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

Correction from last week: it was Warren who got the highest score on the worksheet. Today we reviewed pins by going over the worksheet. This week Simon got the top score! We learned a new tactic call the battery where we batter down the opponents protective walls. 

Next week we'll learn about the blind pig checkmate and we'll learn about discovered attacks.

TOURNAMENT  opportunity coming up on Saturday Nov 5 at Highview Middle School in New Brighton. Play 5 games against other students in your grade. The competition will be fierce. There are a lot of very good chess players in Minnesota. Each round you will be paired with someone who has approx. the same record as you. So it will get easier as the day goes on. In your first tournament, your goal should be to try to win one game. Then each tournament try to improve. Three players in one grade make a team and there are team awards in addition to the individual awards. See schoolchess.org to register or to get more information. Call me if you want to discuss this.

I think it would be fun if we had our top 3 fifth graders there.

RATINGS 

Gr	Merit	Name	26-Oct
6	1.5	Warren	326
5		Cavan	303
5		Simon	220
5		Thomas	207
5		Logan	170
6		Lucia	165
5		Alex	148
5		Zion	144
5		Sean	128
6		Jack	110

LESSONS   Today we went over hurdles and skewer. Congratulations to Jack who got the highest score in the class with 4 correct answers out of 8 problems. We learned a new tactic - the pin - and worked out some problems involving pins.

A little review of chess symbols

+ check

#checkmate

! good move

? not so good

x captures

B bishop (remember pieces are indicated by CAPITAL letters)

b the pawn on the b-file

PUZZLE 1  This position is reached in the "garbage gambit" after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5? (correct is Nxd4) Qg5 5.Nxf7 Qxg2 6.Rf1 Qxd4+ 7. Be2

It's Black's turn. What's his best move? (Hint a pin is in the solution)

PUZZLE 2. It's White's turn below. What are the next two moves for White that will lead to a win?

Answers below.

RATINGS

Name	19-Oct
Warren	340
Cavan	278
Thomas	212
Simon	186
Logan	161
Lucia	156
Zion	144
Alex	141
Sean	123
Jack	103

Answers

Puzzle 1: 1. Nf3# (the bishop is pinned!)

Puzzle 2: 1. Re1 (pin!) f6 (defending the pinned bishop) 2. f4!

Remember "After you pin a piece, attack it!" Preferably with a smaller piece - like a pawn.  Now we will win the bishop, the pawn, and the game!

Today we went over the answers to the fork worksheet.

We learned another tactic called the hurdle, and the similar skewer. I hope you remembered the poem:              "Two big pieces on a line? Look Out, it's hurdle time!"

Next week we'll go over the problems we solved today. Congratulations to Logan and Thomas who solved 5 of the 8 problems. Here's a problem from today: What's White's winning move?

Tournament on Saturday if you're interested. See SchoolChess.org to register and to get more information, or call me to discuss what to expect.

RATINGS

Name	12-Oct
Warren	349
Owen	269
Cavan	247
Thomas	185
Logan	166
Lucia	161
Simon	159
Zion	133
Alex	130
Jack	105
Sean	100
Zahra	100

Answer: 1. Rh8 Rxa7 2. Rh7+ winning the rook and the game!

Today we reviewed the checkmate/stalemate worksheet.

We also spent a lot of time on the knight and forks and other types of forks. We did a fork worksheet.

Practice Problems

Here are some problems from the Junior High League in which we participated in 2020.

PROBLEM 1 Black just moved Kb5 attacking our pawn. White's turn. What's the best move?

PROBLEM 2 Black has just played Nd4, Now it's White's turn. What's a good move? 

ANSWERS. 

Problem 1. Nd4+ winning the rook

Problem 2.  Notice that your queen is attacked. Also note that Nxd4 results in Bxe2. So you must move your queen. In the actual game,  White played Qe3 and lost his queen - do you see how? (Qe3 lost the Queen when Black played Nxc2+ forking the King and Queen.) Qd2 isn't any better - after 1. Qd2 Bxf3 2. gxf3 Nxf3+ once again forking the K and Q. This is a beautiful illustration of the problem of putting the Queen on the same color square that the King is on when a knight lurking nearby. The correct move is to move the queen to a light square - Qd1! (Qc1 loses a Rook after Nxe2+)

TOURNAMENT OPPORTUNITY

There will be a chess tournament held on Saturday Sept 15 at Zachary Lane Elementary in Plymouth.  All players will play all 5 (4?) rounds. Divisions are K-2, 3-5, 6-8. ssFor details and registration see Schoolchess.org Questions - call me.

If this is you first tournament, make it a goal to try to win 1 game

RATINGS

Name	5-Oct
Warren	349
Elliot P	273
Owen	269
Cavan	221
Thomas	188
Zion	139
Logan	136
Lucia	134
Simon	133
Alex	130
Jack	110
Sean	106
Zahra	100