Thursday, November 11, 2021

Progress Reports

If you want to move up, pay close attention in class - I've taught several state and national championship teams, and several state and national individual champions. Take time on your worksheets. Play lots of chess outside of class preferably with someone who can beat you - eventually you'll be beating them. Play hard every game.

Read these charts from right to left!


Dean is more than holding his own at the top which is hard to do
Ben quickly soared to the top of the new students
Leo has really moved up since he has been coming regularly
Evan, Warren and Owen have made pretty steady progress especially with the worksheets 




This group works hard but probably had not played chess as much as the top group
JR has made steady progress
Liam was making great progress til he missed class on Nov 10
Elliot has made good progress with a little blip when he missed class Nov 3
Luke was ahead of the pack until last week, but he'll be back
John has really done well the last two weeks.




In chess, someone has to lose (usually) and it often takes a while for beginners to get much over 100. I often tell about a player I coached who lost his first 15 tournament games but went on to win the  national U1600 championship years later. So just stick with it til things click.
Judah - now that attendance is regular, you are starting to rise
Justin - after a fast start, you lost two games one day, but you work hard and it will pay off
Atticus - after a fast start, you started playing some good players and that's the best way to improve
Joshua - you need to focus in class when I'm teaching so you have a chance to win some games
Sincere - you started well. I am not worried - you are improving and will win some games
Adam  - you need to focus more during class. Chess will be good for you.

  

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

 Today we went over the fork worksheet.

We learned in passing that if you are left with a bishop, pawn and king against just a king, you can queen the pawn unless the pawn is on a rook file (a-file or h-file) and the bishop is not on the same color square as the queening square.

Then we learned about hurdles and skewers. "Two big pieces on a line? Look out! It's hurdle time!" If the front piece is the king, it's a hurdle. If it's not the king, it's a skewer.

Here's nice problem. White's turn. You should be concerned about his pawn. What's the winning move?

6Dean358
RR, KQ6Ben232
8Leo210
5Evan191
RR 5Warren190
6Owen183
RR, KQ7J.R.173
5Liam166
RR, KQ7Elliot161
RR 6Luke157
5John133
6Judah127
RR 5Justin122
6Atticus116
5Emilia111
6Joshua107
7Sincere104
6Adam100

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Today we started on tactics. The "fork" was today's tactic. We learned that any piece can fork two of your opponent's pieces. But knights and pawns are the most common. When the board starts to get empty the queen is also capable of forking. "Two big pieces on the same color square? Keep on looking - there's a fork there!" 

 I think 9:00 pm today on channel, Maury's Stories features me and our chess club. 

This Saturday, if you're interested in a little competition, show up BEFORE 8:00 a.m. at Highview Middle School in New Brighton with $26 for entry fee and about $7 for lunch (pizza, chips, fruit, etc). Bring your chess set. Questions? call me at 651-451-8412. 
 
 SkillsGrNameRating
6Dean371
RR, KQ6Ben232
8Leo189
RR 6Luke168
5Liam166
RR 5Warren162
RR, KQ7J.R.155
5Evan153
6Owen150
RR, KQ7Elliot128
RR 5Justin127
6Judah122
6Atticus118
7Sincere114
5John112
5Emilia111
6Adam100
6Joshua100