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

CHESS TEAM TAKES 2nd PLACE

The winning chess team: Front row: Shandmuka Bommana, Amanuel Worku, Jose Ramirez, Dhanush Malempati, Sam Dereje, Elijah Newfield, Coach Heinemann, Luke Reisig

Friendly Hills took second place.

Complete results can be found in the Jr High League link to the right.

Name	28-Feb
Luke	1012
Shanmuka	857
Elijah	773
Graham	651
Amanuel	577
Sam	497
Pragnan	478
Dhanush	477
Asher	414
Ben	288
Jose	265
Zach	253
Derrick	238
Bisrat	235
Nirmal	234
Roman W	214
Saisloka	196
Lars	188
Claire	168
Fernando	165
Shewwite	164
Matiyas	129
Ibrahim	105
Jack	100
Carter	100

Final Match Friday at Heritage

MATCH Friday at Heritage - all welcome
Take the activity bus to Sibley then get on the bus to Heritage.
Bring a snack. Two games - done at 6:00 Awards to follow.
Arrange a ride home from Heritage.

1. Luke
2. Shanmuka
3. Elijah
4. Graham
5. Amanuel
Alternate Sam, Jose

Name	26-Feb
Luke	1014
Shanmuka	890
Elijah	786
Graham	651
Amanuel	606
Sam	493
Pragnan	478
Dhanush	472
Asher	414
Ben	288
Jose	269
Zach	253
Derrick	238
Bisrat	235
Nirmal	234
Roman W	214
Saisloka	196
Lars	188
Claire	168
Fernando	165
Shewwite	164
Matiyas	129
Ibrahim	105
Jack	100
Carter	100

Feb 20

Jr High Chess League matches at Burnville Metcalf right after school on Friday!
Everyone welcome to participate.

Today we went over the overload funsheet and
did a worksheet of combinations.

Luke	1014
Shanmuka	904
Elijah	776
Graham	651
Amanuel	623
Pragnan	482
Sam	466
Dhanush	455
Asher	397
Ben	295
Derrick	264
Zach	250
Bisrat	235
Jose	223
Roman W	214
Nirmal	200
Saisloka	191
Lars	188
Claire	179
Fernando	165
Shewwite	164
Matiyas	129
Ibrahim	125
Jack	100
Carter	100

Overloads

Today we got back to worksheets - learned about exploiting an overload piece with example from grandmaster games.

Rank	Name	Rating
1	Luke	993
2	Shanmuka	892
3	Elijah	782
4	Graham	651
5	Amanuel	579
6	Pragnan	463
7	Sam	449
8	Dhanush	439
9	Asher	404
10	Zach	280
11	Ben	280
12	Bisrat	273
13	Derrick	264
14	Roman W	209
15	Lars	188
16	Jose	187
17	Saisloka	181
18	Nirmal	179
19	Claire	174
20	Fernando	166
21	Shewwite	164
22	Matiyas	129
23	Jack	100
24	Carter	100
25	Ibrahim	100

Matches 5 & 6

SATURDAY TOURNAMENTS - Mark  Your Calendars
Sat. Mar 21  Statewide Grade Level, $20, 5 rounds, 3+ makes a team at Pilgrim Lane M.S., Plymouth
Sat. Apr 18  Jr.High Championships, $20, 5 rounds, top 3 is team score; Pilgrim Lane M.S., Plymouth
Sat.-Sun. May 2-3 grades K-6 only, $42, 7 rounds, top 4 is team score,
See schoolchess.org for more details.

MATCH
Name    MB FS
Luke     L L
Shanmuka D W
Elijah   L W
Amanuel  L W
Sam      L -
Dhanush  - W
The first match was not close. but Shanmuka got a draw.
The second match we won 4-1. Board 1 for Faithful Shepherd is very good even giving Metcalf A its only loss. We have a 3-3 record and MetC is also 3-3. And next time we play Metcalf C. You might want to cheer for Heritage next week as MetC has to play them and we would appreciate it if Heritage could set MetC back another match.

GAME ANALYSIS
Take your notated game and click on the Game Analysis link in the upper right of this window. Input the moves and see which side is considered to be winning. Look at the 3 best moves to see if you made one of them. There's a lot you can learn.

RATINGS 
There were no major changes, but Shanmuka is close in on Luke and Dhanush is almost the same as Sam now.

Name 7-Feb Luke 957 Shanmuka 879 Elijah 790 Graham 651 Amanuel 556 Pragnan 473 Sam 433 Dhanush 423

MATCHES 3 and 4

MATCH
Luke     L W
Shanmuka L W
Elijah   L 
Graham   L L
Jose     W L
Claire     W
The second match was tense as the score was 2-2 against Heritage with one game left. But Claire won on board 5 to win the match and the ISD 197 Chess Championship - for now. There will be a rematch in a few weeks.

GAME ANALYSIS
Take your notated game and click on the Game Analysis link in the upper right of this window. Input the moves and see which side is considered to be winning. Look at the 3 best moves to see if you made one of them. There's a lot you can learn.

RATINGS 

Name 5-Feb Luke 979 Shanmuka 864 Elijah 787 Graham 651 Amanuel 554 Pragnan 473 Sam 434 Dhanush 413 Asher 385 Ben 287 Zach 275 Bisrat 273 Roman W 223 Derrick 210 Jose 198 Claire 181 Nirmal 177 Saisloka 174 Lars 165 Fernando 155 Shewwite 130 Matiyas 129 Carter 100 Ibrahim 100