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But as Mr. Bauder continues to play up his silliness, children slowly warm to him.
“I was just letting him know that this isn’t a normal school lesson; this is a fun chess lesson,” Mr. Bauder said of his 3-year-old client.

-New York Times

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Learn chess today!

Any age is the right age to start learning chess!

Much like life, chess is cumulative. As a lifelong learner myself, I know how important it is to slow down when things pile up. Through chess I have been able to help young minds break challenges into bite-size pieces. We cannot expect to know how to checkmate before we know the rules of the game or how each of the pieces moves. That's why I tailor my approach to cover the fundamentals of chess in a fun, engaging way. As a chess teacher with a back ground in performance, I use dynamic theatrical skills to create a playful, energy-filled lesson that has each student eagerly looking forward to their next one.

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About Steve

Steve Bauder is a trained actor who moved to New York City in the fall of 2013. Steve has gathered a wealth of experience. In both public and private school settings throughout the New York Metropolitan area, Steve taught chess fundamentals regularly in and out of classrooms, preschools, and day cares. As a chess teacher, Steve is able to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and community outreach. Chess teaching has proven to be a rewarding way to utilize all of his skills and make a positive impact on the young lives he touches. Students of Steve have gone from not knowing how to move the king to winning tournaments for their school chess teams. From private one-on-one sessions to group classes, Steve has helped hundreds of students grow into creative problem solvers.

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Steve Bauder is a child-chess-teaching savant. He has made chess lessons a “can’t miss” event in our house. My four year old is always challenging me or his six year old sister to chess battles because Steve has somehow made the whole operation very fun. We have done most of our lessons via zoom and one might wonder: how is that even possible? I assure you it is. Our 4yo carries his iPad around for an hour in anticipation of sign-on and I firmly believe if he could do some version of “chess school” from 9-3 daily he would. Our 6yo is hard to please on occasion. She usually prefers being active (i.e. swimming or tennis) to what she would consider a “continuation of school” (cerebral activities like language tutoring or chess) but Steve has done the impossible and made chess both active and fun. He has taught them strategy and how to problem solve. He has encouraged them and their critical thinking while also making sure it isn’t too easy and they don’t always win. He is the consummate professional: easy to schedule, quick to answer emails and texts, and always willing to roll with the punches of kid schedules or sickness.

If we could clone Steve and have him teach swimming, French, German, Tennis, Gymnastics and Horseback riding (to name a few)… we would all be happier for it.

D.S. New York, NY

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First one is on me

It is important to have rapport with each of my students to do what I do. In order to make the best use of each lesson, I get to know every student before we begin our chess study. Think of our first lesson merely as a way to get to know each other. If we decide that it is a good fit, then we move forward on a weekly basis.

Invest in your child's future

Sharpen their critical thinking skills

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Let's Play!

I am committed to your growth as a player and as a thinker.

chesswithsteve@gmail.com

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