Zwischenzug (solve this problem!)

We went over the Famous Checkmates worksheet.
Then we had a lesson on the tactic known as Zwischenzug, followed by a worksheet on that.
Here's a problem I put on the display board - find White's best move.

White would like to put some pressure on the black king. He can threaten checkmate with Qf3, Qf4 or Qh5. Which works best?
a) 1. Qf4 Re3 pretty much stops the threat
b) 1. Qh5 looks more powerful because you are also attacking Black's bishop, but Black plays Be7 saving the bishop and stopping checkmate.
c) 1. Qf3 is a fork threatening mate and the black queen, but black can trade queens (or so Black thinks!)  Qxf3. But White has a Zwischenzug move up his sleeve. He's going to take the queen, but not just yet. Can you find the move?

I dropped a few students who haven't been here in months.

Grade	Rank	Name	27-Feb
8	1	Owen	1081
7	2	Luke	980
7	3	Graham	599
5	4	Shanmuka	517
?	5	Elijah	419
5	6	Billy	400
?	7	Amanuel	354
6	8	Tyler	309
6	9	Zach	274
5	10	Carlos	242
5	11	Adrien	231
6	12	Justin	178
?	13	Bisrat	156
5	14	Manogna	154
6	15	Sahasra	148
?	16	Benny	132
5	17	David	116
?	18	Sam	100
?	19	Nahom	100

Last Tournament of the Year - Middle School Championships!

SAT. MARCH 9 Jr High/Middle School Championships at Metcalf
Register on-line and show up at 9:00 or at the door before 8:30
Let's have a big turnout for the last tournament of the year! We need at least 3 players for a team, but more would be better. Only the top 3 scores count for our team, so if you think you might possibly win 2 games out of 5, be there! If you think you might win 1, be there! You can't earn a medal if you don't come. Although we're not going to take 1st place, I think they have 5 team trophies and we have a good shot at earning one of them. Luke needs 3 wins to earn his silver medal

Grade	Name	Feb 13
8	Owen	1064
7	Luke	963
8	Miles	814
7	Graham	585
5	Shanmuka	464
?	Elijah	409
5	Billy	363
?	Amanuel	330
6	Tyler	312
6	Zach	274
5	Carlos	235
5	Adrien	200
6	Justin	178
5	Jack	173
5	Manogna	171
?	Bisrat	161
6	Sahasra	148
?	Benny	132
?	Sam	118
5	Sean	108
5	Riley	107
?	Nahom	100
8	Winston	100
?	David	100

Results and Ratings

Final Match Results FHMS 4, Faithful Shepherd 1 Nice job.
For League Standings, click on the "Junior High League"

Name	8-Feb
Owen	1047
Luke	945
Miles	814
Graham	582
Shanmuka	442
Elijah	384
Billy	358
Amanuel	325
Zach	293
Tyler	279
Carlos	247
Adrien	211
Jack	173
Manogna	171
Bisrat	149
Sahasra	148
Benny	132
Sean	108
Riley	107
Nahom	100
Winston	100
Sam	100

Latest Ratings

One match left - we need a win!

We went over when to exchange in an endgame and took a look at some famous checkmates.

Name	6-Feb
Owen	1057
Luke	935
Miles	814
Graham	572
Shanmuka	432
Elijah	384
Billy	348
Amanuel	325
Zach	293
Tyler	279
Carlos	247
Leo	222
Adrien	211
Jack	173
Justin	171
Manogna	171
Audrey	152
Bisrat	149
Sahasra	148
Benny	132
Braeden	122
Joshua	119
Sean	108
Riley	107
Nahom	100
Winston	100
Sam	100

Match Results Rounds 3 and 4

Round 3
Metcalf A 5 Friendly Hills 0
1. Owen   L
2. Graham L
3. Elijah L
4. Billy  L
5. Carlos L
Round 4
Metcalf B 5 Friendly Hills 0
1. Owen   L
2. Elijah L
3. Billy  L
4. Carlos L
5. Bisrat L

In spite of getting whipped by the two top teams, we're still in it!
Click on the "Junior High League" link at the upper right.