Minnesotans in World Youth Championship

Congratulations to the two Minnesotans who represented the United States in the World Youth Chess Championships which completed today in the United Arab Emirates. Andrew Titus 2089 (boys under 12) scored 5.5 points out of 11 and Nastassja Matus 1402 score 6.5 in the girls under 8 section. Both were students of mine at the SCA Chess Camp. Many players from around the world were invited based on their ratings to participate.

Jr. High League and 2013 Year End Ratings

I have indicated that we'd like to be part of the Jr. High/Middle School chess league. I indicated that we'd prefer playing the matches on a Saturday morning rather than one match each on a Friday.

Match play consists of playing our top five boards against another school's top 5 boards. The Team that scores 3 points wins. If both teams score 2.5 it's a draw.

At the end of the Jan - Mar. season there are various awards for individuals and teams for each division. The top teams from each division make the playoffs and vie for the State Championship in March.

All games are played by USCF rules. Unlike SCA, you will have to notate all games, all games will use a clock from the very beginning, adults and other spectators are allow to watch the games, total silence must be observed in the playing area, there is no warning on the three move repetition, and no one can remind you to press the clock. If you have an issue during the game, raise your hand and pause your clock and an official will come to answer your question.

This means parents will have to provide rides. Talk to your parents about this. Ridesharing is encouraged . I think the games start at 9:00 am end at 12:00

We will invite the top six rated players, and players 4-6 will each sit one game out. If someone is not available on that Saturday, we will have or #7 player etc. play.

So right now it looks like Thomas at board 1, Frank at 2, Anton at 3, Magnus at 4 and Josh at 5 with Thomas subbing at board 5 while Magnus and Josh take 1 game off. Lendale and Carter would be alternates if someone can't make it.

FHMS By Rating

Last Name	First Name	Rating
Miranda	Thomas	1271
Henry	Mace	873
Sullivan	Frank	807
Priborkin	Anton	723
Nordby	Magnus	656
Phillips	Josh	588
McDermott	Thomas	550
Smith	Lendale	396
Hahnfeldt	Carter	368
Barnard	Joe	308
Gotham	Angela	245
Johnson	Evan	236
Lee	Keighvin	233
Meyer	Oliver	216
Nordby	Annikka	171
Kainz	Andres	150
Metz-Taylor	Grant	121
Church	Ben	117
Lee	Aidan	103
Williams	Brigham	100
Meyer	Misha	100

Latest Ratings

I have chess sets like the ones at school but with a larger case with handles and a sleeve for the board. $12
Green or Black. Let me know or just bring $12 to chess club as I have them in my car.

Check out the previous posts if you haven't seen them!

Here's the second place team! Coach Heinemann, Tom Miranda, Magnus Nordby

FHMS ByRating

Last Name	First Name	Rating
Miranda	Thomas	1260
Henry	Mace	873
Sullivan	Frank	811
Priborkin	Anton	695
Nordby	Magnus	652
Phillips	Josh	562
McDermott	Thomas	548
Smith	Lendale	396
Hahnfeldt	Carter	351
Barnard	Joe	321
Gotham	Angela	245
Johnson	Evan	236
Lee	Keighvin	232
Meyer	Oliver	216
Nordby	Annikka	171
Kainz	Andres	150
Metz-Taylor	Grant	121
Church	Ben	117
Williams	Brigham	100
Meyer	Misha	100
Lee	Aidan	100

Frank vs Noah Helke

In the round 5 game that looked like Frank was out for a draw from the outset trading pieces whenever possible (trade when it's to your advantage somehow), he arrived at the following position which I think he could have turned into a win. Frank is White what should his plan be?

While usually bishops are considered better than knights in an endgame, the knight is actually better if there are a lot of pawns on the board. Here the knight has the upper hand.

Nc5 (if b6 then Ne6+ picking up the g-pawn) Kc8

Nd3 winning the e-pawn and I think then the game with that passed pawn on the e-file. Play it out several times to get some good end-game practice.

Watch Frank get obliterated

Here's a "movie" of Frank's game in round 2 against Zach Molitor. Frank is White. Sorry Frank - just trying out some new technology. (If you click on the board it will freeze so you can think about the position.)

So what went wrong? Probably the first mistake was attacking so early with the knight and then getting the queen out too early. Frank gets in a nice pawn fork but it doesn't work because his opponent can move one of the knights and attack his queen (which was out too early). After that Zach gets his forks (off comes a bishop), discovered attacks (off comes a knight), pins (off comes the queen), and one last fork (off comes the last rook) going in fine style. Keep watching until you've seen all 4 tactical shots.

Ryan Robinson vs Frank Sullivan

The game is even in points, but Ryan has a passed pawn on the b-file. Frank is Black. What's his best move?

Rxb4 loses to Re1+, but Rxd4! (White can't play cxd4 lest Rxc1#) Re1+ Re4 and now we're threatening Rxc3 so White needs to play Rc1, but then we play Rxd4!

Ammar vs Frank

A simple looking position early in the game but Frank, playing black, comes up with a nice move.

Ng4 making it difficult to save the pawn. White should have probably tried Be3 which loses a pawn, but instead he tried f3?? which loses the game. Do you see why?