Opening courses and books get all the love from consumers. However, it is of much greater practical importance for young chess players wishing to get better at chess to spend time mastering basic endgame techniques instead of investing hours of time memorizing lines of openings made fashionable by popular chess streamers. My advice on thisContinue reading “Why Young Chess Players Should Focus on Pawn Endgames”
Tag Archives: Children's Chess
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 forContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament “
Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship
I had a blast attending the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship hosted by Bay Area Chess. From the enthusiasm of the young competitors to getting to hear from many fans of my Daily Chess Musings YouTube Channel, I could not have ask for a better way to spend my birthday weekend. I look forward toContinue reading “Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship”
Birthday Simul 2022 + Special Emory Tate Chess Lesson
As is my annual tradition, I took an opportunity to play several young chess players in a simultaneous exhibition to celebrate my birthday. This year’s Birthday Simul took place on December 20th (not December 18th) so as not to conflict with The Calchess Grade Level Championships which took place on my actual birthday. The eventContinue reading “Birthday Simul 2022 + Special Emory Tate Chess Lesson”
Chess Memories of Birthdays Past
When I was a younger man, I didn’t need to take a day off to rest on my birthday (December 18th). I much preferred going to work, which for most of my adult life, means playing chess with young people. I turned 35 on December 18th 2012 and went to my after school chess classContinue reading “Chess Memories of Birthdays Past”
Don’t Miss the 17th Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys
If you are a chess parent who lives or can travel to Bellevue, Washington, consider taking your child/teen to the 17th annual Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys. The SPFNO, which will take place on October 22-23, is one of the most prestigious scholastic chess tournaments in the United States and theContinue reading “Don’t Miss the 17th Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys”
Girls K-12 CalChess State Championship 2022
A friendly reminder that the 2022 Girls Calchess State Championship is this Saturday (June 4th). The Berkeley Chess School does a wonderful job organizing this prestigious event and I highly recommend that all the young ladies in the Northern California chess community consider attending. All participants will be broken into sections by school grade: Kindergarten-3rdContinue reading “Girls K-12 CalChess State Championship 2022”
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”
Great Chess On Display During The Practice Event for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic
It’s especially inspiring to witness great chess moves in scholastic tournaments. As a scholastic chess coach and tournament director, seeing young minds play brilliantly is really what it’s all about. Today, while running a practice event for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic, Jay Stallings and I were treated to some spectacular chess. Really,Continue reading “Great Chess On Display During The Practice Event for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic”
Do chess playing children perform better in school? | ChessBase
The main finding was, “chess training reduces the treatment group’s level of risk aversion almost a year after the intervention ended.” Being more willing to take risks is generally a good thing in the world of academia, business, and social life. — Read on en.chessbase.com/post/do-chess-playing-children-perform-better-in-school
Fremont Chess Quads this Saturday (1/19/19)
Rated Scholastic Chess Tournament Saturday, January 19th 2019 11:00 am – 3:00 pm @ Learning Bee Learning Center in Fremont $25 entry fee Trophies are awarded to top player in each quad. All other players will receive pins for participating. USCF Rated QUAD Format: All players must be USCF members. All players must understand USCFContinue reading “Fremont Chess Quads this Saturday (1/19/19)”
Learning Chess The “Right Way” Has Never Been Easier!
I am in a unique situation as a chess coach due to my proximity to Silicon Valley. The average parents of my chess students are highly skilled professionals, including Ph.D.s and college professors, doctors, attorneys, physicists , CEOs, and of course computer engineers. These parents tend to be very involved in their child’s chess developmentContinue reading “Learning Chess The “Right Way” Has Never Been Easier!”
Calchess State Grade Level Championship
The 2010 edition of the Calchess State Grade Level Championship is just days away. The tournament will once again be run by master chess organizer John McCumiskey and be held at the University of the Pacific campus in Stockton, California. I believe this is the most enjoyable annual scholastic chess tournament in California. Please returnContinue reading “Calchess State Grade Level Championship”