Lesson and Standings

Today we studied the (click here) Caro-Kann defense, hurdles and skewers.
Also note the new link to the right labelled "Game Analysis" Try it out using one of the openings you've learned. It will give you the top 3 moves and evaluate them. The bold number shows how much White is ahead. If the number is negative it means black is ahead.

I've got orders for 6 sets so far, can we get it up to ten and get a bigger discount?

Rank	Name	Nov 8
1	Miles	731
2	Henry	729
3	Oscar	711
4	Isaiah	684
5	Luke	541
6	Jaden	536
7	Niko	534
8	Torben	491
9	Owen	412
10	Shakti	322
11	Christian	296
12	Jack	252
13	Tom	237
14	James	204
15	Patrick	190
16	Nick	182
17	Tyler	179
18	Gere	175
19	Derrick	172
20	Ben	169
21	Nolan	159
22	Naomi	138
23	Quinn	131
24	Zach	116
25	Sahasra	107
26	Isaac	106
27	Jesse	105
28	Ellie	102
29	Francis	100
30	Winston	100
31	Davis	100

Tournament Results! (Now with pics)

Congratulations to Henry who won the 4th place trophy and to Owen who won the novice trophy.
Henry has also now earned a bronze medal and will get it at the next tournament.
Next tournament Nov 18
Name  W L D Bef Aft Chg Merit
Luke  1 4 0 607 534 -73   1
Henry 2 2 0 723 747 +24  13
Owen  2 2 0 333 386 +53   2.5
In spite of the big changes in ratings, no one's rank changed.

I'm ordering chess sets

Tournament tomorrow - (see previous post for details)

I'm going to put in an order for chess sets soon. With a bulk discount, a discount for a  frequent customer and shared shipping costs I can offer you a set for under $15 depending on the number of orders I get. Available before Christmas.
Click here for a picture. Choose color - black, green, blue, burgundy. Put your name on the board and your initials on the pieces. E-mail me at gemshein@hotmail.com with color and your student's name.

Nov 1 - upcoming tournament

Today we learned the Danish Gambit, and the Scotch Game with the similar Goring Gambit.
We also learned a lot about knights and the tactic call the fork.

For those interested in competing, there is a tournament coming up this Saturday.
WHO: Anyone can go, though I recommend a rating of 300 or more.
WHEN: Nov 4, 9:00 - 2:00  maybe a little longer if you need to hang around for awards
WHERE: Highview Middle School in New Brighton.
WHAT: Play only other students in your grade. All will play 4 or 5 games - no elimination. Both individual and Team competition - need 3 in one grade, but players can play up a grade or two if needed.
HOW: Register on-line at schoolchess.org or at the door by 8:30am on Saturday.
HOW MUCH: Cost $22-24 plus $5 for lunch or bring your own.
WHY: It's fun! Those highlighted in red have expressed interest.
For a complete schedule of tournaments see www.schoolchess.org

Rank	Name	Nov 1
1	Henry	723
2	Oscar	696
3	Miles	681
4	Isaiah	658
5	Luke	607
6	Jaden	531
7	Niko	526
8	Torben	491
9	Owen	333
10	Shakti	322
11	Christian	296
12	Jack	277
13	Tom	210
14	Patrick	185
15	James	182
16	Nick	172
17	Derrick	167
18	Nolan	159
19	Gere	158
20	Ben	154
21	Quinn	131
22	Tyler	131
23	Naomi	124
24	Sahasra	116
25	Jesse	105
26	Isaac	101
27	Francis	100
28	Winston	100
29	Zach	100
30	Davis	100
31	Ellie	100

Oct 25 News and Standings

Welcome back all fall athletes!

For those interested in competing in Saturday tournaments, there is a tournament coming up.
WHEN: Nov 4, 9:00 - 2:00  maybe a little longer if you need to hang around for awards
WHERE: Highview Middle School in New Brighton.
WHAT: Play only other students in your grade. All will play 4 or 5 games - no elimination. Both individual and Team competition - need 3 in one grade, but players can play up a grade or two if needed.
HOW: Register on-line at schoolchess.org or at the door by 8:30am on Saturday.
HOW MUCH: Cost $22-24 plus $5 for lunch or bring your own.
WHY: It's fun!

Merit Points (basically 1 for each win in tournament - 10 and you get a bronze medal)
Henry 8, Oscar 7.5, Isaiah 4.25, Torben 1

Grade	Rank	Name	Oct 25
7	1	Henry	722
8	2	Oscar	676
8	3	Isaiah	658
7	4	Miles	642
6	5	Luke	600
8	6	Niko	517
8	7	Jaden	514
6	8	Torben	491
7	9	Owen	297
7	10	Christian	296
7	11	Shakti	285
8	12	Jack	277
8	13	Tom	210
8	14	Nick	172
5	15	Derrick	167
5	16	James	160
5	17	Nolan	159
	18	Gere	158
6	19	Patrick	150
	20	Ben	136
6	21	Isaac	131
5	22	Quinn	131
5	23	Sahasra	116
5	24	Zach	111
5	25	Tyler	109
5	26	Davis	106
5	27	Jesse	105
5	28	Naomi	103
8	29	Francis	100
7	30	Winston	100

Oct 11 Lesson and Standings

Today we looked at the Evans Gambit, exploring the ideas of tempo, open and closed games, rapid deployment, and various tactics.

Rank	Name	Oct 11
1	Henry	711
2	Isaiah	649
3	Miles	649
4	Luke	555
5	Niko	531
6	Jaden	508
7	Torben	491
8	Jack	318
9	Owen	250
10	Tom	190
11	Ben	148
12	James	141
13	Quinn	139
14	Derrick	137
15	Nolan	134
16	Tyler	134
17	Gere	130
18	Patrick	129
19	Naomi	128
20	Nick	127
21	Davis	121
22	Sahasra	116
23	Isaac	110
24	Jesse	105
25	Francis	100
26	Winston	100
27	Zach	100

Oct 4 Lesson and Standings

Today we got back our checkmate/stalemate worksheets.
We learned how to castle and the restrictions on it -
a) can't if the king or rook has moved
b) all squares between the king and rook must be open
c) can't castle out of check, thru check, or into check
d) the king moves 2 sq. toward the rook, & the rook moves to the square the king passed over

We also learned the Danish gambit today 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2
Click on the link above for an absolutely amazing game involving the Danish.

Rank	Name	KQ	Oct 4
1	Henry	PASS	711
2	Isaiah	PASS	643
3	Miles	PASS	629
4	Luke	PASS	577
5	Niko	PASS	516
6	Jaden		501
7	Torben		491
8	Jack	-2	346
9	Owen	PASS	232
10	Tom		190
11	Ben		145
12	Naomi		141
13	Gere		130
14	Patrick		129
15	Nolan		129
16	Tyler		129
17	Quinn		118
18	Jesse		116
19	Davis		116
20	Zach		107
21	Winston		105
22	Isaac		105
23	James		105
24	Francis		100
25	Derrick		100
26	Sahasra		100
27	Nick		100