2019 Year-End Rating

The next tournaments are: (Bold print indicates the ones I think we should go to)

Jan 4 Sandburg M.S. Golden Valley

January to February - Fridays after school at Heritage or FHMS for Chess League - Top 5 will compete for our team. No cost. More details coming soon.
Board 1 Luke
Board 2 Shanmuka
Board 3 Elijah
Board 4 Graham
Board 5 Amanuel
Alternates Pragnan, Asher, Sam, Bisrat, Dhanush

Jan 18 Pilgrim Lane in Plymouth - If 5 of you show up, we will play team vs team If we have fewer than 5, you will play in the regular tournament. Ask your parents if you can go. It costs about $27 including lunch. You might try to get a ride with someone else on the team.

Feb 8 Zachary Lane ,,Plymouth

Mar 21 Pilgrim Lane - Grade Level Championships

Apr 18 Middle School Championships - Pilgrim Lane

Rank	Name	Rating
1	Luke	1047
2	Shanmuka	828
3	Elijah	731
4	Graham	701
5	Amanuel	578
6	Pragnan	402
7	Asher	364
8	Sam	363
9	Bisrat	302
10	Dhanush	283
11	Zach	266
12	Manogna	237
13	Roman W	229
14	Ben	225
15	Derrick	221
16	Audrey	193
17	Saisloka	183
18	Nirmal	168
19	Fernando	153
20	Jacelyn	149
21	Jocelyn	149
22	Claire	147
23	Shewwite	127
24	Jose	119
25	Logan	117
26	Alex	115
27	Matiyas	115
28	Rehema	114
27	Ibrahim	101
28	Benny	100
29	Carter	100

Dec 11 Ratings

We have an opportunity to join a league where we'd play five of our players against five from another school. It would be on Fridays in Jan and early February. It looks like the team would be Luke, Shanmuka, Elijah, Graham and Amanuel with Pragnan and Asher as backups in case someone couldn't make it. Or we could field two teams by adding Sam, Bisrat, Zach, and Dhanush. I would get the school to pay the fee, so it would be free for the participants. However, you would have to provide your own transportation to and from the school (which would probably be Friendly Hills, Heritage, or Metcalf. We don't need all 5 parents to drive - two will probably do for one team, 4 for 2 teams. Think about if you would like to participate even if I didn't include your name above. Ask your parents if you can go, and ask them if they would be willing to drive

If we don't join the league, I thought we might take the activity bus over to Heritage and play them.

Rank	Name	Rating
1	Luke	1047
2	Shanmuka	811
3	Elijah	697
4	Graham	667
5	Amanuel	593
6	Billy	379
7	Pragnan	375
8	Asher	364
9	Sam	363
10	Bisrat	302
11	Zach	266
12	Dhanush	259
13	Manogna	234
14	Ben	232
15	Derrick	214
16	Roman W	199
17	Audrey	193
18	Saisloka	176
19	Nirmal	163
20	Fernando	153
21	Jacelyn	149
22	Jocelyn	149
23	Claire	147
24	Shewwite	122
25	Logan	117
26	Alex	115
27	Matiyas	115
28	Rehema	114
29	Jose	111
28	Ibrahim	106
29	Carter	105
30	Benny	100

Tournament Schedule Update

Tournament Schedule Has Changed
Changes marked in red

Jan 4  Sandburg M.S., Golden Valley (Special double-bug section)
Jan 18 Pilgrim Lane, Plymouth M.S.  (5 person team vs team)
Feb 8 Zachary Lane Elem. Plymouth
March 21 Grade Level Championships (Teams of 3) Pilgrim Lane M.S.
April 18 M.S. Championships Pilgrim Lane, Plymouth M.S.
May 2 Robbinsdale M.S. Elementary (K-6) Championships

Tournament Results

Name   1 2 3 4 Bef Aft Chg
Elijah L W W L 653 674 +21

Tournament Saturday

TOURAMENT

WHEN: Saturday Dec 7, 2019 from 8:15 to about 3:00

WHERE: Metcalf M.S. in Burnsville

WHO: Anyone pre-school to 12th grade. You will play other children in your same grade.

HOW: To register show up before 8:30 with $22 and money for lunch.

WHY: Have fun, make new friends, earn awards.

Do I have to "make the team"? Nope, not in chess. You are automatically on the team.

