Announcing a new weekly chess tournament hosted by the Daily Chess Musings Club on Chess.com. Blitz Chess Mondays with Lauren Goodkind will pair your chess moves with Lauren’s coaching skills which is sure to create lots of exciting chess as well as teaching moments. The Daily Chess Musings online chess club was founded on JulyContinue reading "Blitz Chess Mondays with Lauren Goodkind"
Chess Position Worth Sharing 141
"A popularly held theory about Paul Morphy is that if he returned to the chess world today and played our best contemporary players, he would come out the loser. Nothing is further from the truth. In a set match, Morphy would beat anybody alive today... Morphy was perhaps the most accurate chess player who everContinue reading "Chess Position Worth Sharing 141"
Winning Chess Moves: Koltanowski vs. Tholfsen, 1928
GM George Koltanowski, simply known as Kolty to his many friends, was the most passionate chess player I have ever met. He was always sharing his love for chess through his daily San Francisco chess column that ran for over five decades straight. His blindfold simultaneous exhibitions set world records and many new chess fansContinue reading "Winning Chess Moves: Koltanowski vs. Tholfsen, 1928"
Photos from the 2022 CalChess Super State K-12 Championships
The 2022 Super States wraps up with the K-12 (High School) sections of the 47th annual CalChess State Scholastic Chess Championships. Hats off to Bay Area Chess for organizing this series of tournaments in a safe and fun manner. Enjoy the slide show with pictures from the event
Chess Position Worth Sharing 140
A young fan of this blog enjoyed the last Sam Loyd puzzle I shared (see: Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 63) but asked if I had a “slightly easier problem by Samuel Loyd.” So, as was requested, this evening I am sharing another Sam Loyd mate in 3 that is much easier to solveContinue reading "Chess Position Worth Sharing 140"
Francisco Friday for 4/22/22
There’s not a lot of crossover between groups of chess and boxing aficionados despite the two activities sharing many similarities. For example, watching white’s queen movement at the end of this game brings to mind the famous Muhammad Ali quote, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Also, perhaps the best way to describeContinue reading "Francisco Friday for 4/22/22"
Prestigious Youth Chess Event on May 8!
https://youtu.be/tZawrASA_x8 Held annually, The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic is a must in the calendar of scholastic chess players. Join us on Sunday, May 8th for a five round USCF online rated Swiss tournament while hearing from FM James Eade, President of The Eade Foundation, on the importance of chess literacy, promoting chess excellence and howContinue reading "Prestigious Youth Chess Event on May 8!"
Some Coffee and a Danish Gambit
I felt as though I was following in the footsteps of Dr. Hans Anton Westesson Lindehn by playing the Danish Gambit at Rook-odds. However, Lindehn played without his queen’s rook while I did without my king’s. Additionally, instead of playing at the Café de la Régence, I was playing at Peet’s Coffee. Still it makesContinue reading "Some Coffee and a Danish Gambit"
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 64
German chess puzzle composer Herbert Ahues (1922-2015) specialized in the art of the mate in two. He composed more than 4000 chess problems and was awarded the title of Grand Master of Chess Composition by FIDE in 1989. Below is one of his final masterpieces first published in the year of his passing. White toContinue reading "Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 64"
Don’t Miss Out on These Exciting FIDE Events from Mission 360 and Bay Area Chess!
https://youtu.be/91tmuvrXwqg Organizing a successful IM or GM norm chess tournament is no easy feat. During the planning and lead up there are lots of things that organizers need to pay attention to and keep track of. Whether it’s sending invitations to foreign titled chess players, meeting all of FIDE’s technical requirements, calculating theContinue reading "Don’t Miss Out on These Exciting FIDE Events from Mission 360 and Bay Area Chess!"
