The Penn-Trafford chess club recently had a meeting, in which the club president taught a lesson about opening strategies. At a typical chess club gathering, one can learn to play chess and take part in games against various others.

     “It’s a great way to get off your phone. It’s a great way to have interaction… To make new friends,” P-T chess club sponsor Nicole Burtch stated.

     At most chess club meetings, chess club president Nicholas Truschel teaches a lesson to the group. The lesson is typically about a concept of chess, such as tournament etiquette or endgames. 

     Burtch added, “[His lessons are] very helpful, and he’s very knowledgeable.”

     In Truschel’s lesson at the Jan. 4 meeting, he discussed four main principles of opening strategies: developing chess pieces effectively, fighting for the center of the board, bringing the king to safety and observing the opponent’s move.

    The chess club is also currently preparing for its second tournament of the year, which takes place on Jan. 19. The tournament includes several different schools, including Norwin, Mars, Gateway and possibly more to come. 

     To determine which students will participate in this tournament, P-T’s chess club hosts its own in-house tournament. The winners of this competition are then selected for the official tour

nament.

     “It doesn’t matter if you know how to play chess,” Burtch said. “If you don’t even know the first thing about it, please come down… We will teach you.”

     The club meets every Thursday in the LGI from 2:30 to 3:30. Truschel is the club president, David Tharp and Nathan Lazeration are the vice presidents and the advisors are Burtch and Jason Zimmer.

     To join P-T’s chess club for the 2024-2025 school year, students can text @ptchess to 81010.