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Your next move

Written by David Cordover on 29th Jul, 2010


Three sisters who love playing chess

Written by Noelle Wengier on 29th Jul, 2010

Gabrielle, Stephanie and Kassandra are three sisters who all attend Morang South Primary School.   They really enjoy playing chess and Chess Club with Frank.

The girls all agreed that:  “Frank is a great Chess Coach.”

At home they play against each other;  sometimes using a chess set and other times using the computer.  Dad also occasionally joins them.

Stephanie said:  “I like chess cos it is fun and helps my memory. I try my hardest in tournaments.  I only get a participation certificate but I am working towards a medal”.

Jammo’s Chess Puzzle #46

Written by Robert Jamieson on 23rd Jul, 2010

I was talking to my friend Sam the other day.  He’s trying to make a come-back to chess after a 10 year break.   He’d just blundered horribly against Rujevic and was bemoaning his new-found tactical ineptitude.   “I just make so many mistakes” he complained.   I know the feeling.   As you get older your brain does not want to analyse variations and tends to lack its former decisiveness.

The worst type of positions we oldies could get is a Q+P v Q endgame.  There are just so many checks to look at and the game drags on for ages.  I remember Botvinnik once winning with Q + knight pawn v Q after about 90 moves going around in circles.

Take the following position I was looking at the other day.  I’m Black and I’ve nearly got my pawn through to queening but how do I avoid those nasty checks?   What I need is someone like you with a young brain who can work it all out for me quickly.   So off you go.  What should I play?

8/8/2Q5/7q/8/4K3/6p1/7k b – - 0 18/8/2Q5/7q/8/4K3/6p1/7k b – - 0 1

Read more…

I can still beat him, but not for much longer

Written by Noelle Wengier on 20th Jul, 2010

Cate and Tom came into the Chess World shop to purchase a wooden chess set for Tom’s 12th birthday.

She wanted to spend around $100 and I suggested that they purchase a set for $119 which also included backgammon and checkers.

They did buy it and Tom was thrilled as he really enjoys chess and looks forward to learning and playing backgammon.

Tom told me:  “I think chess is great fun.  Not only do I play at school with my mates, I often give mum a game.”

Cate said:  “At the moment I still win but I can see that Tom is getting better and better and it won’t be long before he is beating me.” Read more…

This is why we do it

Written by David Cordover on 16th Jul, 2010

Hi David,
Im from Wesley Vale Primary school you came to vist us about a month ago.
Thank you. I will always rember your vist.
It was proble a one in a life time chance with me
I use to no nothing about chess but now I love it.
Bye for now Claire.

Jammo’s Chess Puzzle #45

Written by Robert Jamieson on 16th Jul, 2010

Chess, like life, is all about decision making.   We have a number of options, but which do we choose?  How do we decide how we make decision – what are the criteria?   What if we make a mistake?

It’s all pretty difficult, so today I thought you might like a chance to fine tune your decision making skills.

Have a look at the position below.  White has just played 1.e6+ and now Black must decided between 1…Nxe6 to get his pawn back; 1…Kc8 to hide his King away in the corner or 1…Kc6 to keep his a8 rook in the game.  (I’ll ignore 1…Kc7 as even I can see 2.Bxd8+ is no good for Black).  One move is OK, one is pretty bad and one is a shocker!   Which would you choose?

r2q1bnr/pp1k1Bpp/3pP3/2p3B1/3nP3/3P1b2/PPP3PP/RN1Q1RK1 b KQkq – 0 1r2q1bnr/pp1k1Bpp/3pP3/2p3B1/3nP3/3P1b2/PPP3PP/RN1Q1RK1 b KQkq – 0 1 Read more…

Play Chess Online

Written by David Cordover on 15th Jul, 2010

Safe, fun and free – battle other Chess Kids from around the World.

Proud to represent the school

Written by Noelle Wengier on 14th Jul, 2010

Recently I overheard a teacher from Mill Park speaking very kindly to one of her students who had just lost a game at a chess tournament.

“Bad luck, did you learn something from that game, did you enjoy it?”

The student replied

“Yes, I did enjoy it, and yes, I certainly did learn what not to do next time.”

The teacher also shared a lovely story with me.

“Recently we were listening to three students speaking to fellow students as they were standing for school captain.

The first  said: ‘I am proud to represent the school playing football.’

The next said: ‘I am proud to be representing the school playing soccer.’

and finally, and most importantly, the last one said: ‘I am very proud to be representing the school at a chess tournament.‘”

The teacher also told me: “I think  it is fabulous that chess ranks a mention and that the student sees himself representing the school at a chess tournament as being so important. We need to be catering for all children.”

How true is that!

Jammo’s Chess Puzzle #44

Written by Robert Jamieson on 9th Jul, 2010

Playing a top player is always a thrill and gives you a chance for a moment of fame should you pull off an upset.

10 year-pld Karl Zelesco had his moment of fame in round one of the Lidums Checkmate Open in Adelaide last week when he was paired with IM James Morris in the first round.  James was the exchange ahead in winning comfortably even though his rook was not yet in play.   Karl was desperately trying to find some threats when suddenly James blundered!    In the diagrammed position James was tossing up between 30.a4, 30.Qh5 and 30.Qd1.

Today’s puzzle is which move did he choose and why was it a blunder?

7k/1pq3b1/7p/p7/4p1Q1/1B1bP3/PP4PP/K6R w KQkq – 0 17k/1pq3b1/7p/p7/4p1Q1/1B1bP3/PP4PP/K6R w KQkq – 0 1

Read more…

Jammo’s Chess Puzzle #43

Written by Robert Jamieson on 2nd Jul, 2010

If you are no good at tactics you are no good at chess.  I’ve just come back from a private chess lesson where my student showed me some of her games and several times she had chances for an immediate win but she missed the tactic.  I suggested that she should play some lightning (5 minute) chess to help develop her ability to spot those tricky combinations.

Chess Kids now has it’s own on-line chess games site where you can play lightning (or longer) chess games at any time against other chess kids.   Our beloved leader, the “Chess Guru” was playing on www.play.chesskids.com.au last evening and he demonstrated that his tactics were finely tuned in a nice attacking game against the best junior in Tasmania.

In the following position the Guru (playing White) is a piece down but he is about to get back the exchange.  Can he find a way to exploit Black’s exposed King before the two black Bishops can make their presence felt?   What would you play as White?

r1b4r/1qN1kppp/p3p3/4b3/2R5/3Q4/PP3PPP/3R2K1 w – - 5 20r1b4r/1qN1kppp/p3p3/4b3/2R5/3Q4/PP3PPP/3R2K1 w – - 5 20White to play and win

Read more…

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