Francisco Friday for 4/15/22
Francisco Anchondo has spent decades building his reputation as one of the East Bay’s most dangerous chess players. Oftentimes, Francisco is at the chessboard for one reason, and that is to deliver checkmate. Sit beside him long enough and you will learn the art of checkmating. [Event "Casual Blitz game"] [Date "2020.06.04"] [White "Francisco Anchondo"]Continue reading "Francisco Friday for 4/15/22"
A Perfect Equilibrium of Attack and Defense in Chess
We will never have be able to witness the greatest chess players from different historic eras playing matches against each other but that doesn’t stop me from musing about such matchups. Just imagine Paul Morphy launching an all out attack against the great defender Tigran Petrosian. I like to believe that, at least for oneContinue reading "A Perfect Equilibrium of Attack and Defense in Chess"
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 63
During the mid-nineteenth century, Samuel Loyd was one of the strongest chess players in the United States. However, his real passion was for the compositional art of chess puzzles, not tournament play. Known as the “Puzzle King”, his book Cyclopedia of 5000 Puzzles was published in 1914, three years after his death. Below is aContinue reading "Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 63"
The Third Mission 360 Bay Area GM/IM Invitational Norm Tournament – Round 9
https://youtu.be/rlYaTU6_8z0 Opening ceremony: Friday Apr 1st, 6:30PM Round Time: Opening ceremony: Wednesday Apr 6th, 6:30PM Round Time (tentative) for 6-day Round 1: Wednesday, Apr 6, 7:00 PM https://www.twitch.tv/dailychessmusings https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyChessMusings Round 2: Thursday, Apr 7, 11:30 AM https://www.twitch.tv/dailychessmusings https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyChessMusings Round 3: Thursday, Apr 7, 5:30 PM Round 4: Friday, Apr 8, 11:30 AM Round 5: Friday,Continue reading "The Third Mission 360 Bay Area GM/IM Invitational Norm Tournament – Round 9"
2022 CalChess Super State Championships K-8 Day 2
Photos from the Second Day of the 2022 CalChess Super State K-8 Championships The renewal of over the board chess was especially appreciated by the scholastic community at the CalChess Super State K-8 Championships, and it is easy to understand why. What’s not to like about watching hundreds of young people experiencing the greatness ofContinue reading "2022 CalChess Super State Championships K-8 Day 2"
Memories From the First Day of the 2022 CalChess Super State K-8 Championships
Day 1 of the 47th annual CalChess State Scholastic Chess Championships (also known as the 2022 Super States) was a terrific experience full of chess memories. While the kids have all the fun of competing against the best chess players their age in Northern California, the adults have a memorable experience as well. One ofContinue reading "Memories From the First Day of the 2022 CalChess Super State K-8 Championships "
2022 CalChess Super State Championships K-8 Day 1
Back in the Spring of 2020, the California scholastic chess community wondered if this day would ever come. Well here it is: the CalChess Super State K-8 Championships is occurring at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Over the board scholastic chess tournaments is back and it’s better than ever! Please enjoy a slideshow from theContinue reading "2022 CalChess Super State Championships K-8 Day 1"
Francisco Friday for 4/08/22
Even after the Queens leave the board, you still need to analyze all of the checks, captures and threats. In today’s episode of Francisco Friday, White castles as soon as possible but fails to see a check at Black’s disposal. San Francisco Bay Area chess coach Francisco Anchondo punishes this inaccuracy with a beautiful gameContinue reading "Francisco Friday for 4/08/22"
The Third Mission 360 Bay Area GM/IM Invitational Norm Tournament – Standings
I am unable to broadcast all the rounds due to prior commitments, However, you can still watch along by going to: https://www.chess.com/events/2022-bayareachess-gm-im-norm-2 Opening ceremony: Friday Apr 1st, 6:30PM Round Time: Opening ceremony: Wednesday Apr 6th, 6:30PM Round Time (tentative) for 6-day Round 1: Wednesday, Apr 6, 7:00 PM https://www.twitch.tv/dailychessmusings https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyChessMusings Round 2: Thursday, Apr 7, 11:30 AM https://www.twitch.tv/dailychessmusings https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyChessMusings Round 3:Continue reading "The Third Mission 360 Bay Area GM/IM Invitational Norm Tournament – Standings"
The Third Mission 360 Bay Area GM/IM Invitational Norm Tournament – Round 2
https://youtu.be/MUd1qla9yUE Opening ceremony: Friday Apr 1st, 6:30PM Round Time: Opening ceremony: Wednesday Apr 6th, 6:30PM Round Time (tentative) for 6-day Round 1: Wednesday, Apr 6, 7:00 PM https://www.twitch.tv/dailychessmusings https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyChessMusings Round 2: Thursday, Apr 7, 11:30 AM https://www.twitch.tv/dailychessmusings https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyChessMusings Round 3: Thursday, Apr 7, 5:30 PM Round 4: Friday, Apr 8, 11:30 AM Round 5: Friday,Continue reading "The Third Mission 360 Bay Area GM/IM Invitational Norm Tournament – Round 2"