My son is learning chess

This suits me fine. It's an intellectually demanding game, but genteel, but best of all it is NOT TRADEMARKED. What this means: game rules don't change, pieces don't adapt or evolve. You can buy a board and a working clock and study positions. I was disillusioned with SCRABBLE® because:

* rules of tournament play changed;
* club and tournament lexicon was restricted for televised play;
* Canadian spellings not altogether permitted in North American play

Chess is simpler that way. I mailed my son's registration for U.S. Chess Federation membership. He attends chess camp and a local man I know, whom I learned yesterday was state champion twice, has lent Chess Life magazines and his first chess book to my seven-year-old sun.