If I lose do I go home? No, you'll play 5 games. 

What if I lose m first 3 games? You'll play against someone with the same record.
HOW MANY GAMES WILL I WIN? If it's your first tournament, your goal is to try to win 1 game.

For more information, look up www.schoolchess.org or call coach Bill at 651-451-8412

RATINGS

Grade	Rank	Name	4-Dec
8	1	Luke	1047
6	2	Shanmuka	802
8	3	Graham	667
7	4	Elijah	653
6	5	Amanuel	571
6	6	Billy	379
8	7	Sam	359
5	8	Asher	352
5	9	Pragnan	321
7	10	Bisrat	283
7	11	Zach	245
7	12	Dhanush	245
5	13	Ben	242
7	14	Derrick	226
6	15	Manogna	222
5	16	Roman W	199
6	17	Audrey	193
6	18	Saisloka	166
6	19	Nirmal	163
5	20	Jacelyn	149
8	21	Fernando	144
5	22	Claire	141
	23	Lars	125
5	24	Jocelyn	122
6	25	Logan	117
5	26	Shewwite	117
6	27	Alex	115
5	28	Matiyas	115
5	29	Rehema	114
	30	Jose	107
7	31	Benny	100
5	32	Carter	100
5	33	Ibrahim	100
	34	Ana	100

Gift idea

Chess Sets
At this time of year, I usually put in a group order and order chess sets like the ones we use at chess club. I usually get a good discount by ordering bulk, frequent customer, split shipping, etc. Includes vinyl and cloth roll-up board, pieces with extra queens, large carrying case with handles, sleeve for board and zippered compartment for pieces. Cost is usually $12 to $14 which is better that the $20 if you ordered yourself or $40 at a store. Send me an e-mail at gemshein@hotmail.com if you'd like one.

Today's Results

Quad 1 Winner - Shanmuka
Quad 2 Winner - Asher
Quad 3 Winner - Pragnan
Quad 4 Winner - Manogna/Saisloka
Quad 5 Winner - Jose

Grade	Rank	Name	20-Nov
8	1	Luke	1047
6	2	Shanmuka	779
8	3	Graham	667
7	4	Elijah	634
6	5	Amanuel	569
6	6	Billy	379
8	7	Sam	359
5	8	Asher	329
5	9	Pragnan	288
7	10	Bisrat	283
7	11	Zach	243
7	12	Derrick	238
7	13	Dhanush	219
5	14	Ben	211
5	15	Roman W	199
6	16	Manogna	195
6	17	Audrey	193
6	18	Saisloka	168
6	19	Nirmal	150
5	20	Claire	150
8	21	Fernando	132
5	22	Jacelyn	131
5	23	Shewwite	126
5	24	Jocelyn	122
	25	Jose	121
6	26	Logan	117
6	27	Alex	115
5	28	Matiyas	115
5	29	Rehema	111
5	30	Carter	105
7	31	Benny	100
5	32	Ibrahim	100

Tournament Results

Name   W L D Bef Aft Chg Merit
Graham 1 4 0 662 618 -44 4.5

Tournament Schedule

Tournament Schedule
Nov 16 Metcalf M.S. Burnsville 8:15-3:00
Dec 7 Metcalf M.S.
Jan 4 Metcalf M.S. (Top 5 will represent Heritage)
Jan 18 Metcalf M.S.
Feb 8 Zachary Lane Elem. Plymouth
March 21 Metcalf M.S.
April 18 Metcalf M.S.
May 2 Robbinsdale M.S.

Ratings

Rank	Name	14-Nov
1	Maize	645
2	Chase	469
3	Silas	279
4	Jackson	211
5	Antonio	198
6	Boomer	190
7	Myles	189
8	Cole	180
9	Johnny	174
10	Aidan G	152
11	Dylan	136
12	John	119
13	David	115
14	Xander	114
15	Mark	113
16	Cooper	107
17	Drew	100
18	Martice	100

Latest News, Scores, etc

Lesson
We went over the pin worksheets.
We learned? about discovered attacks. Only 2 people got more than one problem correct. Congratulations to Roman who had the highest score in the class!

