Tournament and Year End Ratings Dec 21, 2011

Today's Tournament Results

Place	Name	Rd1	Rd2	Rd3	Pts	TBk1	Tbk2
1	Thomas	W2	W6	W3	3	4	5
2	Alex P	L1	W7	W5	2	4	5
3	Mace	W8	W5	L1	2	4	4
4	Albin	L5	W8	W6	2	2	2
5	Frank	W4	L3	L2	1	4	6
6	Dan	W7	L1	L4	1	3	6
7	Lendale	L6	L2	W8	1	1	3
8	Andrew	L3	L4	L7	0	4	5

First Name	Rating
Thomas	923
Mace	702
Ben	503
Monte	484
Frank	445
Alex P	400
Dan	368
Alex V	350
Phillip	346
Oliver	312
Gabe	288
Albin	287
Andrew	280
Vic	263
Christopher	190
Maureen	161
Tommy	156
Keighvin	131
Lendale	131

Ratings after 12/14

FHMS

First Name	Rating
Thomas	908
Mace	697
Ben	503
Monte	484
Frank	459
Dan	378
Alex V	350
Phillip	346
Alex P	332
Andrew	317
Oliver	312
Gabe	288
Vic	263
Albin	252
Christopher	190
Maureen	161
Tommy	156
Keighvin	131
Lendale	124

Ratings after Dec 7, 2011

I was hoping for slightly higher test results, but it confirms my confidence in my rating systems. Everyone performed within 150 points of their rating, so everyone gained a few points. I think the biggest gains from the test were made by Frank, Albin and Monte.

Like all things in life, if you really want to become good at something you must put a lot of time into it. If you want to move ahead faster than those around you, you must put in extra time and effort, not just 1:45 on Wednesdays. My two suggestions for improving: 1) Save the worksheets and go over the problems until you thoroughly understand the principles then play out the resulting positions, and 2) play more chess.

Hope to see some of you at Metcalf on Jan 7, 2012 - our first (and last) practice before the state grade level championships on Feb 25 at Capitol Hill. Put those on the calendar.

FHMS

First Name	Rating
Thomas	888
Mace	679
Ben	503
Monte	481
Frank	455
Dan	370
Alex	350
Phillip	346
Hunter	340
Andrew	324
Oliver	312
Gabe	282
Vic	260
Albin	235
Christopher	190
Maureen	161
Tommy	156
Keighvin	131
Jill	113
Lendale	111
Jake	111

Tournament Schedule and ratings

Tournament on Saturday Dec 3. Call Bill at 651-451-8412 with any questions. We have some kids going.

Jan 7 is our next tournament at Metcalf Jr. High in Burnsville. This tournament we could either play as individuals or we could take our top 5 (Mace can't play for us) and play head-to-head against another school's top 5.

Feb 25 - Statewide Grade Level Championships. Big tournament, lots of trophies - Capitol Hill

March 10 - Middle SchoolJr High Championships at Metcalf Jr. High

March 31 - April 1 Official State Championships for Jr High and High School (2 sections)

April 13-14-15 Minneapolis Convention Center - National H.S. Championships !!!

FHMS

First Name	Rating
Thomas	873
Mace	659
Ben	491
Monte	463
Frank	429
Dan	345
Alex	345
Hunter	340
Phillip	323
Oliver	312
Gabe	282
Andrew	279
Vic	267
Albin	214
Christopher	190
Tommy	156
Maureen	152
Keighvin	118
Jill	113
Jake	111
Lendale	106
Connor	100

Latest Ratings

Congrats to Thomas, Dan, Frank and Mace who solved all but one problem correctly!

Remember - take those worksheets home. Set up the problem and play the game out to the finish. Learn how to win those games in which you're ahead. No school next Wednesday - see you after Thanksgiving!

First Name	Rating
Thomas	889
Mace	641
Ben	462
Monte	462
Frank	404
Hunter	346
Alex	325
Dan	318
Phillip	313
Oliver	312
Gabe	289
Vic	256
Andrew	250
Albin	196
Christopher	193
Tommy	156
Mandi	130
Maureen	129
Keighvin	123
Jill	113
Jake	111
Lendale	106
Connor	100

Ratings Nov 9

My apologies - I accidentally gave you my advanced forks worksheet. We'll review forks next week. I'll give you the easier worksheet I had intended. We'll also briefly go over the Giuoco Piano opening and you can have more playing time.

Top score on the Simplifying Worksheet was 10 of 12 by Keighvin, Philip, and Frank. Good job!

