Sicilian Wing Gambit Secret Sauce: Cooked to Perfection 

The Secret Sauce line in the Sicilian Wing Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 bxa3 4.Rxa3) has produced more than its fair share of memorable chess games. On Day 9 of the Fremont Summer Chess Camp at MSJE, I even turned up the spice a little by playing it at Rook Odds! Despite starting theContinueContinue reading “Sicilian Wing Gambit Secret Sauce: Cooked to Perfection “

Weibel Chess Coaches Face Off in Las Vegas

Francisco Anchondo is a noteworthy chess player and an important figure in Northern California chess history. As a tournament player, he had many successful results including winning the Club Championship at the esteemed Hayward Chess Club in 1994 and 1996. Additionally, he is was part of a very elite club of Fremont chess coaches whoContinueContinue reading “Weibel Chess Coaches Face Off in Las Vegas”

Pawn Endgame Chess Homework

In June of 2008, I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area after working on a two year chess study in the Bakersfield area. Before leaving for Kern County, I was the most successful chess coach in Silicon Valley. However, upon returning several other fine chess instructors had filled the vacuum that I left whenContinueContinue reading “Pawn Endgame Chess Homework”

Born on this Day in 1958: International Master Emory Tate

Today is the late Emory Tate’s 66th birthday. I miss sitting across the chessboard with Emory. His uncompromising style always kept me against the ropes and his insights on chess improved my understanding greatly. But I miss talking to Emory most of all. On Friday, March 14, 2014, Emory and I had lunch together atContinueContinue reading “Born on this Day in 1958: International Master Emory Tate”

The Ghosts of Christmas Chess Camps Past

I have plenty fond memories from teaching chess at the now shuttered Achiever Institute in Fremont, California. Some of my fondest memories there occurred during Winter Break. I would organize special chess camps over Christmas vacation where the most talented young chess players in Fremont could learn, train and play chess together. Several of theseContinueContinue reading “The Ghosts of Christmas Chess Camps Past”

Exciting News: Winter Chess Camp Featured in the Fremont Patch!

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!”

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”

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

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”

California Chess Players Come Together to Support Scholastic Chess in Africa

The Eade Foundation is sending support for scholastic chess in Capetown, South Africa thanks to some help from the fine young chess players of Mission 360. Readers of this blog will recall an article entitled “NorCal Chess Organizations Working Together in Support of Building Chess Communities in South Africa.” In that post, I described howContinueContinue reading “California Chess Players Come Together to Support Scholastic Chess in Africa”

So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 50

What’s better than finding money in an old jacket that you haven’t worn in years? Perhaps discovering a notation sheet to a nice game you forgot you played stuffed inside an old chess book. My old copy of 107 Great Chess Battles, 1939-1945 by Alexander Alekhine. Back in 2013, I recall regularly experimenting with Grob’sContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 50”

Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 2

1k3r2/p1n4b/1p3r1p/6p1/8/2P2N2/1P1QN1PP/1K6 w – – 0 1 This week’s submission comes from a student in Fremont California and deals with the age old question of which is better, a queen or two rooks. Generally a queen is stronger against uncoordinated rooks and especially so with pawns on both sides of the board. However, in our featureContinueContinue reading “Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 2”

Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 1

8/8/k7/4PP1p/3pK2P/2b5/8/8 w – – 0 1 Chess Dad & Coach Arun from Fremont California asked me to break this complex endgame down for his students. Watch below to see how this position plays out. https://youtu.be/qkYlNjVWD1o

Chess Position Worth Sharing 142

Tonight I showed Werner Springe vs Hans Gebhardt, Munich 1927 to my chess students at Gomes Elementary School in Fremont, California. This game, played by relatively unknown players, is a delightful choice for a chess lesson. In the position below, black has just played pawn to h6 threatening white’s bishop. What is white’s best move?ContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing 142”

Yes, I Teach Private Chess Lessons

At the Calchess Super States, a few chess parents inquired if I teach private chess lessons. I do coach chess privately and there are two main benefits to taking private chess lessons with me: 1. Your child’s lessons will be customized to accelerate their learning process. 2. Your child will get my one-on-one attention whenContinueContinue reading “Yes, I Teach Private Chess Lessons”

CalChess Journal Winter 2022

Chess Chat: Q&A with Lauren Goodkind, Chess Educator Extraordinaire

I first me Lauren around in the Spring of 2000 as I was an assistant tournament director assigned to help out in the High School room for the CalChess Scholastic Championship. Since then, we’ve crossed paths numerous times at tournaments I worked at in Fremont, California, then at the Sojourner Truth Tournaments in Menlo Park,ContinueContinue reading “Chess Chat: Q&A with Lauren Goodkind, Chess Educator Extraordinaire”

FremontChess.Com Chess Quads, November 16th

The Torres Chess and Music Academy and the Learning Bee Learning Center Present: FremontChess.com Saturday Quads on November 16 Where: Learning Bee Learning Center, 39977 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539 When: November 16, 2019 R1 @ 1:00 pm What: Scholastic (K-12) 3 Round Quad – G/30 d5 Cost: $30/quad A $10 late fee will beContinueContinue reading “FremontChess.Com Chess Quads, November 16th”

FremontChess.com Saturday Quads

October 19, November 16, & December 21 The Torres Chess and Music Academy and the Learning Bee Learning Center Present: FremontChess.com Saturday QuadsWhere: Learning Bee Learning Center, 39977 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539 When: 10/19, 11/16, & 12/21 R1 @ 1:00 pm What: Scholastic (K-12) 3 Round Quad – G/30 d5 Cost: $30/quad or allContinueContinue reading “FremontChess.com Saturday Quads”

Summer Chess Camps Return to Fremont

Summer Chess Programs in Fremont Sign up for any 1 week camp for ONLY $200 and your child will also receive: ** A 1 year gold membership to ChessKid.com (a $50 value) ** A copy of Learn Chess the Right Way by Susan Polgar (a $20 value) ** And two online private lessons with ChrisContinueContinue reading “Summer Chess Camps Return to Fremont”