TOURNAMENT

WHAT: Play 4 or 5 games of chess against students from other schools, hang out with friends, eat pizza, have fun, compete as a team

WHEN Sat Dec 3 8:00 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Diamondhead Education Center in Burnsville - approach the building from Burnsville Parkway

WHO: Anyone can sign up, but I don't recommend it if your rating is not over 200.  I would really like to see the following 5th graders give it a try: Cavan, Simon, Logan, Lucia, Thomas. Our goal will be to get some experience and improve so that by May we have a chance to do well at the State Championship.

Thomas is signed up.

WHY: Have fun, improve at chess, get extra coaching (I will be there to coach you, but I cannot be in the playing area when you are competing.)

HOW DO I SIGN UP: Go to SchoolChess.org and sign up.

HOW much does it cost? It's about $24 plus about $5 or $6 for lunch

DO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN?  If you think hard and have fun thinking, you have met my expectations. Round 1 will be difficult - you will be playing someone who is expected to win 3 games. For the rest of the day you will be paired against someone with a similar record.

Bring a chess set. Wear a mask (because of the extended time in close contact)

COACH'S TIPS

1. If you ever have a question or a concern during the tournament, raise your hand. An experienced high schooler or adult will answer your question.

2. You have a whole hour to complete your game. Use the time well. When it's your opponent's turn, you should be thinking.

3. If your game hasn't finished after 30 minutes, you will be given a chess clock with instruction how to use it. This will insure that the game is done on time. If a player runs out of time he loses.

4 Sit on your hands! By the time you pull your hand up to move, that move might not look so good. Never think with your hand dangling over the board - you might touch a piece and have to move it. Also, your hand will block a clear view of the board.

5. Be a good sport - win or lose, congratulate your opponent on a good game.

6. Why are some kids writing in a booklet? They're writing down their move so they can replay their game with their coach. I highly recommend this - especially in round 1. I'll bring pencils and paper.

7. When planning your move always figure out what your opponent is up to. Why did he make that last move? Where is it going next? Did he open a new path for some other piece with that last move?

FINAL FALL RATINGS

Today we went over the checkmate worksheet. We. learned the technique of undermining (also called "removing the guard") and solved some problems on a worksheet. Congratulations to Cavan who scored 10 points on his worksheet. Also he won the quad tournament.                                                                                

Here are some problems and answers from today's worksheet:

PROBLEM 1. White's turn. How does he win?

Answer to Problem 1: Qxf7+ Kxf7 2. Rxd5 (I hope you remember how to checkmate with just a King and Rook!)

Problem 6. The solution is Rxg6 (undermining the support for the Bishop) After black takes the rook with either pawn, White plays 2.Qxe7 

However one of my students pointed out a better solution. Get out your chess set and follow along.

1.Qxe7!! Nxe7

2.Rxg7+ Kh8

3.Rxf7+ Kg7 (do you recognize the windmill from last week?)

4.Rg7+  Kh8

5.Rxe7+ Kg8 (Rf6 loses immediately to Rd8#)

6.Rg1+ Qg2 (only move)

7.Rxg2#

TOURNAMENTS 

Sat Nov 19 at Plymouth Middle School Register on-line at www.schoolchess.org and be there at 8:30 or show up at the door by 7:45. You'll play 5 games in either the 3rd-5th section or 6th - 8th. Questions -call me at the number listed on the school website. Also there is a special girls section.

Sat Dec 3 Diamondhead Education Center in Burnsville. Play only other students in your own grade.

Sat Jan 7 Diamondhead Education Center (sections for K-2,3-5,6-8)

Sat Jan 21 Plymouth Middle School (sections for K-2,3-5,6-8)

Sat Feb 18 Diamondhead Education Center (sections for K-2,3-5,6-8)  (We'll be back in session by then.)

FINAL RATINGS FROM THE FALL SESSION 

Cavan	367
Warren	335
Simon	262
Logan	242
Lucia	241
Thomas	224
Alex	144
Sean	139
Jack	124
Zion	115

 LESSONS

We went over the fun sheet on discovered attacks and double checks,

Today we looked at how to find checkmates. Examine the board carefully to se where the opponents king can move. Then see if you can check the king while also guarding any escape squares.

TOURNAMENT

Next tournament is at Plymouth Middle School. Section are K-2, 3rd-5th, 6th - 8th

Then Dec 3 at Nicollet (a little closer to home) for a grade level tournament.

PROBLEM

See if you can find the one move which is NOT checkmate.

RATINGS

Warren	371
Cavan	326
Simon	244
Logan	229
Thomas	224
Lucia	206
Sean	147
Alex	144
Jack	124
Zion	123

ANSWER to problem: Rc6 allows Black to play Rxh7

LESSON

Today we went over the battery worksheet. we had a lesson on discovered attacks and learned, among other things, what the "blind pig" checkmate is and what a double check is. 

TOURNAMENT

Thomas is signed up for the tournament this Saturday. Join him by signing up on-line at www.schoolchess.org . You will play 4 or 5 games against others in your same grade from across the Twin Cities. If you register on-line and pay on-line show up by 8:30. If you register on line, but pay on-site, show up before 8. Or if you show up at 7:45 you can register at the door. Lunch is available there. Bring a chess set. Because there will be a lot of children in one place, masks are required.

      Some of the players have been playing in tournaments since they were 5 yrs old and are very good now. New players ususally show up in January. So this will be difficult. Learn from your first few losses and try hard in you're last two games and maybe you can win one.

     Unfortunately I will not be able to be there. (My son-in-law's cross-country teams qualified for state and Gail and I are the baby-sitters.

RATINGS

Gr Merit Name      Rating

6	1.5	Warren	341
5		Cavan	326
5		Thomas	230
5		Simon	229
5		Logan	197
6		Lucia	186
5		Alex	144
5		Zion	132
5		Sean	126
6		Jack	103