First Name Rating Thomas 862 Mace 629 Ben 462 Monte 423 Frank 376 Alex 325 Hunter 330 Oliver 301 Brigham 300 Quintin 300 Matthew 297 Phillip 288 Gabe 278 Vic 266 Luc 254 Andrew 255 Christopher 189 Albin 175 Tommy 156 Blake 142 Mandi 130 Maureen 120 Jake 111 Jill 113 Keighvin 112 Connor 100 Lendale 108 Stephen 100 Nathan 100 Nathan 100 Tommy 100

Thomas Miranda wins 2nd place Chess Trophy

31 of the top 6th grade chess players form across the Twin Cities met in Burnsville over the weekend.
Thomas Miranda won 4 of 5 games on Saturday (losing only to the champion) and came home with the 2nd place trophy. He lost only to the #1 player.

Rating and Tournament Info

There is a tournament on Saturday, Nov 5, which anyone is welcome to attend.

WHO CAN COME: As long as you know the rules, you can play. I normally recommend a rating of 400 for kids your age, but I think you all play well enough to attend.

WHY: It's a good way to have fun and improve. No elimination - everyone plays 5 games.

WHEN: Registration is from 8:00-8:30 First-timers be there at about 8:15 to fill out paperwork
It will last until about 2:30

WHERE: Metcalf Jr Hi in Burnsville (Diffley Rd & Cedar Ave)

HOW MUCH: $16 + $2 for first-timers + $5 for lunch or bring your own lunch.

WILL I GET WHIPPED? Maybe - there are some excellent players. But if you lose your first two games you will be paired with someone who has also lost their first two games.

If you have any questions feel free to call mee at 651-451-8412, Bill Heinemann

First Name	Last Name	Rating
Thomas	Miranda	808
Mace	Henry	583
Ben	Ellison	425
Monte	Fischer	387
Alex	Venturi	341
Frank	Sullivan	328
Hunter	Swenson	324
Brigham	Williams	300
Quintin	Peterson	300
Matthew	Friedman	297
Oliver	McEllistrom	284
Vic	Fischer	280
Luc	Kaderlik	254
Gabe	Delmont	252
Phillip	Varnado	252
Andrew	Keis	217
Albin	Swenson	175
Christopher	Figueroa	159
Tommy	Buell	156
Blake	Kinzer	142
Mandi	Wen	130
Maureen	Andersen	125
Jake	Wendt	111
Jill	Lund	110
Connor	Benson	100
Lendale	Smith	100
Stephen	Kasella	100
Nathan	Lucas	100
Nathan	Fitzgerald	100
Keighvin	Lee	100
Tommy	Harrity	100

Tournaments

Tournaments are available for children about every other Saturday.
They last from 8:30 to 2:30. Cost is $16 for the tournament and a $2 membership fee which is good through 12th grade.

My recommendation is to wait until your rating reaches 400 before playing in a tournament.
Even at that rating, it is unlikely you will win a game, but you have to start somewhere. If you enjoy chess and want to get better, tournaments are a great way to do that.

I will be available at most tournaments. I do coach at 5 schools, so there may be others who want my time, but usually I'm not that busy and I'd love to help you learn and improve.

For more info, see the link on the right to the School Chess Association.

New Ratings Updated at 7:36

Friendly Hills Chess Club

Last Name	First Name	Rating	School	Group
Miranda	Thomas	785	FHMS
Ellison	Ben	423	FHMS
Fischer	Monte	383	FHMS
Venturi	Alex	335	FHMS
Swenson	Hunter	313	FHMS
Williams	Brigham	300	FHMS
Peterson	Quintin	300	FHMS
Sullivan	Frank	298	FHMS
Friedman	Matthew	297	FHMS
McEllistrom	Oliver	287	FHMS
Varnado	Phillip	286	FHMS
Fischer	Vic	279	FHMS
Delmont	Gabe	266	FHMS
Kaderlik	Luc	254	FHMS
Swenson	Albin	175	FHMS
Keis	Andrew	172	FHMS
Kinzer	Blake	142	FHMS
Figueroa	Christopher	137	FHMS
Wen	Mandi	130	FHMS
Lund	Jill	130	FHMS
Buell	Tommy	122	FHMS
Wendt	Jake	111	FHMS
Andersen	Maureen	108	FHMS
Lee	Keighvin	100	FHMS
Benson	Connor	100	FHMS
Harrity	Tommy	100	FHMS
Smith	Lendale	100	FHMS
Kasella	Stephen	100	FHMS
Lucas	Nathan	100	FHMS
Fitzgerald	Nathan	100	FHMS

