Congratulations to my friend Anna Ushenina on becoming the World Women’s Chess Champion. Anna, who lives in the Ukraine played forceful yet beautiful chess throughout the long event. In the end it was her uncompromising attitude at the board that allowed her to defeat the other players and become the fourteenth Women’s World Chess Champion. Below is my favorite game that Anna UsheninaContinueContinue reading “Anna Ushenina is the New Women’s World Chess Champion”
Tag Archives: chess
Philidor Counter Gambit: Torres Variation
Below is my contribution to the theory of the Philidor Counter-Gambit(1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5.) According to my databases, I am the first and only player to employ exd4 after white plays 4 d3. I feel that the “Torres Variation” gives black a fine game with interesting play for both sides.ContinueContinue reading “Philidor Counter Gambit: Torres Variation”
How to Beat Houdini at Chess
Below is a game I played against Houdini 3 on FICS. This version of Houdini is 64 bit running on a Intel Quad Core 2.93Ghz with 6Gigs of Ram. This was my first attempt against this program and I think I did pretty well. In fact, I believe that with an improvement or two I could haveContinueContinue reading “How to Beat Houdini at Chess”
USCF Ban on Music
On November 16, 2012 the United States Chess Federation announced updated scholastic regulations that prohibit the use of personal music players and headphones. This move was made in order to defend against perceived threats to the integrity of over-the -board chess caused by electronic devices being used as a tool for cheating. In a bold contradiction of logic,ContinueContinue reading “USCF Ban on Music”
Chess Wisdom and Philosophy from Twitter
Here is a collection of my chess wisdom from @TorresChess. If you are not following me on Twitter, then you are missing out on some interesting discussions. 11/5 Chris Torres@TorresChess It is beyond coincidence that chess and music produce child prodigies with a much greater frequency than that of other intellectual pursuits. -Chris Torres 11/7ContinueContinue reading “Chess Wisdom and Philosophy from Twitter”
World Youth Chess Championships 2012: Half Time for Team USA
Today was the break day for the young chess players competing at the World Youth Chess Championships in Maribor, Slovenia. Team USA is particularly dominant in the U12 Open where American chess masters Samuel Sevian and Jeffrey Xiong are tied for first and will be playing on board 1 in round 7. Only a half point behind and tied for secondContinueContinue reading “World Youth Chess Championships 2012: Half Time for Team USA”
World Youth Chess Championships 2012: Round 3 Preview
California’s top young chess stars are once again proving that the kids in the Golden State play world-class chess. Several remain undefeated and nearly all remain in contention for the gold after the first two rounds of the World Youth Chess Championships. Round 3 has some interesting match-ups. Here are the games to keep an eyeContinueContinue reading “World Youth Chess Championships 2012: Round 3 Preview”
World Youth Chess Championships: Team USA Results
Want to know what’s happening behind the scenes at the 2012 World Youth Chess Championships in Maribor, Slovenia? Please follow me on Twitter @TorresChess or on Facebook.
World Youth Chess Championships 2012
The 2012 World Youth Chess Championships in Maribor, Slovenia will be played according to this schedule: Round 1 is Thursday November 8 at 15:00 Round 2 is Friday November 9 at 15:00 Round 3 is Saturday, November 10 at 15:00 Round 4 is Sunday, November 11 at 15:00 Round 5 is Monday, November 12ContinueContinue reading “World Youth Chess Championships 2012”
On the Eve of Greatness: Part Two
Tomorrow two of my favorite young chess players will begin play at the World Youth Chess Championship in Maribor, Slovenia. As the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy, I have had the distinct pleasure of coaching many of the top ranking scholastic chess players from California and can comfortably state that the two players describedContinueContinue reading “On the Eve of Greatness: Part Two”
Press Release for Fremont Achiever Chess Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Mrs. Feliza Hsu, Program Director for Achiever Institute 43475 Ellsworth Street Fremont, CA 94539 510-226-6161, hello@achieverinstitute.org http://achieverinstitute.org/ <America’s Top Chess Teacher Returns to Fremont> <11/5/2012> – The Fremont Achiever Chess Team has a very special chess program designed and taught by America’s top chess instructor, Chris Torres. This class will provide experienced tournament players with instructionContinueContinue reading “Press Release for Fremont Achiever Chess Team”
Fan Mail
My friend, James S. Welborn, likes to play the Englund Gambit. Here is a game he submitted to me for review where he tried to go “Englund” on his opponent but the game ended up transposing into an English or even a Slav. The Englund Gambit starts with 1 d4 e5. Play normally continues dxe5 Nc6 and the fun begins. InContinueContinue reading “Fan Mail”
Its Deja Vu Mr. Petroff
In French the phrase Deja Vu means “already seen.” Not only have I already posted an article on my clever new system against the Nimzowitsch Attack in the Petroff Defense, I did so in my last post. However, the real reason for a sense of Deja Vu is that I played this game following a chess lessonContinueContinue reading “Its Deja Vu Mr. Petroff”
Teaching Chess Improves Chess Creativity
Last night after a long day teaching chess which culminated with a private lesson for chess prodigy Ben Rood, I came home and decided to relax by playing a couple blitz games on FICS. As usual, I won a couple and lost a couple. In the past I have noticed that I have more creative ways of handling routineContinueContinue reading “Teaching Chess Improves Chess Creativity”
Help Send Ben Rood to Slovenia
To the Supporters of Northern California Chess, On November 2, 2012 California chess super-star Ben Rood will leave for Maribor, Slovenia in order to compete in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships. Ben Rood asked his family to attend for support as he battles the best eight-year-olds from around the globe. A family trip toContinueContinue reading “Help Send Ben Rood to Slovenia”
A Variation on a Theme by Morphy
Todays lesson examines the Morphy Variation of the Two Knights Defense (Fried Liver Attack.) Adi Kisieu is a talented young chess player from Oakland, California who, in this game, invented an interesting theoretical novelty on move 15 of a very frequently played opening. Unfortunately for his novelty, Adi used unfocused aggression and ended up giving his teacher a niceContinueContinue reading “A Variation on a Theme by Morphy”
Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1
White had all the fun in round 1 of the 2012 Mikhail Tal Memorial chess tournament. Four games were won by players with the white pieces and black managed no better than a draw on the remaining board. This is a dramataic turn of events for the chess fans of Moscow. After being treated toContinueContinue reading “Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1”
Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1 Preview
Round 1 of the 2012 Mikhail Tal Memorial Chess Tournament is about to begin. After a hard fought 9 round blitz tournament, we now have a clearer picture of what to expect in the main event. First off, Alexander Morozevich surprised his Russian fans by winning the blitz tournament on his home turf in Moscow.ContinueContinue reading “Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1 Preview”
Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012
It’s almost time for the most exciting chess tournament of the year to begin. The seventh annual Tal Memorial Chess Tournament in Moscow will have its opening ceremonies on June 7. It is important to clarify the distinction between the main tournament and the blitz tournament do to the fact that the same 10 players will battleContinueContinue reading “Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012”
It’s a Great Time to Play Correspondence Chess in the United States
The United States is truly becoming one of the greatest countries in the world of correspondence chess. Our Olympiad team has made the world finals in every Correspondence Chess Olympiad from the thirteenth to the eighteenth in 2012. Since the year 2000, the ICCF has awarded 80 international titles to correspondence chess players living in theContinueContinue reading “It’s a Great Time to Play Correspondence Chess in the United States”