Dear Chess Parents, The next two weekends contain many exciting scholastic chess events that your children will benefit from attending. On Saturday April 25th, I will be hosting a chess tournament at Mission San Jose Elementary School, a TCAMA school in Fremont which just won the National Chess Championship in the K-6 division. This tournament will allowContinue reading "Upcoming Chess Events"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
The championship chess board in Bonn has become a form of torture for Vladimir Kramnik. After loosing game 6, Kramnik has just six games left and is down three full points. A loosing streak against a world champion is very hard to fix. In Kramnik's case, achieving a win against Anand must seem like aContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
Kramnik must be feeling miserable. Anand has beaten him with the black pieces once again. Now down two full points with 7 games to go, Kramnik must take considerable risks if he is to have any chance at becoming world champion again. Taking these risks could easily backfire and have the effect of causing thisContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess"
Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858
"Morphy...I think everyone agrees...was probably the greatest of them all." (Bobby Fischer) This years chess match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik takes place 150 years after one of the greatest world championship matches in history. In 1858, the two best chess players in the world, Paul Morphy and Adolph Anderssen, battled in Paris toContinue reading "Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
It was back to the "drawing" board in game 4 from Bonn, Germany. Defending champion Viswanathan Anand played the white side in the solid Queen's Gambit Declined. Kramnik ended up with the ubiquitous isolated queen's pawn and allowed Anand no opportunities for victory. 3. Nf3 Anand decides to avoid a repeat of game 2's Nimzo-Indian.Continue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship
In game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championships, Viswanathan Anand put on a tactical display using his fiery attacking style to beat Vladimir Kramnik into submission. Below is the game that has put Anand ahead in the match: 2...c6 Anand chooses the Slav again. 4. Nc3 Kramnik chooses not to play the exchange Slav asContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship"
TCAMA to Offer Chess at Former “Know Chess!” Schools
For immediate release: As many parents abruptly found out this last week, Know Chess! has closed down due to unspecified reasons. Thousands of young Bay Area chess players are now faced with the possibility of not having a school chess club. The Torres Chess and Music Academy is prepared to offer its services to save chess at these schools. The Torres Chess andContinue reading "TCAMA to Offer Chess at Former “Know Chess!” Schools"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship
The second game from the 2008 World Chess Championship ended in a draw. In an attempt to show off some of his preparation for playing white against the Slav(1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6), Anand decided to use 1.d4 instead of his favorite 1.e4. Kramnik avoided the technical Slav lines in game 1 and chose to use theContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship"
Know Chess Cancels Chess Classes
Know Chess has recently cancelled chess classes at a number of schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you work for or your child attends one of these schools, the Torres Chess and Music Academy can help you get another chess club set up immediately. Please contact us if your school is located inContinue reading "Know Chess Cancels Chess Classes"
Anand-Kramnik Game 1 from the 2008 World Chess Championship
Kramnik faced off against Anand in Game 1 of the World Chess Championship Match on October 14, 2008. The "Battle of Bonn" began with little surprise as Anand chose to play one of his main weapons referred to as the Slav Defense to the Queen's Gambit Declined. The game concluded after move 32 when aContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik Game 1 from the 2008 World Chess Championship"
Team Kramnik
For the 2008 World Chess Championship match in Bonn, Germany, Vladimir Kramnik has selected these players as his “Seconds.” I hope my readers will visit again tomorrow to view my coverage for game 1 of the 2008 World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. Name: Peter Leko Date of birth: 09-08-1979 Country:Continue reading "Team Kramnik"
Team Anand
For the 2008 World Chess Championship match in Bonn, Germany, Viswanathan Anand has selected these players as his "Seconds." I will review Vladimir Kramnik's team in a later post. Name: Peter Heine Nielsen Date of birth: 05-24-1973 Country: Denmark Current Rating: 2652 Description: A grandmanster with a very aggressive style who has won the Denmark Chess ChampionshipContinue reading "Team Anand"
My Friends are Better Than Yours… Anand and Kramnik Get Seconds
The upcoming 12 game World Championship match between Anand and Kramnik is creating internet rumors faster than Alexandra Kosteniuk makes blitz moves in China. Most of these rumors seem to be speculation on opening choices and who is going to be the "Second" for Anand and Kramnik. A "Second" refers to a chess playersContinue reading "My Friends are Better Than Yours… Anand and Kramnik Get Seconds"
Alexandra Kosteniuk Takes the Gold in Blitz Chess
It appears as though chess has a new superstar. After taking the Women's World Rapid Chess Championship and the Women's World Chess Championship titles Alexandra Kosteniuk won gold in the 1st World Mind Sports Games Women's Blitz Chess Individual event in Beijing, China. Under her father's(Konstantin Vladimirovich Kosteniuk) coaching and guidance, Alexandra became a WomanContinue reading "Alexandra Kosteniuk Takes the Gold in Blitz Chess"
Where I Was Ten Years Ago.
Thanks to Google's ten year anniversary, the famed search engine has added an option to have a google search show the user what he or she would have seen ten years in the past. This feature also includes the cached pages from a decade ago. Below is the description of my chess activities from ten years ago taken directlyContinue reading "Where I Was Ten Years Ago."
5 Days Until the 2008 World Chess Championships in Bonn, Germany
Anand and Kramnik both enjoy playing the Petroff Defense(1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6) and I would be very surprised not to see it used in their 2008 World Championship Chess Match. Both players know the theory very well in this opening, so any game they play could lead to new ideas for the worldContinue reading "5 Days Until the 2008 World Chess Championships in Bonn, Germany"
Unfair Criticism of Kramnik
Tonight I attempt to defend Vladimir Kramnik from those who cast stones at the former World Chess Champion. I believe the upcoming 2008 World Chess Championship will be an exciting event played between two outstanding chess players who are wonderful ambassadors for the game of chess. Below are my opinions about the three most common critical myths that hauntContinue reading "Unfair Criticism of Kramnik"
Kramnik vs. Anand 2008 (preview game revisited)
Seven Days until the Anand vs. Kramnik 2008 World Championship Match. I am revisiting a game they played in 2007 at the request of several fans of my blog. Kramnik-Anand 9/13/2007 was a Moscow variation of the Semi-Slav Defense. The Moscow variation which starts after 5...h6 can lead to very sharp play especially because Anand gambits aContinue reading "Kramnik vs. Anand 2008 (preview game revisited)"
Bakersfield Chess Teacher
Here is a nice recomendation I received from a distinguished Disctrict Superintendent. The Torres Chess and Music Academy offers schools in California the very best chess experience possible. For more information please visit http://www.ChessandMusic.com 8 July 2008 Letter of Recommendation for Chris Torres For the past 2 years Chris Torres has worked with VinelandContinue reading "Bakersfield Chess Teacher"
Bakersfield Chess Tournaments
Date Title Location Address October 25 Fall Chess Classic Sunset Elementary 8301 Sunset Blvd. Bakersfield CA 93307 November 29 Thanksgiving Chess Extravaganza University Square 2000 "K" Street Bakersfield CA 93301 December No Tournament Scheduled January 31 Super Bowl of Chess American Elementary 800 Verdugo Lane Bakersfield CA 93312 FebruaryContinue reading "Bakersfield Chess Tournaments"