Game on

Make it a point to explore the game of chess with your child on Oct. 8 — National Chess Day.

Chess is a fun board game that the government claims to have academic and emotional benefits, too. The U.S. Senate resolution recognizes chess as a “powerful cognitive learning tool,” and it notes that “many studies have linked chess programs to the improvement of student scores in reading and math, as well as improved self-esteem.”

And it seems that your child can’t be too young to be introduced to the game. In his book, “Your Child’s Intellect,” former U.S. Secretary of Education Terrell Bell encourages some knowledge of chess as a way to develop a preschooler’s intellect and academic readiness. In at least one private school in Manhattan, chess is taught to all students from kindergarten through second grade.

Although playing chess encourages a great deal of concentration and interaction, the best part about playing the game — from the child’s perspective — is that it is entertaining! Most kids love games, and chess motivates them to become willing to problem solve. Some students who have a hard time sitting still in a classroom love chess, and they enjoy spending time quietly immersed in logical thinking.

And for those interested in nurturing a love of this strategic pastime, New York City is the perfect place to get them started as the boroughs are brimming with chess fans, tournaments, instructors — and even grandmasters! These resources have resulted in a our children’s domination in all age categories at the 2011 national school chess championships.

When high schools competed in Nashville, Tenn. in May, Hunter College High School, Brooklyn’s IS 318 and the Bronx High School of Science took all three top spots in the chess tournament’s highest level of play. But it was New York’s best elementary school team — the Panda Pawns from PS 124 in Manhattan — that demonstrated how powerful the city’s scholastic chess scene has become by beating accomplished opponents nearly twice its age. The Pawns won top honors in the second-toughest division.

According to the Wall Street Journal’s article, “New York Chess: Why NYC Schools Dominate the Game of Kings,” chess has entered our schools as part of the curriculum and as an after-school activity, providing a large pool of talent for local tournaments, at which young players gain competitive experience. Immigrants from countries where playing chess is a national pastime have helped increase the number of chess fans in the city, and those parents foster interest in the game often serve as instructors.

The article goes on to explain that Chess-in-the-Schools, a nonprofit, is the city’s largest provider of chess instruction, both in after-school settings and as part of the curriculum. The group, which works with 13,000 students in 50 schools with low-income populations, also trains teachers on how to start chess programs with Project Chess. And it’s just one of several organizations working in schools and organizing tournaments.

Learning to play chess can help children develop critical thinking skills, as well as other positive academic and non-academic abilities. Kids learn to see patterns and plan ahead before acting. If a player loses his queen, it forces him to immediately pay attention. Chess also teaches the player how to lose, win, be competitive and face an opponent — important skills that have been removed from a lot of other traditional activities.

Many studies demonstrate that students who participate in chess programs show improved scores on standardized tests. The gains are even greater among children with low or average initial scores.

When compared to other games, chess provides a far greater quantity of problems for practice. Just one book, “Chess,” written by Laszlo Polgar — the father of the three chess prodigies, The Polgar Sisters — has more than 5,000 puzzles. Although it is one of the largest chess books ever written, there are thousands of other books to choose from.

Chess-playing students also become accustomed to looking for more — and different — alternatives in games and puzzles.

Whether you dust off your own board and pieces, sign him up for a class, or encourage your child to make the most out of his school’s chess program, take advantage of National Chess Day and introduce your child to the thrill of a checkmate.

For more information about Chess-In-The-Schools, visit chessintheschools.org,

Igor Postelnik is a United States national chess master. He and his wife Irina manage Long Island City Kids Enrichment Center, where they offer chess classes. For more information, visit www.lickids.com.