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”
Tag Archives: Children's Chess
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”
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”
Why Young Chess Players Should Focus on Pawn Endgames
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 thisContinueContinue reading “Why Young Chess Players Should Focus on Pawn Endgames”
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 “
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 toContinueContinue 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 eventContinueContinue 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. Kneeling next to Andrew Peng on my birthday in 2012. I turned 35 on DecemberContinueContinue 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 theContinueContinue 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-3rdContinueContinue 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 whoContinueContinue 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. Jay Stallings (top) and Chris Torres live-streaming during today’s practice event. Today, while running a practice event for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic,ContinueContinue 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 USCFContinueContinue 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 developmentContinueContinue 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 returnContinueContinue reading “Calchess State Grade Level Championship”