Tournament - Have Some Fun Saturday!
There is a tournament on Saturday. If you'd like to try, show up at Metcalf Middle School at about 8:15 with $20 ($22 if this is your first tournament). Bring lunch or lunch money (they sell pizza, hot dogs, chips, fruit, cookies, etc.) You'll play 5 games - no elimination. You play someone with the same record. You'll be done by 3:00. There is a section this weekend just for girls.

Ratings

Grade	Rank	Name	Rating
8	1	Luke	1047
6	2	Shanmuka	749
8	3	Graham	662
7	4	Elijah	625
6	5	Amanuel	600
6	6	Billy	379
8	7	Sam	345
5	8	Asher	307
7	9	Zach	267
7	10	Bisrat	261
5	11	Pragnan	252
7	12	Derrick	250
7	13	Dhanush	230
5	14	Ben	204
5	15	Roman W	199
6	16	Audrey	193
6	17	Manogna	175
5	18	Claire	150
6	19	Saisloka	147
8	20	Fernando	142
6	21	Logan	128
6	22	Nirmal	127
5	23	Jacelyn	126
5	24	Jocelyn	122
5	25	Rehema	122
6	26	Alex	115
5	27	Matiyas	115
5	28	Shewwite	110
5	29	Ibrahim	105
5	30	Carter	100

November

Today we went over the hurdles/skewers worksheet.
We also had a lesson on pins as and did a worksheet.

Here's Luke at the tournament on Nov 2. Luke scored 2 points out of 4.

There's a tournament coming up on Nov 16 at Burnsville Metcalf.

Let's put up a team or two on Dec 7. Set aside that SaturdayWe need 3 in one grade.

Blue marks those who were absent this week.

Grade	Rank	Name	6-Nov
8	1	Luke	1047
6	2	Shanmuka	728
8	3	Graham	674
7	4	Elijah	628
6	5	Amanuel	575
6	6	Billy	379
8	7	Sam	306
5	8	Asher	306
7	9	Zach	269
7	10	Derrick	250
7	11	Bisrat	245
7	12	Dhanush	241
5	13	Pragnan	227
6	14	Audrey	193
5	15	Ben	181
5	16	Roman W	174
5	17	Claire	155
6	18	Manogna	153
6	19	Saisloka	147
5	20	Shewwite	136
8	21	Fernando	132
6	22	Logan	128
6	23	Nirmal	127
5	24	Mason	123
5	25	Jocelyn	122
5	26	Jacelyn	121
5	27	Rehema	117
5	28	Ibrahim	116
6	29	Alex	115
5	30	Matiyas	115
7	31	Christopher	100
5	32	Carter	100
	33	Adan	100

Tournament Results

Luke Reisig finished in 16th place out of 25 competitors in the grade 8-12 section. His Rating dropped from 1076 to 1022.

Oct 30

Tournament Saturday for those interested at Highview Middle School in New Brighton. Be there at 8:15 to register. Cost $20. Pizza, hot dogs, etc for lunch - bring lunch money. Play only those in your grade. Trophies for top 5 and for top team.

Next Tournaments
Nov 16
Dec  2 - Grade Level Let's try to field a team even if someone has to play up a grade.
Jan 4
Jan 18 - Team vs Team (we need 5 players for a team)
Jr High Chess League (we need 5+ players for a team)  weekdays after school

Grade	Rank	Name	30-Oct
8	1	Luke	1076
6	2	Shanmuka	715
8	3	Graham	661
7	4	Elijah	612
6	5	Amanuel	559
6	6	Billy	379
8	7	Sam	313
5	8	Asher	291
7	9	Zach	283
7	10	Derrick	250
7	11	Dhanush	241
7	12	Bisrat	214
6	13	Audrey	193
5	14	Ben	181
5	15	Pragnan	178
5	16	Roman W	174
5	17	Claire	164
6	18	Manogna	142
6	19	Saisloka	140
5	20	Shewwite	136
6	21	Logan	128
8	22	Fernando	127
5	23	Mason	123
5	24	Jocelyn	117
5	25	Ibrahim	116
5	26	Jacelyn	116
6	27	Alex	115
6	28	Nirmal	114
5	29	Rehema	112
7	30	Christopher	100
5	31	Carter	100
5	32	Matiyas	100
	33	Adan	100

Oct 23

Today our lesson was on forks.
Highest score on the worksheet was 11 by Ben and Elijah
For more practice click here
or for really hard problems click here

