On February first, girls from all over Northern California headed to Saint Marks School in San Rafael for the annual Calchess Girls’ Championship. The talented few who finished in first place were awarded the title of Calchess State Girls Champion and given fabulous trophies to commemorate their achievement. Once again, girls from Fremont, California dominatedContinueContinue reading “Fremont Girls Dominate Calchess Championship”
Author Archives: chessmusings
An Open Letter to Mr. Albert Garibaldi, Superintendent: Banta School District
Mr. Albert Garibaldi, Superintendent: Banta School District First of all, let me congratulate you on the success of Banta Elementary School District’s charter with the River Island Technology Academy in Lathrop. I have been involved in education for 16 years and have never witnessed the birth of such an ambitious undertaking. Under the leadership ofContinueContinue reading “An Open Letter to Mr. Albert Garibaldi, Superintendent: Banta School District”
2014 USCF Absolute Championship
Since 1976, the USCF Absolute Championship has provided only the strongest correspondence chess players in the United States with a chance to compete in a closed USCF correspondence chess championship. It is my honor and privilege to be participating in this event for the second time. Below is the official table with the participants namesContinueContinue reading “2014 USCF Absolute Championship”
Two Chess Books to Rule Them All
Quora answer to: “What is the best chess book for learning chess?” Empirical methods of training in chess have rapidly improved over the last century and a half. In the mid nineteenth century, only a few good chess manuals were available to learn strategies from and students of the game really had to live inContinueContinue reading “Two Chess Books to Rule Them All”
Calchess Grade Level State Championship 2014
On January 11-12, several hundred of the most talented young chess players in Norther California attended the Calchess Grade Level State Championship at the SFO Airport Hyatt Regency. Students from the Torres Chess and Music Academy’s school program at Mission San Jose Elementary School once again dominated every grade they fielded a team in. TheContinueContinue reading “Calchess Grade Level State Championship 2014”
Happy New Year: The Best of my Chess Musings for 2013
As I look back on the past 12-months, I can say it has been quite a year for chess! With a new World Chess Champion and business for my nonprofit booming, I anticipate another fun and exciting year in 2014. To end 2013, I have chosen to recap my most popular chess posts of thisContinueContinue reading “Happy New Year: The Best of my Chess Musings for 2013”
World Chess Championship 2013: Round 10, The Game of Thrones
In the final game of the 2013 FIDE World Championship Match, Viswanathan Anand employed the Sicilian Defense with poor effect against Carlsen’s Moscow Variation. Magnus cruised through the opening with a nice advantage in space and remained in control of his destiny for the entire game. The most remarkable aspect of Magnus Carlsen’s play inContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Round 10, The Game of Thrones”
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand Drops His Sword in Round 9
Behind by two points with a maximum of four rounds left, Anand had to attack with the white pieces in round 9 because he faced the grim prospect of never having another opportunity to make the first move as a World Champion again. Vishy chose “pawn to d4” as his first move in, what willContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand Drops His Sword in Round 9”
World Chess Championship 2013: A Flawless Draw in Round 8
I actually really enjoyed round 8 of the 2013 Fide World Championship Chess Match. First off, Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand played an opening variation of the Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense that has not been used in World Championship play since 1886! Secondly, Carlsen and Anand played a flawless chess game and continued toContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: A Flawless Draw in Round 8”
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand Stops the Bleeding in Round 7
After two difficult losses in game 5 and game 6, Viswanathan Anand was able to regain his form and create a draw in round 7. To his fans, this was seen as a disappointing result. Anand’s many critics seem unable to comprehend that, “Sometimes, in order to win the war, you must first stop theContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand Stops the Bleeding in Round 7”
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand Loses Again in Game 6
The 2013 Fide World Chamionship Match is close to being over at the half-way point. Viswanathan Anand received his second straight loss after playing poorly in a “drawish” rook and pawn endgame. At the press conference, for the second round in a row, Anand failed to recognize the location of his actual loosing mistake. WhatContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand Loses Again in Game 6”
World Chess Championship 2013: Carlsen Wins Game 5!
In Round 5 of the 2013 Fide World Chess Championship Match, Magnus Carlsen delivered a figurative punch to the gut of the Champion, Viswanathan Anand. It has become clear that Magnus Carlsen respects Viswanathan Anand’s opening knowledge much more than he respects his actual chess skills. Carlsen’s plan with the white pieces has been toContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Carlsen Wins Game 5!”
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 4
The Anand-Carlsen World Championship Match of 2013 is evolving into a sporting event similar to that of Ali-Frasier 1971. In both cases, the battles were marketed as being the “Fight of the Century/Match of the Century ” and in both cases the athletes exceeded the promotional hype with super human abilities during the event. JoeContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 4”
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 3
The third game of the Anand-Carlsen World Chess Championship Match was perhaps the most exciting and revealing game yet. Magnus Carlsen employed the Reti Opening as white but it was Anand who seemed better prepared for its complexities. After gaining an advantage, Vishy, as in game 2, failed to take the risks necessary to reallyContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 3”
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 2
So, as in game 1, the second round of the 2013 World Chess Championship ended in a rather short draw. Many chess enthusiasts feel that this is the sort of play that gives chess a bad name among sports writers and casual fans. However, this is far to simplistic of a view point given theContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 2”
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 1
The FIDE World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen got off to a quiet start in Chennai, India. Viswanathan Anand had no issues with securing a draw with the black pieces and got the job done in a mere sixteen moves. This has to be seen as a small victory for theContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 1”
Why You Should Care About the Upcoming World Chess Championship Match
On November 9, 2013 the world is going to stop. Billions of people around the globe will be watching live as two titans clash in what may be the greatest chess match ever played. Viswanathan Anand, the Pride of India, will be taking on the charismatic “Mozart of Chess,” Magnus Carlsen. By the end ofContinueContinue reading “Why You Should Care About the Upcoming World Chess Championship Match”
World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 3 of the Anand-Carlsen Match
In our third preview game of the 2013 World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, we are going to examine a stunning defeat of Anand at the hands of the cunning Russian chess player, Alexander Morozevich. In my humble opinion, this game clearly illustrates what is perhaps the best strategy for MagnusContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 3 of the Anand-Carlsen Match”
World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 2 of the Anand-Carlsen Match
In our first preview game to the 2013 World Chess Championship, we studied a game where a young Magnus Carlsen demolishes his opponent. In preview two to the World Chess Championship Match between Anand and Carlsen, we will examine a game where our current World Chess Champion destroys Vassily Ivanchuk with style. [Event “It”]ContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 2 of the Anand-Carlsen Match”
World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 1 of the Anand-Carlsen Match
With the Anand-Carlsen World Championship Match just days away, I have decided to start posting some of my favorite games played by either Viswanathan Anand or Magnus Carlsen. Our first game is taken from the 2003 World Youth Chess Championships. In the gem below, a fourteen-year-old Magnus Carlsen drops the “hammer” on his fellow Norwegian.ContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 1 of the Anand-Carlsen Match”