Concentration, skill, checkmate.
More than 130 students from Moreno Valley elementary schools are spending part of their summer learning to play chess.
Abraham Acosta celebrates Wednesday, July 13, 2022, after a move as he learns to play chess at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cards teach players how to move each piece on the chess board Wednesday, July 13, 2022, during a class at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Noah Melendez enjoys a game of chess with Myah Settle at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Ezekiel Acosta, left, plays chess with Andrew Malta at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Aliee Rodriguez Magee smiles as she plays chess with Aiden Delgado during a class at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Teacher Eligio Rangel teaches chess to students during a class at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Abraham Acosta celebrates Wednesday, July 13, 2022, after a chess move at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Giovanni Contreras reacts Wednesday, July 13, 2022, as Penelope Moreno starts a new chess game at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Aliee Rodriguez Magee dances after a chess move against Aiden Delgado at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A student makes the first move of a chess game at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Noah Melendez, left, laughs as he plays chess with Myah Settle at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Christina Alvarez reacts after making a move as she plays chess Wednesday, July 13, 2022, with Mackenzie Morgan at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Myah Settle reacts as one of her chess pieces is taken by Noah Melendez at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Abraham Acosta celebrates after a chess move at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Mackenzie Morgan celebrates after winning a rock, paper, scissors game to determine who starts her chess match against Christina Alvarez at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Teacher Eligio Rangel teaches chess to Christina Alvarez, left, and Mackenzie Morgan at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Timothy Martinez makes a move during a chess class at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Chess cards teach players the name of each piece and how to move it on the board during a class at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Myah Settle ponders her move as she plays chess against Noah Melendez at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Christina Alvarez plays with chess pieces after collecting them from Mackenzie Morgan during a chess match at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Myah Settle reacts as one of her chess pieces is taken by Noah Melendez at Butterfield Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
For the first time, the Moreno Valley Unified School District is teaching the game to youths from transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. Classes, part of the district’s Expanded Summer Learning Academy, are at Butterfield Elementary School.
Instructor Eligio Rangel, who runs an after-school chess club at Serrano Elementary School, said the game can be educational and is “directly connected to math.”
Classes will culminate with a Thursday, July 21, chess tournament at Butterfield.