Oct 19 Ratings

Here are the latest ratings after Oct 19th

There is a tournament for children K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 Saturday Oct 22, in Champlin. If interested see the link to the School Chess Assn. on the right

Friendly Hills

Last Name	First Name	Rating	School	Group
Miranda	Thomas	756	FHMS
Ellison	Ben	388	FHMS
Fischer	Monte	341	FHMS
Venturi	Alex	324	FHMS
Williams	Brigham	300	FHMS
Peterson	Quintin	300	FHMS
Friedman	Matthew	297	FHMS
Swenson	Hunter	296	FHMS
Varnado	Phillip	295	FHMS
Sullivan	Frank	292	FHMS
McEllistrom	Oliver	286	FHMS
Fischer	Vic	271	FHMS
Delmont	Gabe	263	FHMS
Kaderlik	Luc	254	FHMS
Keis	Andrew	167	FHMS
Swenson	Albin	153	FHMS
Kinzer	Blake	142	FHMS
Buell	Tommy	134	FHMS
Wen	Mandi	130	FHMS
Wendt	Jake	111	FHMS
Lund	Jill	108	FHMS
Andersen	Maureen	107	FHMS
Benson	Connor	100	FHMS
Harrity	Tommy	100	FHMS
Smith	Lendale	100	FHMS
Kasella	Stephen	100	FHMS
Lucas	Nathan	100	FHMS
Fitzgerald	Nathan	100	FHMS

News and Ratings

Top Test Scores: Thomas 7, Ben 4, Monte, Frank, Tommy B. 3
We have a Thomas, a Tommy B. and a Tommy H. so when you report your scores, make sure I get your last initial.

There is a tournament coming up on Oct. 22. You have to be there by 8:30 a.m. if you register at the door. It will last until about 2:00 p.m. It is way up in Champlin, but if your parents are willing to take you, you could try it. Cost is $16. For complete details, see

www.schoolchess.org

It's tough competition - your goal at your first tournament is to try to win one game.
I had a player who lost his first 15 games in tournament competition, but a couple of years ago he became the U1600 National Champion for Jr. High. So don't get discouraged if you start out slowly.

Thomas Miranda	742	756
Ben Ellison	300	352
Alex Venturi	300	325
Frank Sullivan	300	321
Vic Fischer	300	305
Monte Fischer	300	302
Matthew Friedman	300	297
Hunter Swenson	300	281
Gabe Delmont	300	275
Oliver McEllistrom	300	274
Phillip Varnado	300	258
Luc Kaderlik	300	254
Andrew Keis	100	167
Blake Kinzer	100	142
Mandi Wen	100	130
Tommy Buell	100	117
Albin Swenson	100	116
Jake Wendt	100	111
Maureen Andersen	100	108
Jill Lund	100	105
Tommy Harrity	100	100
Lendale Smith	100	100
Stephen Kasella	100	100

First meeting of chess club

I enjoyed the first meeting of chess club. I hope you did.
Please let me know next session if I have your grade wrong or if I've spelled you name incorrectly.

Next week castling and the weird story that caused a recent change in the rulebooks.
And en-passant and how the King's Indian Defense got it's name.

We'll also delve into opening principals and highways.

Grade	Name	Rating
7	Thomas Miranda	751
5	Vic Fischer	321
8	Hunter Swenson	302
8	Matthew Friedman	297
5	Gabe Delmont	289
8	Monte Fischer	281
6	Blake Kinzer	137
5	Ben Ellison	129
6	Albin Swenson	121
6	Andrew Keis	115
8	Mandi Wen	113
5	Maureen Andersen	113
6	Tommy Harrity	105
6	Lendale Smith	100
6	Stephen Kasella	100
5	Jill Lund	100

Welcome to the Friendly Hills Chess Club

We meet on Wednesday's after school from 3:15 until 4:45. Our start date is Oct 5.

As part of chess club, I use the Harkness rating system. Initial ratings will be 100 for beginners, 300 for intermediate, and for the one advanced player, I will use my top-secret database that I keep on all children who play in tournaments.

Why ratings? 1) So you can see your progress, 2) so I can assign you to an appropriate learning group, 3) so you know who you should be playing and who there's no sense in playing, 4) so I can select a team when that time comes.

You get 5 points each time you show up, two points a problem on worksheets, and you may gain or lose points as a result of playing other players.