Gift ideas.

I have ordered several chess sets and scorebooks from US chess. I get deals for ordering often, ordering bulk and one shipping charge. So I can offer sets to my students for my cost.

Sets are like the ones we use at school and include pieces, extra queens, black and white vinyl board and a carrying case with zipper, handles, and sleeve for a rolled-up board.

Set  $11
Scorebook $2.

Nov 9 News

Upcoming Tournaments
We now have 5 player rated at about 500 or above. We could have some success at a tournament.
Nov 19 Burnsville Metcalf 8:30-3:00 $20 + lunch + $2 one-time membership fee. Good warm-up.
Dec 3 Burnsville Metcalf 8:30-3:00 same fees. Team (need 3 or more) I think we should play our top 5 in the 8th grade section.
Jan 7 Burnsville team vs team (Need 5 players)
Lesson
We learned about pins today.
1) Look for two pieces in a line
2) Once you've pinned a piece don't be in a hurry to take it; it's not going anywhere. Make your opponent squirm under the pressure of the pin
3) Attack the pinned piece
4) Finally, as always, figure out what you opponent has to do to get out of the pin, and then DON"T LET HIM DO IT!

Name	9-Nov
Aidan	740
Isaiah	510
Oscar	505
Miles	496
Grant	484
Jack L	337
Christian	268
Niko	266
Jaden	252
Torben	247
Henry	233
Jackson	200
Matthew	165
Kiran	144
Zeke	141
Jack C	137
Luca	118
Maria	115
Jeremiah	112
Serra	100

Tournament info, Ratings and Problem 8

Tournament on Saturday - Highview Middle School in New Brighton 
694 to Silver Lake Rd south 1 blk to 7th then East 1/2 blk
Register on-line and show up at 9:15 or register at the door by 8:30. Will be done about 2:30.
For more details see schoolchess.org I'm planning on being there.
Here's problem #8 for those who want to work on it.
White's turn. Good luck. Hint: in situations like this, it is imperative to stay on the attack - keep the black king in check lest he start attacking you. If Black plays well, it will take 7 moves to clear all of Black's pieces off the board! Numerous hurdles and threats of hurdles limit Black's options.

Name	2-Nov
Aidan	722
Isaiah	519
Oscar	515
Grant	461
Miles	450
Jack L	337
Niko	287
Christian	268
Jaden	237
Torben	226
Henry	220
Jackson	189
Kiran	144
Jack C	141
Zeke	141
Matthew	140
Luca	118
Jeremiah	112
Maria	111

Oct 26

Studied forks today.
Tournament on Sat Nov 5 at Highview Middle School in New Brighton
Grade level and team (need 3 per team)

It looks like we could either play 8th grade Aiden Grant and someone younger, or

play in the 7th grade section with 6th and 7th graders.

Grade	Name	26-Oct
8	Aidan	716
7	Isaiah	521
7	Oscar	510
6	Miles	445
8	Grant	427
7	Jack L	337
7	Niko	276
6	Christian	268
6	Henry	220
7	Jaden	218
	Torben	214
5	Jackson	160
5	Kiran	149
7	Jack C	144
5	Zeke	132
6	Matthew	131
5	Luca	118
8	Jeremiah	112
5	Maria	111

Oct 19

There is a tournament this Saturday at nearby Metcalf Jr High in Burnsville.
For more info go to schoolchess.org
I am planning on being there.
Today we reviewed checkmate/stalemate and KR vs K checkmate

Aidan	682
Isaiah	535
Oscar	484
Miles	457
Grant	404
Jack L	319
Niko	266
Christian	229
Torben	195
Henry	169
Jaden	165
Jackson	140
Zeke	132
Matthew	131
Jack C	128
Luca	118
Jeremiah	117
Kiran	113
Maria	110
Serra	100

Oct 12

We learned the odd en passant move
We learned how to checkmate with K&Q vs K - push to the edge then trap it against the edge
We learned how to checkmate with K&R - the python squeeze

Name	12-Oct
Aidan	628
Isaiah	529
Miles	472
Oscar	469
Grant	405
Jack L	319
Niko	231
Christian	222
Torben	180
Henry	169
Jaden	157
Jackson	140
Zeke	122
Matthew	121
Luca	118
Jack C	116
Kiran	113
Maria	104
Jeremiah	100
Serra	100

Oct 5 Ratings

Today we learned the meaning of checkmate and stalemate.
We also learned all the rules pertaining to castling.

Latest Ratings - Big gainers were Isaiah and Torben

Name	5-Oct
Aidan	622
Isaiah	509
Miles	482
Oscar	469
Grant	405
Jack L	319
Christian	237
Niko	227
Torben	175
Henry	154
Luca	129
Kiran	125
Matthew	121
Jackson	119
Jeremiah	117
Jack C	108
Maria	104
Jaden	100
Serra	100
Zeke	100