CHESS CLUBS TEACHING ALL THE RIGHT MOVES.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Nshan Keshishian sees the game of chess as a metaphor for life - whatever steps you take, there are consequences that will ultimately lead to victory or defeat.

With that conviction in mind, Keshishian founded three nonprofit chess schools in Glendale, Reseda and Hollywood. Collectively, the schools are known as the All American Association Chess Club - or Triple A in chess circles - serving a total of 150 children.

``In my country, it was a very popular game. It helps kids to grow up nice, quiet good citizens. They can think two or three moves ahead of their lives,'' said Keshishian, a national chess master and coach, who grew up playing chess in Armenia and immigrated to the United States in 1986.

While teaching children how to think and become good citizens, Keshishian has along the way produced a crop of national champion chess players that some say are unrivaled in the Southland and even nationwide.

``They are the strongest club in the nation as far as youth chess,'' said Jay Stallings, president of the Southern California Chess Federation and director of the California Youth Chess League, based in Santa Clarita.

``He brought with him from Armenia many of the ways and methods of teaching chess - a hard work ethic that youth in America are not used to,'' said Stallings, noting that Keshishian's schools assign their students chess puzzle homework. ``His kids have really jumped past other kids.''

Since 1997, Triple A students have won All American Cup championship titles each year in primary school, elementary school, junior high school or high school levels.

Harutyun Akopyan, who started attending Triple A in 1991 and is today a coach for the group, boasts 13 national championship titles.

Last year, a Triple A team won the U.S. Team Amateur Championship title and the Western Team Amateur Championship title.

During a recent afternoon, a group of students from elementary to high school levels gathered inside the cavernous auditorium of the Lutheran Center at Colorado Street and Chevy Chase Drive.

Students sat in metal chairs, facing each other with soft, plastic chess boards and pieces between them. There was a slight din as students settled into their games, but no shouting or yelling. Focus and concentration were apparent on every face.

Akopyan, a quiet young man with a cerebral air dressed neatly in a dark- colored suit, made rounds looking over each game, occasionally stopping to give tips.

Some of the younger children who come to learn chess before they start school, Akopyan observed, master simple math easily because each chess piece has a point value.

``I see some kids who are able to sit there for five or 10 minutes on just one move, which is a big deal for a 6- or 7-year-old boy or girl,'' he said.

Parents, he said, like sending their children to the chess school because they realize if their kids can learn to concentrate on a game of chess, they can do the same at school.

Silvia Sarkissian sends both of her boys - John, 7, and Boris, 6 - to the Glendale chess school. She said she has seen improvement in her children as a result of their participation.

``It's exercise for the brain,.'' she said. ``(John) is doing better at school, more organized. He likes math all of a sudden, which I think is also influenced (by chess).''

In chess, students said, they have also found friendship and a sense of belonging.

``Sometimes besides chess, we play soccer. It's not just chess. It's a community sort of thing,'' said Minas Nordanyan, 16, who is a national master and two-time national scholastic champion.

Although most members of the chess club are Armenian, students of other ethnicities who have joined said they feel welcomed.

``It's helped me a lot,'' said Vanessa West, 13, of Gardena, who comes twice a week to Glendale for lessons. ``They go over your games and tell you how you can play better.''

Students pay $60 per month for two 90-minute lessons each week after school.

One major reason for the success of Triple A, Keshishian said, is the organization's top-notch coaches. Aside from him and Akopyan, former national coach for Armenia Armen Ambartsoumian and international master Andranik Matikozyan also teach for Triple A.

In the end, Keshishian said what he is most proud of is seeing some of his students going on to universities and becoming good people.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Nshan Keshishian, center, founded the chess club in Glendale and ones in Reseda and Hollywood. About 150 schoolchildren participate in the clubs.

(2) Nshan Keshishian says the game of chess can teach children to focus and think ahead.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer