Line-up for Friday & Ratings

Chess Match Friday Feb 2 in FHMS cafeteria at 3:30 - 5:30
FHMS vs Metcalf C 1.Henry 2.Isaiah 3.Luke 4.Miles 5.Owen
FHMS vs Metcalf A 1.Henry 2.Isaiah 3.Luke 4.Miles 5.Jaden
Anyone else is welcome - there will be extras there for a scrimmage game

Name	31-Jan
Henry	795
Isaiah	784
Luke	747
Miles	737
Oscar	678
Owen	635
Jaden	584
Niko	540
Nick	369
Christian	327
Gere	312
Jack	269
Tyler	265
Ben	248
Tom	219
James	212
Nolan	193
Derrick	190
Naomi	187
Isaac	182
Quinn	157
Patrick	147
Zach	147
Winston	123
Davis	110

Match Rounds 1-2 Results and Positions

vs Metcalf B vs Sanford
Henry  L        L
Isaiah L        L 
Miles  L        W
Luke   D        W
Owen   L        W
Lost 4½ - ½  Won 3-2 
Jaden  W        W
TOP TEN AFTER THE MATCH

Henry	801
Isaiah	759
Miles	737
Luke	732
Oscar	678
Owen	625
Jaden	584
Niko	540
Nick	351

INTERESTING POSITIONS FROM THE MATCHES (Answers below)
#1. Here's a position from Owen's game against Sanford. Owen is White and it's his turn. How can he save his queen?

#2. Here's a position from Owen's game against Sanford. Owen is White and it's his turn. should he trade queens? Why or why not?

#3 Luke, playing Black, missed a very nice move at this point of the game. Can you find it?

#4. Here Luke started out with the Evans gambit. It was played perfectly by both player through 12 moves. As the game went on, Black's position got stronger and stronger until it reached this point. What is Black's best move?

#5 Here's position from one of Jaden's games. Jaden played Qd4 protecting his pawn and attacking the knight and putting the queen powerfully in the center. However, he missed a brilliant combination. Can you figure out what his next moves should have been?

Answers:
#1. b3 is the only move that saves the queen. Qa3 fails to save her because of the move Nd3!! with the discovered attack and after b4 Bxb4 the escape square of b2 is now guarded by the daring knight! In the game, Owen played Qa3 but his opponent missed Nd3 and played Na6 allowing Owen to escape and eventually get to position #2.

#2 The general rule is: If you're ahead, trade pieces; if you're behind, trade pawns. So counting the pieces White is up a knight and a pawn -it's probably a good idea to trade. But in this position there's also a tactical reason to trade. When Black captures back with his King, Nf7+ picks up a rook though you might not be able to save your knight.

#3 Bxf3+ Do you see why White can't take it? The game might have continued 18. Ke1 Qg2+ 19.Bf1 0-0 20.Qd3 Be4 and at this point the computer says White's queen is a goner because of the many threats.

#4 Luke's problems started when he blocked the Queen check with his rook rather than stepping to h1. He essentially pinned his own rook. Black piles on with his rook (attack the pinned piece) and Luke defends with his queen. However, Luke would have found out how perilous his position was had his opponent played Rf4 when his Queen must abandon the rook. Fortunately Luke's opponent didn't listen when his chess coach told him "Don't be in a hurry to take a pinned piece - it's not going anywhere. Make your opponent squirm under the pressure of the pin." Instead he got impatient and traded rooks and queens letting Luke off the hook. Eventually it ended in a draw.

#5 1. Qh8+! Kd7 2.Qd7+ Kc6 3.Nd4+ with a royal fork! If Ke6 instead of d6, Rfe1+ leads to a quick checkmate - play it out.
Another good first move is 1.Rfe1+ if Kf8 2. Qh8#, if Be6 you can proceed as before.

MATCH PLAY - WEEK 1
That all I've got - Miles gave away his pieces, Isaiah played very nicely until he gave away a Queen and Rook on the same move - that's hard to do! Owen's other game was nice but I couldn't find anything too exciting. Jaden's other game was notated with the board backwards but since he's got the squares in his head, some of the moves were notated as if the board were correct - in any case I couldn't figure it out. 

I was basically pleased with the results. I didn't want Metcalf to win 5-0 and they didn't; and I wanted us to win our second match, and we did. I linked the League from my old league from 2 years ago to the new league - not sure when they'll get stuff posted.