Tournament coming up Nov 2 - more info next week

Grade	Rank	Name	Rating
8	1	Luke	1056
6	2	Shanmuka	708
8	3	Graham	661
7	4	Elijah	604
6	5	Amanuel	545
6	6	Billy	379
7	7	Zach	314
8	8	Sam	299
5	9	Asher	252
7	10	Derrick	250
7	11	Bisrat	209
7	12	Dhanush	198
6	13	Audrey	193
5	14	Roman G	179
5	15	Roman W	174
5	16	Claire	164
5	17	Pragnan	156
8	18	Fernando	150
6	19	Manogna	142
6	20	Saisloka	140
5	21	Ben	139
6	22	Logan	128
5	23	Shewwite	128
5	24	Mason	123
6	25	Nirmal	122
5	26	Ibrahim	116
6	27	Alex	115
5	28	Jocelyn	112
5	29	Jacelyn	111
5	30	Rehema	107
5	31	Carter	105
7	32	Christopher	100
5	33	Matiyas	100
	34	Adan	100

Oct 16

Next Tournament
WHEN: Nov 2 Register on site at 8:15 be done by about 2:30
WHERE: Highview Middle School New Brighton
WHO: Anyone, but you should wait til your rating is around 400 if you want a chance to win. You'll play other students from across the Twin Cities in the same grade.
HOW MUCH: $22 + lunch money
WHY: Fun - you'll play 5 games, 4 in 7th or 8th grade.

LESSON    
Today we went over Checkmate and Stalemate. Those who scored lower than a 14 (of 18) on the first worksheet were allowed to do a second worksheet.
We also learned all the rules of castling (including a funny story of 0-0-0-0-0-0!) We also learned a strange move called en passant.

RATINGS
Biggest gains - Elijah +75, Sam +69, Derrrick +60

Grade	Rank	Name	Rating
8	1	Luke	1040
6	2	Shanmuka	696
8	3	Graham	620
7	4	Elijah	615
6	5	Amanuel	517
6	6	Billy	379
8	7	Sam	316
7	8	Zach	303
7	9	Derrick	250
7	10	Bisrat	209
5	11	Asher	206
6	12	Audrey	185
7	13	Dhanush	179
5	14	Roman G	179
6	15	Manogna	170
5	16	Roman W	168
8	17	Fernando	150
	18	Pragnan	140
5	19	Claire	138
6	20	Nirmal	137
5	21	Shewitte	137
5	22	Mason	123
5	23	Ben	122
6	24	Alex	121
6	25	Logan	117
6	26	Saisioka	116
5	27	Ibrahim	116
5	28	Carter	105
	29	Jacelyn	105
5	30	Matiyas	100
7	31	Christopher	100
5	32	Nardos	100
	33	Adan	100

Oct 9

We reviewed opening principles and discussed some bad moves to avoid.
We learned what checkmate is and 3 ways to stop it.
We learned what stalemate is. Although judging by the scores on the worksheet, most of you did not fully catch on. only 2 perfect papers, about 4 missed only one.

Tournament on Saturday at Metcalf Middle School in Burnsville. Cost $20 Be there at 8:15 to register. No elimination - you'll play 5 games. Done at about 2:30. My usual guideline is wait until your rating gets up to 400. But anyone can come as long as you don't mind losing all 5 games. It's a good way to improve. Check out the SCA website off the link in the upper right for more info.

Ratings

Grade	Rank	Name	9-Oct
8	1	Luke	1048
6	2	Shanmuka	710
8	3	Graham	691
7	4	Elijah	540
6	5	Amanuel	503
6	6	Billy	404
7	7	Zach	303
8	8	Sam	247
7	9	Bisrat	207
6	10	Audrey	185
5	11	Roman G	179
5	12	Asher	173
5	13	Roman W	168
6	14	Nirmal	154
6	15	Manogna	146
7	16	Daneush	142
5	17	Shewitte	137
	18	Ben	132
6	19	Saisloka	127
8	20	Fernando	124
5	21	Mason	123
5	22	Claire	120
5	23	Carter	105
5	24	Mutiyahl	105
6	25	Alex	104
	26	Pragnan	103
7	27	Christopher	100
6	28	Logan	100
5	29	Nardos	100
5	30	Ibrahim	100
	31	Jacelyn	100