The 50th Annual CalChess Scholastic State Championship took place at the Santa Clara Convention Center on March 22 and 23, 2025. I began attending this event in 1997 at the same convention center and haven’t missed a year since. Throughout the past 28 years I have witnessed many historical moments featuring Northern California’s brightest youngContinueContinue reading “The 50th Annual CalChess Scholastic State Championship”
Category Archives: Daily Chess Musings
Pawn Endgame Chess Homework
In June of 2008, I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area after working on a two year chess study in the Bakersfield area. Before leaving for Kern County, I was the most successful chess coach in Silicon Valley. However, upon returning several other fine chess instructors had filled the vacuum that I left whenContinueContinue reading “Pawn Endgame Chess Homework”
My Brief Thoughts on Chess, Cancer and Facing Challenges
Chess has significantly improved my ability to navigate life’s challenges. However, the discipline and resilience I’ve developed through the game are now being put to the test with my wife’s cancer diagnosis. Unlike other tough times, I can’t retreat to the chessboard as an escape from reality. Instead, it’s crucial for me to stay presentContinueContinue reading “My Brief Thoughts on Chess, Cancer and Facing Challenges “
Free Online Winter Chess Camp December 31, 2024
Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on the link for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins right afterContinueContinue reading “Free Online Winter Chess Camp December 31, 2024”
Free Online Winter Chess Camp December 30, 2024
Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on the link for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins right afterContinueContinue reading “Free Online Winter Chess Camp December 30, 2024”
Nine Years Have Passed
Nine years have elapsed since the untimely departure of my dear friend Emory Tate. Though he has crossed into the threshold of the great beyond, the indelible mark he left upon my life remains a testament to his character. The laughter we shared, the wisdom he imparted, and the unwavering support we offered each otherContinueContinue reading “Nine Years Have Passed “
Puzzle Worthy Position 50
In chess and in life, it’s not a victory until you cross the finish line. Throughout the history of chess there are numerous examples of players overcoming bleak circumstances with one extraordinary move which was overlooked by their opponent. However, few are as stunning as the combination that GM Lenier Dominguez Perez used to escapeContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 50”
Plenty of Hidden Gems Played at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
With 1,884 participants(975 in Open and 909 in Women’s event) taking part 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, there is no shortage of quality chess games to play through. Many outstanding games could potentially go unnoticed so it is important for chess writers to share the hidden gems they find. Once such hidden gemContinueContinue reading “Plenty of Hidden Gems Played at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
A Troitsky-esque Finale to a Game at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
All chess players should know that two knights alone can’t force checkmate. However, if you give the defending side one pawn, sometimes the knights can force checkmate because the single pawn’s ability to move prevents a stalemating defense. It is possible to checkmate a King with two Knights but it can not be forced. However,ContinueContinue reading “A Troitsky-esque Finale to a Game at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
Beautiful Queen Trapping Tactic from the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
The first round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad is in the books and we already have a major upset. Xavier Mompel Ferruz, a teenage FIDE Master from Equatorial Guinea, took down the Grandmaster and multi-time Icelandic National Champion, Gudmundur Kjartansson. FM Ferruz had no problems facing GM Gudmundur Kjartansson’s King’s Indian Attack and whenContinueContinue reading “Beautiful Queen Trapping Tactic from the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
Musings on the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest
https://youtu.be/1UhF7OGf4dY Greetings Chess Players. My name is Coach Tortoise and I have been a chess analyst for a really long time. The Chess Olympiad of the year 2024 shall take place in the splendid city of Budapest from the 11th to the 23rd of September. Inherently, Chess Olympiads serve as grand celebrations of the nobleContinueContinue reading “Musings on the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest”
Musings on the Forthcoming Match Between Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann
https://youtu.be/XXYjQd_sdwE Greetings Chess Players. My name is Coach Tortoise and I have been a chess analyst for a really long time. On the fourth day of September in the year two thousand and twenty-two, a most remarkable drama unfolded at the esteemed Sinquefield Cup, wherein Hans Niemann did astonish the chess community by vanquishing theContinueContinue reading “Musings on the Forthcoming Match Between Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann “
Paul Morphy and the Art of Checkmating
For Paul Morphy, winning at chess was a performance art. He was always striving to produce masterpieces. Morphy’s unique talent, theoretical knowledge, and creativity allowed him to steer chess games toward spectacular finishes that are still admired centuries later. His checkmating combinations are some of the most beautiful ever played and to this day, chessContinueContinue reading “Paul Morphy and the Art of Checkmating”
Chess Spies
Recently, a young chess student of mine was excited to tell me all about the Spy Camp he attended. After describing the “field skills” he learned such as using a grappling hook, my student showed me a couple codes written in simple ciphers. I was happy to see him so enthusiastic about what he learned.ContinueContinue reading “Chess Spies”
Paul Morphy At Odds with his Host!
Paul Morphy played many of his attacking masterpieces at odds (a way of handicapping a chess game so that a weaker player begins the game with an advantage). The handicaps he gave to balance the game varied greatly. In most cases, the conditions for the game at odds were described by Howard Staunton’s in hisContinueContinue reading “Paul Morphy At Odds with his Host!”
Winning Chess Moves: Morphy vs. Schrüfer, 1859
Last night I dreamt about attending a dinner party with Paul Morphy. At some point in my dream I asked him what he was doing here as he died a long time ago. Unfortunately, this subconscious realization jolted me awake before the chess games started. Luckily, I know a real Morphy game played under similarContinueContinue reading “Winning Chess Moves: Morphy vs. Schrüfer, 1859”
Playing Bughouse Chess with My Son
Bughouse is a popular variant of chess played by four players in teams of two. Each player controls a standard chess set and board. The unique aspect of Bughouse is that when a player captures an opponent’s piece, they hand it to their partner, who can then place that piece on their board as aContinueContinue reading “Playing Bughouse Chess with My Son”
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 55
Napoleon Crossing the Alps By Jacques-Louis David. The Napoleon Opening (aka Napoleon Atrack: 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3) is considered to be a rather dubious line because white is often playing for a Scholar’s Mate in a more benign form than the more popular, but still bad, 2. Qh5. Add to the fact that white’s queen isContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 55”
Puzzle Worthy Position 48
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”
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”