LEAGUE STANDINGS
Metcalf A beat Faithful Shepherd B 5-0 by forfeit
Metcalf B beat FHMS 4.5-.5
Highview beat Metcalf C 3-2
Faithful Shepherd A beat Plymouth 5-0 by forfeit

(FHMS beat Sanford 3-2)
FHMS beat Faithful Shepherd B 5-0 by forfeit
Metcalf B beat Plymouth 5-0 by forfeit
Highview beat Faithful Shepherd A 5-0
Metcalf A beat Metcalf C 4-1 

      Matches Games
MetcalfB 2      9.5
MetcalfA 2      9
Highview 2      8
Friendly 1      5.5
FaithShA 1      5
MetcalfC 0      3
Plymouth 0      0
FaithShB 0      0

Next Up :
Round 3
Highview vs Faithful Shpherd B
Plymouth vs Metcalf A
Friendly Hills vs Metcalf C
Metcalf B vs Faithful Shepherd A
Round 4
Faithful Shepherd A vs Faithful Shepherd B
Metcalf B vs Metcalf C
Friendly Hills vs Metcalf A
Highview vs Plymouth

FRIDAY JAN 26 Match at Metcalf
Meet at main doors at 2:55
Arrange for parents to pick up at about 5:50 at FHMS
FHMS vs Metcalf B
1. Henry
2. Isaiah
3. Miles
4. Luke
5. Owen
6. Jaden (scrimmage vs Lake Harriet)
FHMS vs Faithful Shepherd
1. Henry
2. Isaiah
3. Miles
4. Luke
5. Owen
6. Jaden (scrimmage vs Lake Harriet)

Note that Nick is now our 3rd alternate. Luke may soon overtake Miles.

Name	26-Jan	24-Jan
Henry	IN	801
Isaiah	IN	759
Miles	IN	727
Luke	IN	717
Oscar		678
Owen	IN	615
Jaden	IN	564
Niko		540
Nick		351
Shakti		333
Christian		323
Gere		312
Jack		274
Ben		244
Tyler		242
Tom		219
Ellyanna		211
James		204
Nolan		193
Isaac		191
Derrick		190
Naomi		181
Quinn		157
Catey		149
Zach		142
Patrick		141
Winston		118
Ellie		118
Davis		105
Sahasra		100

Tournament Update! and latest ratings

Friday Jan 26 Two matches at Metcalf. Round 1 we take on Metcalf B  and round 2 we take on Faithful Shepherd B from Eagan. We'll meet at FHMS at 2:55 Owen's mom is driving to Metcalf. Luke's mom is bringing them back to FHMS at 5:50 or sooner - call from Metcalf when we're leaving. 1. Henry 2. Isaiah 3. Miles 4.Luke 5.Owen. Bring your charged IPads to use as chess clocks. Set the clocks for 30 minutes each with a five second delay.

Friday Feb 2 Two matches at FHMS against Metcalf A and Metcalf C. Arrange for your transportation home at 5:30 1.Henry 2.Isaiah 3.Miles 4.Luke 5.Owen

Saturday Feb 3 SCA tournament at Zachary Lane in Plymouth - all welcome

Friday Feb 9 Two matches at Metcalf against Highview of New Brighton, and Plymouth

Friday Feb 16 One match at Metcalf against Faithful Shepherd A

Saturday Feb 17 Statewide Grade Level at Metcalf - all Welcome let's have a big turnout!

Saturday-Sunday March 24-25 State Championship - St. Kate's University. If you or the team wins a trophy, it will be awarded at this tournament.

Name	17-Jan
Henry	801
Isaiah	741
Miles	727
Luke	695
Oscar	678
Owen	603
Jaden	569
Niko	540
Shakti	333
Christian	311
Nick	293
Gere	278
Jack	274
Tyler	242
Ben	228
James	218
Ellyanna	211
Tom	209
Nolan	193
Isaac	191
Derrick	190
Naomi	176
Quinn	157
Catey	149
Zach	142
Patrick	141
Winston	118
Ellie	118
Davis	100

Positons from your notated games

#1. Isaiah, playing black, has a strong attack going against Henry. How should he continue?

#2. Gere, playing black, tried to drive away Jack's knight but made the mistake of moving up foolish Freddy - the f-pawn. Don't move up that f-pawn unless you're castled. Jack, playing white, shows why you shouldn't move up that f-pawn - Qh5+! Gere blocks with g6. But then Jack plays the nice move Nxg3 attacking the rook which Gere moves leaving this position. How should Jack continue?

#3 Jaden, playing white, has overwhelmed Nick who lost his Queen by getting out too early.
After 9 excellent moves, Jaden missed a forced checkmate from this position. Can you find one in less than 5 moves?

