con las letras incluidas.

CHALLENGE

Why don't you send me a song related to Chess, to Jake... I love music and I love Chess so... help me please

Let's see if among everybody can make a playlist of Chess songs

RETO

¿Por qué no me envías una canción relacionada con el ajedrez, Jake? Me encanta la música y me encanta el ajedrez, así que... ayúdame, por favor.

A ver si entre todos podemos crear una lista de reproducción de canciones de ajedrez.

Challenge for beginners                                                                Reto para principiantes

Mueven las blancas. Las blancas pueden dar jaque mate en una jugada. ¿Puedes encontrarla?

White to move. White can checkmate in one move. Can you find it?

Solution last week (March 6th)

Black Knight  d-8 and protects his King. Then 5 points each they have to fight to win the game.

El Caballo Negro d-8 protege a su Rey. Luego, cada uno debe luchar 5 puntos para ganar la partida.

find it?

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY APRIL 3rd 

9th Activity 7th Season (March 6th)

 Hello everybody this is profesor Jake and welcomeback to our blog

today we want to talk about...

OPENINGS

Read this worksheet (or download it HERE)

and watch the VIDEO

CHALLENGES:
They are included on the Worksheet (the second sheet)😏

Solution last challenge (the eigth, February 13^th)

El siguiente movimiento permite llevar a la torre a la casilla marcada con una “x”. Desde ahí podrá capturar la pieza promovida.

The next move allows you to bring the rook to the square marked with an “x”. From there you can capture the promoted piece.

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY MARCH 20th 

8th Activity 7th Season (February 13th)

Hello everybody this is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to a new activity

Today we are going to learn about the most important piece: THE KING

Hablando de reyes recordamos al gran FORGES DEP 22/2/32018

So I hope you enjoy the video and then solve some challenges.

Click here to watch the                    VIDEO           Pulsa en el enlace para ver el vídeo.

Download the document HERE                                                 Descarga el documento AQUÍ

Challenges

1.-King vs. Pawns Race

Objective: Help children understand the king's movement while practicing endgame concepts.

Setup and Rules:

• Place the king on e1 and three pawns on a4, c4, and f4.
• The child must race the pawns to the other side of the board (king to e8, pawns to the 8th rank).
• The king moves one square in any direction, while each pawn moves forward one square per turn.
• The child must strategize to reach the destination before any pawn gets promoted.
• This helps them understand the king’s mobility and importance in endgames.

Variation: Start with pawns closer to promotion for a more challenging race.

Desafíos

1.-Carrera de rey contra peones

Objetivo: ayudar a los niños a comprender el movimiento del rey mientras practican los conceptos de finales.

Preparación y reglas:

Coloca el rey en e1 y tres peones en a4, c4 y f4.

El niño debe hacer una carrera con los peones hacia el otro lado del tablero (el rey a e8, los peones a la octava fila).

El rey se mueve una casilla en cualquier dirección, mientras que cada peón avanza una casilla por turno.

El niño debe desarrollar una estrategia para llegar al destino antes de que algún peón sea promovido.

Esto les ayuda a comprender la movilidad y la importancia del rey en los finales.

Variación: comienza con los peones más cercanos a la promoción para una carrera más emocionante.

Challenge for beginners:                                                                            Reto para principiantes

Mueven las blancas. Hay una forma en que las blancas promueven un peón sin que pueda capturarlo la torre negra. Esto requiere varios movimientos. ¿Qué hacen las blancas?

White to move. There is a way for White to promote a pawn without allowing the Black rook to capture it. This requires several moves. What does White do?

Solution last challenge (the seventh, January 30^th)

Si la torre negra toma este peón, el peón pasado se promueve. Si las negras no lo toman, seguirá moviéndose.

If the black rook takes this pawn, the passed pawn is promoted. If black does not take it, it will continue to move.

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY MARCH 6th 

7th Activity 7th Season (January 30th)

Hello everybody,

this is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to a new activity with a lot of information, games and challenges

First of all I would like to celebrate a very important day:

The peace day

All we are saying is: "give peace a chance"

All we are saying is: "give peace a chance"

Click on Peace Day and listen to how John Lennon, his wife and many other people sang this hymn to ask for a chance for peace.

Let's play our favorite game with the wish that these are the only battles and wars in the world.

Today we are going to learn a lot about the MOST powerful piece the QUEEN

Click HERE to watch the video

Click HERE to download the instructions and then solve the Challenges bellow

(Remember they are in both Spanish and English)

Challenges

After watching the VIDEO and reading about the Queen, find out:

In what century was the Queen's piece, as we know it today, created?

Después de ver el VIDEO y leer sobre la Reina, descubre:

¿En qué siglo nació la pieza de la Reina, tal y como la conocemos hoy en día?

Challenge for beginners:                                                                            Reto para principiantes

Mueven las blancas. Hay una forma en que las blancas promueven un peón sin que pueda capturarlo la torre negra. Esto requiere varios movimientos. ¿Qué hacen las blancas?

White to move. There is a way for White to promote a pawn without allowing the Black rook to capture it. This requires several moves. What does White do?

White to move. How does White promote a pawn without the black rook being able to capture the promoted piece?

Solution last challenge (the sixth January 16^th)

¡Las blancas pueden promover cualquiera de los peones pasados! Si la torre negra captura la pieza promovida, el otro peón la captura y se promueve.

White can promote any of the passed pawns! If the black rook captures the promoted piece, the other pawn captures it and is promoted.

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY FEBRUARY 13th