I am thrilled to share some exciting news with our readers! Daily Chess Musings has been featured in an article by the Fremont Patch, highlighting our Winter Chess Camp in celebration of Gukesh Dommaraju and the impact it’s making in the Fremont chess community. The article, titled “Free Online Chess Camp in Celebration of GukeshContinueContinue reading “Exciting News: Winter Chess Camp Featured in the Fremont Patch!”
Tag Archives: California chess
A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Spooky Swiss hosted by the Berkeley Chess School. BCS decked out the spacious playing hall in Halloween decor and almost all of the young chess players arrived in costumes. As I analyzed games, I noticed how well played they were, which is a testament toContinueContinue reading “A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament”
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 54
I have so many fond memories from the years I ran the Fremont Summer Chess Camps at Mission San Jose Elementary School. Connecting hundreds of talented kids with the best chess teachers was an incredible experience for everyone involved. These camps helped take scholastic chess to new heights in Fremont, California and helped me developContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 54”
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 toContinueContinue reading “Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships”
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.ContinueContinue 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.ContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 48”
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 authoredContinueContinue 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 openingContinueContinue reading “More Coffee and a Danish Gambit Please”
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 partContinueContinue 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 chessContinueContinue 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. Ra3ContinueContinue reading “Winning Chess Moves: Barrameda vs. Zhang, 2009 USATW”
2024 US Amateur Team West Tournament
https://youtu.be/yuYr4RbLTCs Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for February 13, 2024. It’s almost time for the 54th annual US Amateur Team West chess tournament. A President’s Day Weekend tradition, the USATW is a fun chess event open to teams of four players plus an optional alternate.ContinueContinue reading “2024 US Amateur Team West Tournament “
The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman
https://youtu.be/4oz5Y6_IE1s View The CalChess Journal Fall 2023-Winter 2024 here OR download it below The-CalChess-Journal-Fall-2023_Winter-2024Download Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Saturday, February 3, 2024. As the Editor for the CalChess Journal, I play an important role in presenting stories and preserving the history of chessContinueContinue reading “The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman”
Fun Friday Chess Classes in Foster City
Chess Coach Chris Torres looking at a fundamental checkmating pattern with his class at Very Sunny Academy. I have fun on Fridays nurturing young minds at Very Sunny Academy in Foster City, California. Each week, I bring my chess equipment and guide a group of passionate young learners on their chess journey. Most classes beginContinueContinue reading “Fun Friday Chess Classes in Foster City”
The passing of Richard Shorman, a legendary chess teacher in Northern California
My brief remarks on the passing of Richard Shorman, a legendary chess teacher in the Northern California chess community for over sixty years. https://youtu.be/Osz9RyhWzcY
A Very Sunny Chess Tournament
Daily Chess Musings wrapped up its 2022-23 school year in style with a free chess tournament on Saturday, June 3. My students took this opportunity to show off their chess skills at A Very Sunny Academy in Foster City, California. Titled “A Very Sunny Chess Tournament” this event was was the culmination of another year’sContinueContinue reading “A Very Sunny Chess Tournament”
DCM Spring Invitational Chess Tournament in Los Altos Hills
On Saturday, April 22, I hosted the Daily Chess Musings Spring Invitational Chess Tournament at the Fremont Hills Country Club in Los Altos Hills, California. This was a very special event for me as it was the first invitational chess tournament I have organized since the onset of the pandemic. As is my tradition, thereContinueContinue reading “DCM Spring Invitational Chess Tournament in Los Altos Hills”
2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship
The CalChess K-8 Scholastic Championship is truly one of the most special and memorable events on the Bay Area Chess tournament calendar. I took a stroll around the 2022-23 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship and was quickly reminded why this tournament is commonly referred to as the “Super States!” Enjoy the photos below and lookContinueContinue reading “2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship”
The CalChess Journal: Winter 2022-23
Perhaps you’ve heard that the chess scene in Northern California is amazing! See what makes our region special by checking out the Winter 2022-23 Edition of The CalChess Journal. https://www.flipsnack.com/calchessjournal/calchess-journal-winter-2023.html
Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament
The US Amateur Team West Championship is one of the most enjoyable California chess traditions. A team event, the US Amateur Team West attracts all the usual faces and their friends to compete in a weekend long celebration of chess. Each year there is also a USATW Scholastic Tournament. As a chess coach, Editor forContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament “