Ratings after 12/14

FHMS

First Name	Rating
Thomas	908
Mace	697
Ben	503
Monte	484
Frank	459
Dan	378
Alex V	350
Phillip	346
Alex P	332
Andrew	317
Oliver	312
Gabe	288
Vic	263
Albin	252
Christopher	190
Maureen	161
Tommy	156
Keighvin	131
Lendale	124

Ratings after Dec 7, 2011

I was hoping for slightly higher test results, but it confirms my confidence in my rating systems. Everyone performed within 150 points of their rating, so everyone gained a few points. I think the biggest gains from the test were made by Frank, Albin and Monte.

Like all things in life, if you really want to become good at something you must put a lot of time into it. If you want to move ahead faster than those around you, you must put in extra time and effort, not just 1:45 on Wednesdays. My two suggestions for improving: 1) Save the worksheets and go over the problems until you thoroughly understand the principles then play out the resulting positions, and 2) play more chess.

Hope to see some of you at Metcalf on Jan 7, 2012 - our first (and last) practice before the state grade level championships on Feb 25 at Capitol Hill. Put those on the calendar.

FHMS

First Name	Rating
Thomas	888
Mace	679
Ben	503
Monte	481
Frank	455
Dan	370
Alex	350
Phillip	346
Hunter	340
Andrew	324
Oliver	312
Gabe	282
Vic	260
Albin	235
Christopher	190
Maureen	161
Tommy	156
Keighvin	131
Jill	113
Lendale	111
Jake	111

Tournament Schedule and ratings

Tournament on Saturday Dec 3. Call Bill at 651-451-8412 with any questions. We have some kids going.

Jan 7 is our next tournament at Metcalf Jr. High in Burnsville. This tournament we could either play as individuals or we could take our top 5 (Mace can't play for us) and play head-to-head against another school's top 5.

Feb 25 - Statewide Grade Level Championships. Big tournament, lots of trophies - Capitol Hill

March 10 - Middle SchoolJr High Championships at Metcalf Jr. High

March 31 - April 1 Official State Championships for Jr High and High School (2 sections)

April 13-14-15 Minneapolis Convention Center - National H.S. Championships !!!

FHMS

First Name	Rating
Thomas	873
Mace	659
Ben	491
Monte	463
Frank	429
Dan	345
Alex	345
Hunter	340
Phillip	323
Oliver	312
Gabe	282
Andrew	279
Vic	267
Albin	214
Christopher	190
Tommy	156
Maureen	152
Keighvin	118
Jill	113
Jake	111
Lendale	106
Connor	100

Latest Ratings

Congrats to Thomas, Dan, Frank and Mace who solved all but one problem correctly!

Remember - take those worksheets home. Set up the problem and play the game out to the finish. Learn how to win those games in which you're ahead. No school next Wednesday - see you after Thanksgiving!

First Name	Rating
Thomas	889
Mace	641
Ben	462
Monte	462
Frank	404
Hunter	346
Alex	325
Dan	318
Phillip	313
Oliver	312
Gabe	289
Vic	256
Andrew	250
Albin	196
Christopher	193
Tommy	156
Mandi	130
Maureen	129
Keighvin	123
Jill	113
Jake	111
Lendale	106
Connor	100

Ratings Nov 9

My apologies - I accidentally gave you my advanced forks worksheet. We'll review forks next week. I'll give you the easier worksheet I had intended. We'll also briefly go over the Giuoco Piano opening and you can have more playing time.

Top score on the Simplifying Worksheet was 10 of 12 by Keighvin, Philip, and Frank. Good job!

First Name Rating Thomas 862 Mace 629 Ben 462 Monte 423 Frank 376 Alex 325 Hunter 330 Oliver 301 Brigham 300 Quintin 300 Matthew 297 Phillip 288 Gabe 278 Vic 266 Luc 254 Andrew 255 Christopher 189 Albin 175 Tommy 156 Blake 142 Mandi 130 Maureen 120 Jake 111 Jill 113 Keighvin 112 Connor 100 Lendale 108 Stephen 100 Nathan 100 Nathan 100 Tommy 100

Thomas Miranda wins 2nd place Chess Trophy

31 of the top 6th grade chess players form across the Twin Cities met in Burnsville over the weekend.
Thomas Miranda won 4 of 5 games on Saturday (losing only to the champion) and came home with the 2nd place trophy. He lost only to the #1 player.

Rating and Tournament Info

There is a tournament on Saturday, Nov 5, which anyone is welcome to attend.

WHO CAN COME: As long as you know the rules, you can play. I normally recommend a rating of 400 for kids your age, but I think you all play well enough to attend.

WHY: It's a good way to have fun and improve. No elimination - everyone plays 5 games.

WHEN: Registration is from 8:00-8:30 First-timers be there at about 8:15 to fill out paperwork
It will last until about 2:30

WHERE: Metcalf Jr Hi in Burnsville (Diffley Rd & Cedar Ave)

HOW MUCH: $16 + $2 for first-timers + $5 for lunch or bring your own lunch.

WILL I GET WHIPPED? Maybe - there are some excellent players. But if you lose your first two games you will be paired with someone who has also lost their first two games.

If you have any questions feel free to call mee at 651-451-8412, Bill Heinemann

First Name	Last Name	Rating
Thomas	Miranda	808
Mace	Henry	583
Ben	Ellison	425
Monte	Fischer	387
Alex	Venturi	341
Frank	Sullivan	328
Hunter	Swenson	324
Brigham	Williams	300
Quintin	Peterson	300
Matthew	Friedman	297
Oliver	McEllistrom	284
Vic	Fischer	280
Luc	Kaderlik	254
Gabe	Delmont	252
Phillip	Varnado	252
Andrew	Keis	217
Albin	Swenson	175
Christopher	Figueroa	159
Tommy	Buell	156
Blake	Kinzer	142
Mandi	Wen	130
Maureen	Andersen	125
Jake	Wendt	111
Jill	Lund	110
Connor	Benson	100
Lendale	Smith	100
Stephen	Kasella	100
Nathan	Lucas	100
Nathan	Fitzgerald	100
Keighvin	Lee	100
Tommy	Harrity	100