White to move and draw (A. Salvio, 1604).
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 17
White to move and mate in 3 (A. Galitskiy, “Chess Journal”, 1900.) For added challenge, imagine that the players switch chairs (i.e. pawns moving in the opposite direction) and solve for mate in three again. Remarkable!
Kevin Pan is Brilliant at 2018 USCF Elementary Championships
It is always my great pleasure to share the stories and achievements of California’s most outstanding young chess talents. Below is a remarkably brilliant game played by Mission San Jose Elementary School’s own Kevin Pan in route to a National Championship title both for Kevin and the MSJE Chess Team. [Event "USCF National Elementary Championships"]Continue reading "Kevin Pan is Brilliant at 2018 USCF Elementary Championships"
MSJE Chess Team Again Wins Big at Nationals!
Coach Joe's Report on the 2018 USCF National Elementary Chess Championships (Photos by Hui Wang): On the weekend of May 11th to 13th more than 2200 Elementary school students competed in the National Elementary School Chess Championships in Nashville, TN. This was the tenth straight year that a strong group of Mission San Jose ElementaryContinue reading "MSJE Chess Team Again Wins Big at Nationals!"
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 16
White to move and mate in 7! (Edward Lasker vs. George Thomas, City of London Chess Club, 1912) "The following game I consider the most beautiful I ever played ... though it was not a tournament game and can, therefore, hardly be classed among the best games.” - Edward Lasker “A year later, Alekhine calledContinue reading "Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 16"
#HolocaustRemembrance and #Chess
A beautiful chess piece carved in the Hersbruck concentration camp, 1945 (source @SteveJakubowski).
#Chess Puzzle Worth Sharing 96
An exciting position from a recent blitz game. Black to move and mate in 4.
New Chess Club Starting in Fremont
New Chess Club Starting in Fremont Where: Nurture Kids, 160 Fremont Hub Courtyard, Fremont, CA 94538 When: April 14th through June 16th Saturdays 11:00 AM – 1: 00 PM Who: Open to all youth tournament chess players. Instructor is Chris Torres! Click on the application below to register online.
Mission San Jose Elementary School Shines at the Calchess Scholastic Chess Championships
Coach Joe' Report on the 2018 Calchess Scholastic State Championships (Photography by Hui Wang): The 2018 Northern California Scholastic Chess Championships were held the weekend of April 7th & 8th at the Santa Clara convention center. Over 1200 students and more the 50 schools competed in these championships. Mission San Jose Elementary school (MSJE) ofContinue reading "Mission San Jose Elementary School Shines at the Calchess Scholastic Chess Championships"
#Chess Puzzle Worth Sharing 95
From my game tonight. What is black's best move?
#Chess Lesson of the Week: Fabiano Caruana vs. Robert Hess II (Argentina, 2001)
After seeing Robert Hess II's post on Facebook, I became curious about his chess adventures with Fabiano Caruana in Argentina. After a quick search of my database, I found this superb chess game played by the two young chess prodigies. Below is the lesson from the game that I have prepared for my studentsContinue reading "#Chess Lesson of the Week: Fabiano Caruana vs. Robert Hess II (Argentina, 2001)"
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 15
This nineteenth century chess puzzle has a really fun solution. White to move and mate in 12 (B.S. Barrett, 1874).
Betcha Can’t Solve This Chess Puzzle! 14
White to move and mate in 2.
Betcha Can’t Solve This Chess Puzzle! 13
A tricky endgame study by the great player/composer Pal Benko. White to move and win.
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 12
Here there is only one move that leads to victory (provided of course that white plays all the correct moves afterward).
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 11
This endgame study makes a very good lesson in and of itself. White to move and win (M. Grinfeld, 1903).
Steinbeck on Chess
‘... Chess is possibly the only game in the world in which it is impossible to cheat.’ - (Doc, chapter 4 of Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck, 1954)
Re: An Open Letter to Mr. Albert Garibaldi
Four years have elapsed since I penned an open letter to Banta Elementary School District Superintendent Albert Garibaldi questioning his decision to intentionally undermine the success of his district’s first charter school. At the time, Mr. Garibaldi was attempting to destroy a thriving charter school seemingly in order to get a larger piece of theContinue reading "Re: An Open Letter to Mr. Albert Garibaldi"
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 10
White to move and mate in 7! (Kasparyan, 1935)
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 9
White to move and mate in 12.
