Chess Club Fall 2021

I am no longer able to keep up my busy schedule and am limiting my coaching to the two schools only a block from my house - Moreland and Heritage. If you can find a coach, or even just a monitor, the chess sets were last seen in Room 123 in the lower cabinets farthest from the door. I would be glad to work with whoever takes over to get you started.

Bill Heinemann gemshein@hotmail.com

  2020 Chess

 Due to the covid outbreak, I am currently not teaching any after-school chess. However SCA has gone virtual with a successful virtual chess camp this summer. 

VIRTUAL TOURNAMENTS

SCA will be conducting virtual tournaments until we can get back together again. 

Merit points will be awarded and all awards will be mailed.

Answers to Problems from March 11

1. Re2+  Kd5
2. (Two big pieces on a line...) Rd2+ winning the rook

White does not have to worry about the pawns on the g and h files - they can take care of themselves. If the black king takes the pawn on g5 the h pawn runs and queens. Two pawns on adjacent files are safe from an enemy king. In fact, even if there is one file between the pawns, they are still safe from the enemy king. (See if you can work that out and figure out why.) What White does need to be concerned with is Black making the move b4! So the correct solution is:
1. Kd4 b4
2. axb4 a2
3, Kc3 a1
4. Kb2 Black resigns

Incorrect is:
1. Rc3? a1=Q+!
2. Kxa1 Kxc3
Two possible solutions:
1. Rh1 Kc4
2. Rh3 Kb4
3. Rxb3+ (this is the key - take with pawn with check)
4. Kc4 Kxa2 (or Rxa2)
The other possibility is:
1. Rc8l Kb5
2. Rb8+ Kc4
3. Rb7 (a waiting move puts Black in zugzwang - he'd like to pass, but he must move) Kc5
4. Rxb3 with an easy win (I hope you've mastered the KR ending!)

The queen becomes more and more powerful as the board empties.
1. Qe7+ forking the King and Rook

CHESS CLUB SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY

There will be no more chess until further notice in a effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
Also not that if you were planning on attending the SCA Tournament on March 21, that has been cancelled as well.

March 11

Tournament coming up March 21 at Plymouth Middle School 8:30-3:00 $22 for first-timers, else $20. Bring about $5 for lunch and we'll play chess and eat pizza all day. For more details or to register, go to www.schoolchess.org

I've highlighted two possible teams. We need 3 on a team. 7th graders would play in the 8th grade section. 5th graders would play in the 6th grade section.

Grade	Rank	Name	11-Mar
8	1	Luke	1004
6	2	Shanmuka	853
7	3	Elijah	831
8	4	Graham	651
7	5	Dhanush	547
6	6	Amanuel	546
8	7	Sam	473
5	8	Pragnan	470
5	9	Asher	414
6	10	Nirmal	321
	11	Jose	315
5	12	Ben	293
7	13	Zach	242
7	14	Derrick	238
7	15	Bisrat	235
6	16	Saisloka	219
5	17	Roman W	214
	18	Lars	191
8	19	Fernando	173
5	20	Claire	170
5	21	Shewwite	164
5	22	Matiyas	129
5	23	Ibrahim	109
5	24	Carter	101

Tournament coming up March 21 at Plymouth Middle School 8:30-3:00 $22 for first-timers, else $20. Bring about $5 for lunch and we'll play chess and eat pizza all day. For more details or to register, go to www.schoolchess.org 

I've highlighted two possible teams. We need 3 on a team. 7th graders would play in the 8th grade section. 5th graders would play in the 6th grade section.

Grade	Rank	Name	4-Mar
8	1	Luke	1004
6	2	Shanmuka	874
7	3	Elijah	815
8	4	Graham	651
6	5	Amanuel	571
8	6	Sam	513
7	7	Dhanush	512
5	8	Pragnan	468
5	9	Asher	414
5	10	Ben	288
6	11	Nirmal	271
	12	Jose	269
7	13	Zach	242
7	14	Derrick	238
7	15	Bisrat	235
6	16	Saisloka	219
5	17	Roman W	214
	18	Lars	191
8	19	Fernando	170
5	20	Claire	170
5	21	Shewwite	169
5	22	Matiyas	129
5	23	Ibrahim	105
5	24	Carter	105
6	25	Jack	100

Minnesota Scholastic Championship

March 7-8 Sat-Sun

There are other upcoming tournaments put on by the School Chess Association. See www.schoolchess.org for more info or to register.

Mar 21 Statewide Grade Level Championship. Individual and Team Champions will be determined, Cost $20, 1 hour games

April 18 Sat Twin Cities Middle School Championship. Individual and Team Champions will be determined, Cost $20, 1 hour games at Plymouth M.S.

May 2-3 Sat-Sun Statewide Elementary Championships (K-6)  BIGGEST tournament of the year!
60 Individual trophies and 10 Team trophies will be awarded, Cost $42, 1 hour games at Robbinsdale M.S. Last two rounds are 2 hrs.

May 16 Sat Excellent chance to win a trophy since there is a separate section for the top 16. Cost $20