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Tag Archives: california chess coach

Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 2

This week’s submission comes from a student in Fremont California and deals with the age old question of which is better, a queen or two rooks. Generally a queen is stronger against uncoordinated rooks and especially so with pawns on both sides of the board. However, in our feature position, black’s rooks are already workingContinue reading “Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 2”

Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 1

Chess Dad & Coach Arun from Fremont California asked me to break this complex endgame down for his students. Watch below to see how this position plays out.

Francisco Friday for 6/10/2022

When it comes to attacking in chess, the stronger, the faster and the more difficult to deal with, the better. In today’s game, attacking maestro Francisco Anchondo uses a well conducted early pawn storm to penetrate his opponent’s defenses with brute force. [Event “Casual Blitz game”] [Date “2022.03.12”] [White “Anonymous”] [Black “Francisco Anchondo”] [Result “0-1”]Continue reading “Francisco Friday for 6/10/2022”

Francisco Friday for 6/3/2022

Popular with beginners who strictly follow the time honored opening principles they have been taught, The Four Knights Opening has a reputation of leading to a rather dull positional game. However, Francisco Anchondo makes a habit of taking an opening with a dull reputation and running it through a metaphoric knife sharpener until it canContinue reading “Francisco Friday for 6/3/2022”

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”

Yes, I Teach Private Chess Lessons

At the Calchess Super States, a few chess parents inquired if I teach private chess lessons. I do coach chess privately and there are two main benefits to taking private chess lessons with me: 1. Your child’s lessons will be customized to accelerate their learning process. 2. Your child will get my one-on-one attention whenContinue reading “Yes, I Teach Private Chess Lessons”

Brilliancy Prize for the 2022 K-5 CalChess Super State Championship 

Greetings Northern California chess players. My name is Chris Torres and I am excited to tell you about the Brilliancy Prizes for the K-5 CalChess Super State Championship. This year, in collaboration with The Eade Foundation, we will be awarding a couple of signed copies of the top selling chess book “Chess for Dummies” byContinue reading “Brilliancy Prize for the 2022 K-5 CalChess Super State Championship “

Preparing Youth Chess Players for the State Scholastic Championships

March and April are traditionally the months that State Chess Organizations hold their Scholastic State Championships sometimes referred to as “Super States.” So it is, every year around this time, I receive lots of questions about the best way to prepare a young chess player for the Scholastic State Championships. Most of my students whoContinue reading “Preparing Youth Chess Players for the State Scholastic Championships”

My Quora Answer to: Is there a shortcut for becoming really good in chess?

Under the best of circumstances, becoming really good in chess is a serious endeavor that takes a considerable amount of time. Millions of individuals like playing chess, but only a few can master the game. What is the reason for this? Chess is, simply said, one of the most complicated games ever devised. Despite theContinue reading “My Quora Answer to: Is there a shortcut for becoming really good in chess?”

Chris Torres Offers Online Chess Lessons

and would love to help your child play better chess now! Reasons to try an Online Lesson with Chris: 1.  Follow up to in-person chess lessons to check on your child’s understanding. 2.  Live too far away to come often for private instruction. 3.  Preparing for a major tournament with a coach who has taughtContinue reading “Chris Torres Offers Online Chess Lessons”

Free Private Chess Lessons!

Your child can study 1-on-1 with Chris Torres to bust through their current rating level and enjoy chess more. Chris Torres is a 20+ year chess professional and one of California’s most popular chess coaches. Take advantage of summer discount rates of 35/hr. (Instead of $50) for online private students on the educational platform Wyzant.Continue reading “Free Private Chess Lessons!”

Chris Torres’ Chess Résumé

Chris Torres (209) 323-0197 chesslessons@aol.com Chris Torres is a nationally renowned scholastic chess coach working in the San Francisco Bay Area. His classes have attracted players of strengths ranging from rank beginners to world champions. A chess professional since 1998, Chris is widely recognized as one of the main driving forces behind the explosion inContinue reading “Chris Torres’ Chess Résumé”

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”