Answers:
#1. Rxg2+ creating a discovered attack on the d1 Rook.
#2. 1. Bxg8 is probably best, but there are other good choices, such as:
      1. Nh4 (if Ke7 you've got a checkmate - can you find it?) Rg6  2. Nxg6 hxg6  3. Qxg6+ Ke7
      3. Qxe4+ Kd6 4. Qxa8
      1, Nxf8+ (which is the move Jack chose) Gere played Kxf8? Why is that a mistake?
          Unfortunately, Jack missed the checkmate and played Bxg8.
#3. The one I saw first was 1. Qxf6 Rxf6 2. Rh8+ Kg7 3. R1h7#, but there are also others -
      1. Rg7+ Kxg7 2. Qh6+ Kg8 3. Qh8#
      1. Rh8+ Kg7 2.Qh6#

Middle School Chess League - Jan 15 New Schedule

MATCHES
We'll need to arrange rides to get there. We may need to get out of school early on game days.
Matches start at 3:30 and end at 5:30. The school is paying all fees.
We need parent volunteers to drive 5 or 6 kids to Metcalf which is 35E so. to Diffley, then west on Diffley 2-3 miles to just past Cedar. Bring a book or shop til 5:20

The format is we'll meet at a school for two matches on a Friday until we've played all teams.
Matches consist of top 5 players playing top 5 from another school. 3 points wins the match.

Jan 26 No school -meet at FHMS main doors at 2:55 to go to Metcalf Middle School in Burnsville
      for two matches (35E S to Diffley w past Cedar; 8.9 mi. 16 min.)
      Driver to MMS: Owen's Mom      Driver from: Lukes' Mom
      Pick up your own child at Friendly Hills at 5:50 or use cell phones for more accurate time

Feb 2 matches at Friendly Hills (no drivers needed) Pickup at 5:30 or use cell phones

Feb 9 two matches at Metcalf in Burnsville
      Driver to MMS:       Driver from:
      Pick up your own child at Friendly Hills at 5:50 or use cell phones for more accurate time

Feb 16 one match at Metcalf in Burnsville
      Driver to MMS:                   Driver from:
      Pick up your own child at Friendly Hills at 4:50 or use cell phones for more accurate time

Committed -green in, red out, yellow - probable
Jan 26 (no school) Henry, Miles, Isaiah, Luke, Owen,  Jaden
Feb 2   Henry, Miles, Isaiah, Luke, Owen,  Jaden 
Feb 9   Henry, Miles, Isaiah, Luke, Owen,  Jaden
Feb 16 Henry, Miles, Isaiah, Luke, Owen,  Jaden, Niko

TEAM MEMBERS
1. Henry Evenson
2. Miles Dunn
3. Isaiah Walker
4. Luke Reisig
5. Owen Glewwe
Alternates
6. Jaden Partyka
7. Niko Hess
8. Shakti Gurung
9. Christian O'Hara

LEAGUE
There will be 8 teams in the league:
Burnsville Metcalf A, B, and C
Friendly Hills
Plymouth M.S.
Faithful Shepherd in Eagan A an
Highland M.S. New Brighton

Henry	802
Miles	727
Isaiah	725
Luke	683
Oscar	678
Owen	628
Jaden	576
Niko	540
Shakti	333
Christian	293
Gere	278
Nick	273
Tyler	258
Tom	249
Jack	239
James	218
Ellyanna	211
Ben	206
Nolan	193
Derrick	190
Isaac	186
Naomi	157
Quinn	157
Catey	149
Patrick	136
Winston	118
Ellie	118
Zach	116
Davis	102
Sahasra	100

Jan News Update

I just got an e-mail saying there are not enough chess teams interested in league play in the St. Paul area and if we want to participate, we'd have to join the South Division which plays one match after school 3 or 4 Fridays in Jan-Feb. Stay tuned for more details.

Grade	Rank	Name	3-Jan
7	1	Henry	795
7	2	Miles	727
8	3	Isaiah	720
8	4	Oscar	678
6	5	Luke	657
7	6	Owen	634
8	7	Jaden	566
8	8	Niko	540
7	9	Shakti	333
8	10	Nick	273
7	11	Gere	257
8	12	Jack	250
8	13	Tom	226
5	14	Tyler	224
5	15	James	218
7	16	Ellyanna	211
5	17	Nolan	204
8	18	Ben	201
5	19	Derrick	190
5	20	Naomi	168
6	21	Isaac	165
5	22	Quinn	157
7	23	Catey	149
6	24	Patrick	144
5	25	Zach	121
7	26	Winston	118
5	27	Ellie	118
5	28	Davis	102
5	29	Sahasra	100