Third-grader Anuj Balakrishnan did something that had never been done in the 14-year history of the Collins Chess Club. The nine year old defeated Coach Chris Torres soundly after the coach blundered away his queen in a rare moment of carelessness. After gaining the queen advantage, Anuj continued to use all of his pieces andContinueContinue reading “When the Student Becomes the Teacher”
Tag Archives: Chris Torres chess
Memorial Weekend Sales Event for the Fremont Summer Chess Camp
Summer is rapidly approaching and that means it’s almost time for the annual Fremont Summer Chess Camp at Mission San Jose Elementary School in Fremont, California. Our summer chess camp features coaches with decades of chess teaching experience who annually create a summer camp that is fun, competitive and educational. All camp attendees will receiveContinueContinue reading “Memorial Weekend Sales Event for the Fremont Summer Chess Camp”
The Seventh Rank Achieved
In Spanish, a Rook in chess is called a “Torre” and every Russian schoolboy knows a rook on the seventh rank is particularly deadly!
My Review of Coach Jay’s Chess Academy
Jay Stallings has been successfully employing a martial art belt system to teaching chess for nearly two decades. He has taught approximately 35,000 children the royal game, many of whom went on to become the top chess players for their age in the country. The motivation of earning belts coupled with his passion for and knowledgeContinueContinue reading “My Review of Coach Jay’s Chess Academy”
Chess Classes in Fremont, California
FREMONT ACHIEVER CHESS TEAM: August 23rd through October 25th Brought to you by The Achiever Institute and the Torres Chess and Music Academy, a non-profit organization The Fremont Achiever Chess Team chess program meets every Saturday from 1:00 until 3:00, beginning August 23, 2014. Held at The Achiever Institute. 43475 Ellsworth St. Fremont, CAContinueContinue reading “Chess Classes in Fremont, California”
An American in Tromso
Sam Shankland is sensational in his Chess Olympiad debut. After eight rounds against a difficult international field, Grandmaster Sam Shankland of the United States remains undefeated in Tromso, Norway. Those of us from the United States and especially California couldn’t be prouder of our representative at the 41st Chess Olympiad. Below is my personalContinueContinue reading “An American in Tromso”
Attacking Chess: Move by Move
Obviously, the ultimate goal in chess is a checkmate and therefor it stands to reason that good technique for attacking an opponent’s king is one the most important skills a young chess player should study. However, because understanding the tactics and strategies of attacking is also a necessary skill for a successful defensive chess player,ContinueContinue reading “Attacking Chess: Move by Move”
Nothing Amateur about the TCAMA Summer Chess Classes and Tournaments
The Torres Chess and Music Academy is aware that parents in Northern California have many choices to make in regards to where they send their children for chess training this summer. Before making that choice, we urge parents to do their due diligence and research the different programs or instructors. In particular, be on theContinueContinue reading “Nothing Amateur about the TCAMA Summer Chess Classes and Tournaments”
How important are chess ratings for children?
A chess rating is just a number used in chess to estimate the strength of a player based on his/her past performance. For years, I have been advising chess coaches, parents and kids to avoid becoming preoccupied with ratings as doing so creates unnecessary problems for children. Some common problems I see regularly from overContinueContinue reading “How important are chess ratings for children?”
Coach Joe’s Report on the 2014 USCF National Elementary Chess Championships
MSJE Head Coach, Joe Lonsdale, Provides a Brief Summary of Fremont’s Achievements At the 2014 National Elementary Chess Championships. The 2014 National Elementary School Chess Championships were held the weekend of May 9th to 11th in Dallas, TX. More than 2,200 students from 107 schools competed in these championships. 17 MSJE (Mission San Jose ElementaryContinueContinue reading “Coach Joe’s Report on the 2014 USCF National Elementary Chess Championships”
The Tenth Rank
The Top Ten Chess (CC) Players in the United States for May 2014. Source: United States Chess Federation 1 Menke, John R IL USA 2489 2 Buss, Michael IN USA 2430 3 Brandhorst, Wesley FL USA 2416 4 Ingersol, Harry Walter IA USA 2415 5 Tracz, James G OH USA 2405 6 Tseng, Wilbur ILContinueContinue reading “The Tenth Rank”
Calchess Scholastic Super State Championship: Preview 1
Without a doubt, the best scholastic chess tournament in Northern California for the past six years has been the Calchess Scholastic State Championship. Every Spring, nearly one thousand school aged chess players compete in a single weekend of matches to determine who the best chess players and school chess teams are in Northern California. InContinueContinue reading “Calchess Scholastic Super State Championship: Preview 1”
My First Impressions of Velocity Chess
After arriving at velocitychess.com, I signed up through my Facebook account and was up and running in less than a minute. Immediately, the site will take new users on a “tour” that demonstrates some of Velocity Chess’ unique offerings. Some items on the tour that I found worthwhile were: 1) Free chess play for everyoneContinueContinue reading “My First Impressions of Velocity Chess”
Fork Trick or Treat
“One way to find food for thought is to use the fork in the road, the bifurcation that marks the place of emergence in which a new line of development begins to branch off.”-William Irwin Thompson “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”-Yogi Berra Had it not been for the President’sContinueContinue reading “Fork Trick or Treat”
2014 USCF Absolute Championship
Since 1976, the USCF Absolute Championship has provided only the strongest correspondence chess players in the United States with a chance to compete in a closed USCF correspondence chess championship. It is my honor and privilege to be participating in this event for the second time. Below is the official table with the participants namesContinueContinue reading “2014 USCF Absolute Championship”
Two Chess Books to Rule Them All
Quora answer to: “What is the best chess book for learning chess?” Empirical methods of training in chess have rapidly improved over the last century and a half. In the mid nineteenth century, only a few good chess manuals were available to learn strategies from and students of the game really had to live inContinueContinue reading “Two Chess Books to Rule Them All”
Happy New Year: The Best of my Chess Musings for 2013
As I look back on the past 12-months, I can say it has been quite a year for chess! With a new World Chess Champion and business for my nonprofit booming, I anticipate another fun and exciting year in 2014. To end 2013, I have chosen to recap my most popular chess posts of thisContinueContinue reading “Happy New Year: The Best of my Chess Musings for 2013”
World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 1 of the Anand-Carlsen Match
With the Anand-Carlsen World Championship Match just days away, I have decided to start posting some of my favorite games played by either Viswanathan Anand or Magnus Carlsen. Our first game is taken from the 2003 World Youth Chess Championships. In the gem below, a fourteen-year-old Magnus Carlsen drops the “hammer” on his fellow Norwegian.ContinueContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Preview 1 of the Anand-Carlsen Match”
The Torres Chess and Music Academy Has Big Plans for Fremont
The President of the TCAMA reports on an upcoming Open House Event in Northern California. Fremont, California (PRWEB) October 22, 2013 On November 2, 2013, the Torres Chess and Music Academy will be having its annual Open House in Fremont, California. The TCAMA Open House allows children the opportunity to take part in an afternoonContinueContinue reading “The Torres Chess and Music Academy Has Big Plans for Fremont”
What is the Best Sacrifice in the History of Chess?
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller My answer to “What is the Best Sacrifice in the History of Chess?” as asked on Quora. Before I explain my choice for the best sacrifice in the history of chess,ContinueContinue reading “What is the Best Sacrifice in the History of Chess?”