Neil Falconer (April 1, 1923 – April 5, 2014) Many NorCal chess players recognize the name “Falconer” in reference to an annual award given to the highest rated youth chess player in Northern California. Established in 1999, the Falconer Award has been given to such notable players as GM Vinay Bhat and GM Sam Shankland.ContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 48”
Author Archives: chessmusings
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 75
For anyone who doubts that chess can be art, I present Josef Halumbirek’s 1st Prize winning composition for the Neue Leipziger Zeitung in 1933. It’s a mate in 5 and I betcha can’t solve this chess puzzle! White to move and mate in 5 (Josef Halumbirek, 1st Prize Neue Leipziger Zeitung, 1933). My other chessContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 75”
A Friendly Game of Chess
Chess journalist Julius du Mont (12/15/1881 – 4/7/1956) wrote of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) that it “is unsound, but has the saving grace of leading to a lively game and is therefore suitable for an occasional friendly game.” Du Mont was the Editor of British Chess Magazine and authoredContinueContinue reading “A Friendly Game of Chess”
More Coffee and a Danish Gambit Please
My fascination with Josef Holumbirek’s chess puzzles lead me to a splendid little chess game he played using the white pieces and the Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3). For many in Northern California, the Danish Gambit brings to mind its greatest advocate, Richard Shorman. Richard taught hundreds of children about this swashbuckling openingContinueContinue reading “More Coffee and a Danish Gambit Please”
Coming to terms with the Loss of a Student
It came as a tremendous shock. On February 14th, I was checking notifications on my phone and read that my student had passed away. I was stunned. Months earlier, I had the great pleasure of playing blitz chess with him in the backyard. Later that evening he would leave for his freshman year in college.ContinueContinue reading “Coming to terms with the Loss of a Student”
Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship
https://youtu.be/95Z6xHOwAPY Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my daily chess musing for Sunday, February 18th, 2024. Chess is often perceived as a solitary pursuit, with players hunched over a board deep in thought, making strategic moves in isolation. However, this is a misconception, as chess players are very much partContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship”
Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco
https://youtu.be/Q4oyWkA47tI Greetings Chess Players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Friday, February 16th, 2024. A good coach is said to put players in positions where they can succeed. As the CalChess Scholastic Coordinator, I use Daily Chess Musings as a platform to coach all of our youth chessContinueContinue reading “Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco “
Winning Chess Moves: Barrameda vs. Zhang, 2009 USATW
With the 2024 US Amateur Team West chess tournament happening this weekend, it seemed rather fitting to share a winning chess move from a past edition of the USATW. Tonight’s winning chess move comes from the 2009 US Amateur Team West game between Gabriel Barrameda and Kevin Zhang. Gabriel (white) has just played 31. Ra3ContinueContinue reading “Winning Chess Moves: Barrameda vs. Zhang, 2009 USATW”
2024 US Amateur Team West Tournament
https://youtu.be/yuYr4RbLTCs Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for February 13, 2024. It’s almost time for the 54th annual US Amateur Team West chess tournament. A President’s Day Weekend tradition, the USATW is a fun chess event open to teams of four players plus an optional alternate.ContinueContinue reading “2024 US Amateur Team West Tournament “
Chess Position Worth Sharing! 154
While scrolling through Facebook, I noticed one of my favorite chess authors posting an endgame study created by one of my favorite chess composers. In a rather fortunate coincidence, this particular king and pawn endgame study fits nicely into a progression of studies I have been giving students to exercise their calculation skills. (See ChessContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing! 154”
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 74
To understand why this mate in 4 puzzle by Josef Halumbirek won First Prize in the Neue Leipziger Zeitung for September, 1929, you first need to solve it. Of course, that’s easier said than done which is why I placed this Halumbirek masterpiece into the “Betcha Can’t Solve This” category! White to move and mateContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 74”
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 52
I have often talked at length about the benefits for the chess student to play a master in a handicapped game (See: “At Odds With My Student”). However, there appears to be a benefit for the master as well. Beginning a chess game at a disadvantage against an amateur player sometimes ignites a fire ofContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 52”
Chess Position Worth Sharing 153!
Today’s chess position is wonderful little pawn endgame study by master composer Josef Holumbirek. It has been stated that “The easiest endings to win are pure pawn endings”(Richard Shorman, 30 Rules of Chess) but certain pawn endgames do require deep calculations to uncover the long variation that leads to victory. The endgame study below certainlyContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing 153!”
The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman
https://youtu.be/4oz5Y6_IE1s View The CalChess Journal Fall 2023-Winter 2024 here OR download it below The-CalChess-Journal-Fall-2023_Winter-2024Download Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Saturday, February 3, 2024. As the Editor for the CalChess Journal, I play an important role in presenting stories and preserving the history of chessContinueContinue reading “The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman”
New Ideas in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense
It’s always nice when the top chess players in the world use a chess opening commonly seen in scholastic chess. This was the case in Round 9 of the Tata Steel Masters when Women’s World Chess Champion GM Ju Wenjun avoided possible Fried Liver or Lolli Attack complications by using the Polerio Defense (1 e4ContinueContinue reading “New Ideas in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense”
Puzzle Worthy Position 47
The annual Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee is always worth following and 2024 is no exception. Each year, the best of the best come to compete in the Netherlands and, even without Magnus Carlsen this time, there’s been plenty of excitement. Today’s puzzle worthy position comes from the Round 9 chess game betweenContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 47”
Chess Position Worth Sharing 152!
I like to use pawn endgames to stretch my students calculation ability. This process makes sense because precision is imperative in pawn endgames and the only way to determine if a candidate move is accurate is to check it through deep calculation. My readers are aware that I recently discovered the master composer Josef Holumbirek.ContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing 152!”
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 73
Solving chess puzzles by master composer Josef Halumbirek is my new favorite pastime. Today’s selection comes from Halumbirek’s entry in the Mémorial W. Von Holzhausen, Österreichische Schachzeitung 1951-52. This mate in 4 is rather approachable and can be solved by examining all of the forced moves available. Still, it’s very satisfying to discover why everyContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 73”
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 51
Recently, a training game against a student created an additional opportunity to discuss an ancient checkmating pattern. In the position below, it is black to move and mate in 2. This one is not to hard to spot especially if you are familiar with the Arabian Mate or take a moment to analyze your checks,ContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 51”
Puzzle Worthy Position 46
Born on March 9, 1943, Robert James Fischer is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history. Bobby Fischer’s many impressive chess accomplishments include becoming a grandmaster at just 15 years of age, winning the U.S. Chess Championship eight times and becoming a World Champion by defeating Boris Spassky in 1972 inContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 46”