Fritz Gaspard set up an endgame scenario on the oversized chessboard in front of the class. He placed the white king on g4, added two black rooks to the board, then posed a simple question to the 30 or so eighth-graders in front of him: "Can black win this game?" Immediately, 25 hands shot into the air. And every volunteer knew the correct answer.

Gaspard is an instructor at New York City's Chess-In-The-Schools, a non-profit organization that seeks to stimulate academic achievement by using chess as an educational tool. Chess-In-The-Schools wants to motivate at-risk children and enhance their thinking skills, self-confidence and academic achievement. Every day, chess experts like Fritz Gaspard travel to New York City junior high and high schools to teach the game of chess.

Studies have shown a connection between learning chess and developing confidence and intellectual abilities in children. Students taking part in chess programs such as Chess-In-The-Schools develop logic, reasoning and problem solving abilities. Perhaps most importantly, young chess players show improved self-esteem, a key to better learning.

But learning strategies and critical thinking are only part of the story. "The kids seem to really enjoy the program," said Gaspard. "It gives them an opportunity to learn a little about chess, while having some fun in the process."

A handful of the students in Gaspard's third-period class (he actually teaches up to five classes a day, plus two sessions before and after school for the chess team) have aspirations to play professionally. They follow the professional circuit like other kids might follow their favorite NBA teams, and like the fans of the NBA, they idolize certain players. According to Gaspard's class, Garry Kasparov is the Michael Jordan of the chess world.

Damion Josephs, an eighth-grader and a member of the JHS 118 chess team, likes the world champion's aggressive, attacking style of chess: "I like the way he sets up his pieces for the mate he doesn't waste his time with extra moves. He has that killer instinct. He just goes right for the checkmate and he does it in one or two moves."

Just like the position Fritz Gaspard set up on the chessboard before class began.