Two World Champions were paired against each other in the eleventh round of the 2024 edition of Norway Chess. The reigning World Champion GM Ding Liren had the black pieces against his predecessor GM Magnus Carlsen. Sometimes, when players of this caliber meet, it is helpful to have a grandmaster chess commentator explain why oneContinue reading "Winning Chess Moves: Magnus Carlsen vs Ding Liren, 12th Norway Chess, 2024"
Chess Position Worth Sharing! 156
In classical music, “variation” is a technique composers use to present material in an altered form. Oftentimes, this altered material is a variation on a theme. Similarly, chess composers use variation on a theme to create a companion piece by slightly altering the position to create a secondary puzzle. In Chess Positions Worth Sharing 155,Continue reading "Chess Position Worth Sharing! 156"
Mokele-Mbembe Sighting in San Francisco
Greetings, fellow chess adventurers! Recently I embarked on an exciting expedition to uncover the mysteries in the Mokele-Mbembe variation of Alekhine’s Defense. In this report, I will recount my firsthand experience with this rare variation. In the near future, I may reveal more of its secrets so be sure to follow along as we unravelContinue reading "Mokele-Mbembe Sighting in San Francisco"
Chess Position Worth Sharing! 155
Of course, all levels of chess players are familiar with the iconic power of the Queen to combine the attacking abilities of a rook and bishop into a single piece. However, I can not think of a better demonstration of the Queen’s abilities than is contained Gustavus Reichhelm’s puzzle entitled “The Amazon.” In this mate-in-64,Continue reading "Chess Position Worth Sharing! 155"
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 76
It is perfectly natural to get a little frustrated when you can’t solve a chess puzzle. So, it’s important to remember that not all chess puzzles are meant to be solved. Some chess compositions are intended to be appreciated as art. Gustavus Charles Reichhelm Most chess enthusiasts are not familiar with the name Gustavus ReichhelmContinue reading "Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 76"
Chess Parenting: Encouraging High Expectations While Avoiding the Pitfalls of Unrealistic Goals
Recently, I revisited a blog post entitled “The Importance of Setting Lofty Goals in Chess.” While previously, I stressed the importance of setting lofty goals, I now want to speak of the dangers of having unrealistic goals. As a coach I like to separate expectations from goals. Every great chess player I have coached hadContinue reading "Chess Parenting: Encouraging High Expectations While Avoiding the Pitfalls of Unrealistic Goals"
Musings From a First-Time Tournament Organizer
Josh Wilson April 17, 2024 There is a line from the 1998 film Six Days Seven Nights where Harrison Ford retorts to Anne Heche, “It’s an island, babe. If you don’t bring it here, you won’t find it here.” While Ford was responding to Heche’s optimism about finding the magic of romance on a faraway island, theContinue reading "Musings From a First-Time Tournament Organizer"
Attack and Defend: The Ponziani Opening
The Ponziani Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3) exists just off the beaten path of the more popular Italian Game. Instead of playing 3. Bc4 and then 4. c3 (such as in the Italian Game), the Ponziani player makes an immediate grab for central space by playing 3. c3 with the ideaContinue reading "Attack and Defend: The Ponziani Opening"
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 53
Sometimes I can almost hear C-3PO telling me that the odds of winning a chess game against a second year player when starting down ten points in material is approximately 3,720 to 1. Winning against all odds is a common theme in Star Wars and my chess classes. Playing against students with a handicap makesContinue reading "So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 53"
Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships
The CalChess Super States (a.k.a. the CalChess Scholastic State Championship) is the annual chess tournament where a large number of Northern California’s youth chess players compete for the title of State Champion. As a chess coach, I have been attending this Northern California tournament every year for well over a quarter century. My commitment toContinue reading "Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships"
Winning Chess Moves: Euwe vs. Bernard van Mindeno, 1927
Imagine how awesome it would be to have your favorite high school math teacher become the World Chess Champion! The girls attending a Dutch Lyceum in 1935 had this happen when Machgielis “Max” Euwe defeated Alexander Alekhine in their World Championship Match. After winning the title, Max Euwe returned to the all girls Lyceum inContinue reading "Winning Chess Moves: Euwe vs. Bernard van Mindeno, 1927"
Winning Chess Moves: Koltanowski vs Diller, San Francisco, 1960
Today’s winning chess move involves a way to collect your opponent’s queen on just the fifth move! Unfortunately, you are not likely to find an opponent falling for this famous trap in the Damiano Variation of Petrov’s Defense. Still, as the great California chess ambassador George Koltanowski shows us, it’s an opening trap worth knowing.Continue reading "Winning Chess Moves: Koltanowski vs Diller, San Francisco, 1960"
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.Continue reading "Puzzle Worthy Position 48"
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 75
For anyone who doubts that chess can be art, I present Josef Halumbirek’s 1st Prize winning composition for the Neue Leipziger Zeitung in 1933. It’s a mate in 5 and I betcha can’t solve this chess puzzle! White to move and mate in 5 (Josef Halumbirek, 1st Prize Neue Leipziger Zeitung, 1933). My other chessContinue reading "Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 75"
A Friendly Game of Chess
Chess journalist Julius du Mont (12/15/1881 - 4/7/1956) wrote of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) that it "is unsound, but has the saving grace of leading to a lively game and is therefore suitable for an occasional friendly game." Du Mont was the Editor of British Chess Magazine and authoredContinue reading "A Friendly Game of Chess"
More Coffee and a Danish Gambit Please
My fascination with Josef Holumbirek’s chess puzzles lead me to a splendid little chess game he played using the white pieces and the Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3). For many in Northern California, the Danish Gambit brings to mind its greatest advocate, Richard Shorman. Richard taught hundreds of children about this swashbuckling openingContinue reading "More Coffee and a Danish Gambit Please"
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.Continue reading "Coming to terms with the Loss of a Student"
Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship
https://youtu.be/95Z6xHOwAPY Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my daily chess musing for Sunday, February 18th, 2024. Chess is often perceived as a solitary pursuit, with players hunched over a board deep in thought, making strategic moves in isolation. However, this is a misconception, as chess players are very much partContinue reading "Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship"
Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco
https://youtu.be/Q4oyWkA47tI Greetings Chess Players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Friday, February 16th, 2024. A good coach is said to put players in positions where they can succeed. As the CalChess Scholastic Coordinator, I use Daily Chess Musings as a platform to coach all of our youth chessContinue reading "Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco "
Winning Chess Moves: Barrameda vs. Zhang, 2009 USATW
With the 2024 US Amateur Team West chess tournament happening this weekend, it seemed rather fitting to share a winning chess move from a past edition of the USATW. Tonight’s winning chess move comes from the 2009 US Amateur Team West game between Gabriel Barrameda and Kevin Zhang. Gabriel (white) has just played 31. Ra3Continue reading "Winning Chess Moves: Barrameda vs. Zhang, 2009 USATW"