MADISON – The newest mentor with Madison City Chess League will guide a series of classes to further boost skills for players who have established high ratings.

National Master Gerald Larson, who now is serving as a league coach, will teach this summer’s Master Series, MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett said.

The classes will be held at Rainbow Elementary School, 50 Nance Road in Madison on Sunday afternoons. Classes started July 14 and will end on Aug. 4. The class schedule has players with United States Chess Federation or USCF ratings high than (over) 1,500 to meet from 1 to 3 p.m. Players who have USCF ratings ranging between 1,200 to 1,500 will report to class from 3 to 5 p.m.

Cost of the series is $20 per session per student or $65 total for the four-week series.

“Some of the topics that Dr. Larson plans to cover are counting; calculation; general tactical awareness; fundamental endings; mating power of Q + R; clock management; and ‘thinking about thinking,” Bartlett said.

Madison City Chess League provides children an opportunity to play chess for free on Monday nights at Madison Public Library. Parents can drop off kids at 6:15 p.m. if they provide a cell phone number for an emergency.

Children must be picked up by 7:45 p.m. If any discipline problems occur, parents will be called to pick up their child immediately. Parents also can remain on the premises and enjoy the library while the children play chess.

The league has offered new programs and chess coaches to help them develop their skills. These opportunities include All Star Chess Club for second- and third-graders; reduced registration fee for local chess tournaments like Summer Knights; MCCL Team Cup Championship; early registration for Summer Chess Camp; City Chess Championship; coaching services at national tournaments; Girls Chess Night; and members-only events like Back-to-School Bughouse Night.

For more information, call 256-970-4762, email mccl.director@gmail.com or visit madisonchess.com.