2020 Chess

 Due to the covid outbreak, I am currently not teaching any after-school chess. However SCA has gone virtual with a successful virtual chess camp this summer. 

VIRTUAL TOURNAMENTS

SCA will be conducting virtual tournaments until we can get back together again. 

Merit points will be awarded and all awards will be mailed.

Answers from March 12

Since FHMS and Heritage have the same lessons, just click here for answers.

CHESS CLUB SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY

There will be no more chess until further notice in a effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
Also not that if you were planning on attending the SCA Tournament on March 21, that has been cancelled as well.

Mar 12

TOURNAMENT NEXT WEEKEND - MARCH 21
Refer to previous posts for details or register online at schoolchess.org

Today we learned some end game principles.
1) When your opponent has fewer than 10 pts in pieces (not counting pawns) your king should join the battle
2) Your rook can be used to prevent your opponent's king from getting where it wants to
3) Guard the queening square, but the 2 squares next to the queening square are equally important.
4) Place your pawns on the same color as your opponent's Bishop
5) The queen becomes a powerful forker on an open board

Name	12-Mar
Boomer	650
Jackson	364
John	280
Myles	245
Aidan G	237
Dylan	206
Cole	201
Drew	200
Peter	193
Mark	176
Leo	147

Today we learned about the unexpected zwischenzug move and did a worksheet.
March 21 SCA tournament at Plymouth Middle School. 8:30-3:00 Cost $20 + lunch money.

Name	5-Mar
Boomer	627
Jackson	364
John	280
Aidan G	237
Myles	235
Dylan	206
Drew	204
Peter	193
Mark	169
Cole	171
Leo	147

Minnesota Scholastic Championship

March 7-8 Sat-Sun
If you want to play some serious chess, this is a great opportunity put on by the Minnesota State Chess Association.
Official USCF tournament to determine the top middle school players and teams.
Winners represent Minnesota at National Invitational.
Long time controls - Each player gets an hr so the game can last 2 hours, then after the 2nd round it goes to 90 min per  player - 3 hrs per  games.
Cost $50 per player Location Crowne Plaza Hotel near the Megamall.
For more details and to register, go to www.minnesotachess.com
If interested, let me know and I'll lend you a clock and drop by to see how you are doing.

There are other upcoming tournaments put on by the School Chess Association. See www.schoolchess.org for more info or to register.

Mar 21 Statewide Grade Level Championship. Individual and Team Champions will be determined, Cost $20, 1 hour games

April 18 Sat Twin Cities Middle School Championship. Individual and Team Champions will be determined, Cost $20, 1 hour games at Plymouth M.S.

May 2-3 Sat-Sun Statewide Elementary Championships (K-6)  BIGGEST tournament of the year!
60 Individual trophies and 10 Team trophies will be awarded, Cost $42, 1 hour games at Robbinsdale M.S. Last two rounds are 2 hrs.

May 16 Sat Excellent chance to win a trophy since there is a separate section for the top 16. Cost $20

FINAL JR HIGH LEAGUE MATCH

We lost a close match against Friendly Hills by a score of 3-2.
We beat Faithful Shepherd by a score of 5-0 because they didn't show up.

Complete results available at the Junior High Chess League link at the right.

Name	28-Feb
Maize	636
Boomer	607
Silas	429
Jackson	355
Johnny	309
John	267
Aidan G	223
Myles	220
Dylan	206
Drew	206
Peter	193
Mark	160
Cole	154
Leo	111

Final Matches at Heritage

The final matches of the Junior High Chess League will be held after school in the Heritage cafeteria.
Heritage will play Friendly Hills (whom we lost to 2-3) and Faithful Shepherd (whom we beat 4-1).
I think if we can beat Friendly Hills and win a total of 7 games, we'll finish just behind Metcalf's teams. Can we bring back the ISD197 trophy!

Although this is the end of the Junior High League competition, there are other competitions coming up soon!


I've included 3 from the first session who are still interested

Grade	Rank	Name	27-Feb
5	1	Maize	637
8	1	Boomer	579
7	2	Silas	431
8	3	Jackson	328
6	4	Johnny	309
8	5	John	267
8	6	Aidan G	223
6	7	Myles	220
8	8	Dylan	211
6	9	Drew	206
5?	10	Peter	193
7	11	Mark	160
6	12	Cole	154
6	13	Leo	111

Feb 20 Chess Club Spring Session Kick-off

Next Thursday, Feb 27, we meet in room 131
Tomorrow we have a match (actually 2) at Metcalf Middle School.
We do not have a full team, so anyone is welcome - if you are coming, bring a friend who plays chess even if they're not in chess club.

Name	20-Feb
Boomer	524
Jackson	320
John	231
Myles	222
Aidan G	212
Dylan	211
Peter	193
Drew	158
Mark	157
Cole	155
Leo	109

SATURDAY TOURNAMENTS - Mark  Your Calendars
Sat. Mar 21  Statewide Grade Level, $20, 5 rounds, 3+ makes a team at Pilgrim Lane M.S., Plymouth
Sat. Apr 18  Jr.High Championships, $20, 5 rounds, top 3 is team score; Pilgrim Lane M.S., Plymouth
Sat.-Sun. May 2-3 grades K-6 only, $42, 7 rounds, top 4 is team score,
See schoolchess.org for more details.

Inter-scholastic Chess Matches

Matches
All matches are on  Fridays after school in the host school's cafeteria. You'll play two games each night at 35 min per player. All official games will be notated and will have clocks if available. Bring a snack. Arrange for a ride home at around 5:45 or 6:00
There's a link in the upper right to help you analyze your games.
There's also a link to Junior High Chess League for more details, puzzles from tournament games.

Team is the top 5 who are present

Name	7-Feb
Maize	637
Boomer	509
Chase	477
Silas	431
Jackson	336
Johnny	309
Aidan G	217
Antonio	216
Myles	202
John	215
Dylan	211
Mark	169
Cole	165
Cooper	143
Drew	136
Martice	126
Xander	126
David	116

Alternates
Alternates may play on the team if needed, may be put on the team at the coach's discretion, may play scrimmage games against an alternate from another school, may choose to play one scrimmage game then take the activity bus home, may choose to skip that match if not needed.

Results
Against Faithful Shepherd with a four-player team of mostly subs we managed to win 3-2.
Aidan lost on board 1 against a player who has beaten most of the other team's top players - including Metcalf A. But John won on  board 2, Dylan won on board 3, and Boomer who arrived after the other games had started was allowed to play on board 4 and won. Board 5 we forfeited. Round 6 we lost to Metcalf 5-0, but we don't have to face them again.

Remaining Schedule
Always arrange a ride home from the host school.
****Feb 21 at Metcalf - arrange a ride to Burnsville
        Feb 28 at Heritage -
**** 4 alternates needed

Next Matches
Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf - arrange a ride to Metcalf and a ride home from Metcalf
1 Boomer, 2 Aidan, 3 John, 4 Dylan, 5 plus whoever else would like to come.
We play against Metcalf C and Metcalf B.

Previous Matches
We lost to Metcalf A 5-0 and lost to Metcalf C 4-1
We lost to Metcalf B 4 -1 and lost to Friendly Hills 3-2
We beat Faithful Shep. 3-2 and lost to Metcalf A 5-0.