HANDS up who thinks that chess is a boring game, only played by super-intelligent nerds with nothing better to do.

If you believe that, you would be very wrong because it’s the most underrated, cheap, educational and exciting pastime in the UK.

But it is also all too often neglected in schools.

Most modern parents will shell out hundreds on electronic games for their kids and will moan about the price of various clubs and activities. But chess costs very little, can be played virtually anywhere and is as compelling and cut-throat as any sport you can name.

I never previously subscribed to this view because, although I could play, I was rubbish and hadn’t picked up a board in years.

Then my young son took up the game at his primary school – I believe one of the few in the area to run a thriving club – and it took off for us.

He’s nine now and is in the county U9 and U11 teams. This means that many of our weekends are taken up at various tournaments across the region.

By the way, his favourite game is still football, and we spend most weekends cleaning his dirty boots, so don’t lecture me that chess is just for geeks who have nothing else to do.

It teaches strategy, patience, concentration and ruthlessness. And it also shows children, and parents, how to lose gracefully.

It is a difficult job, though, for mums and dads. At tournaments, we’re not allowed into the playing hall and have to wait with bated breath for our offspring to return to tell us they’ve either won or lost.

Funnily enough, it can be quite intoxicating as you nervously sit there waiting for the next result, and as you see the scores build up on the board against your child’s name.

If you don’t believe me, then try going to Armenia. Yes, Armenia.

The little-known nation is making chess compulsory in schools, and every child aged six or over is now destined to learn the game, according to a recent BBC report.

The Armenian authorities believe compulsory lessons will “foster schoolchildren’s intellectual development” and improve critical thinking skills.

The country treats grandmasters like sports stars, championships are displayed on giant boards in cities and victories celebrated with the frenzy most countries reserve for football.

The BBC report quoted Malcolm Pein, chief executive of Chess in Schools and Communities, who said of the game: “Not only does it give children good thinking skills and improve concentration, memory and calculation, but it teaches children to take responsibility for their actions.”

Sadly, though, I don’t think chess is a big thing in most of our Bucks schools. I visit loads of them and try to spread the word, but it’s an uphill struggle because there doesn’t seem much general interest.

My son’s team, however, recently reached the semi-finals of the English Primary Schools Chess Association’s national championships and performed rather well. At one stage they looked like they might come in the top three and qualify for the final, but in the end the competition was too much.

And no wonder. They were up against posh schools from London and elsewhere, who turned up to the venue in Somerset complete with mini buses and expert chess coaches – while we just, er, turned up.

Bucks is meant to be a wealthy upper class county, but at the moment we’re fairly poor relations in this ancient cerebral sport of kings and queens.

You may have noticed a lot more chess reports creeping into our papers. It’s entirely down to me and I make no apologies.

My mission is to increase the number of schools and children who play this game seriously.

If you want to check it out, email me at scohen@london.newsquest.co.uk and I’ll see if I can put you in touch with some new mates.