a 9-year-old Chess Talent with a California Dream Since returning to the East Bay, my primary focus has been on fostering chess development in Fremont. However, I remain actively involved in youth chess education at both the national and international levels. Approximately two-thirds of my time is dedicated to working with young players across NorthernContinueContinue reading “Chess Chat with Aleksandr G. Aleksandrov “
Tag Archives: Fremont Chess
Fremont Chess Musings:
Francisco Anchondo Born in El Paso, Texas, on September 30, 1960, Francisco Anchondo first arrived in the Bay Area in November 1983 when the USS Carl Vinson, the aircraft carrier he served on, docked in Alameda. He filled his shore leaves with chess and it was this unfaltering passion for chess which led him toContinueContinue reading “Fremont Chess Musings:”
Fremont Chess Musings:
Richard Shorman The great chess instructor Richard Shorman started traveling to Fremont to help Hans Poschmann with the Fremont Chess Club in 1968. By the end of the 80’s Richard was teaching a popular chess class at the Fremont Library where he trained a young group of talented players known as the Blue Knights. SomeContinueContinue reading “Fremont Chess Musings:”
Fremont Chess Musings:
Returning To My Roots https://youtu.be/Q2oyVkUs-78 It was in this house in Fremont, California that my father taught me how the chess pieces moved and we played frequently. He passed away in March of this year. Now I have moved back to Fremont and am continuing his legacy by playing chess with my own children inContinueContinue reading “Fremont Chess Musings:”
The Stunning Steiner Variation
The French Defence: Steiner Variation (1. e4 e6 2. c4) has a notable history, played by 19th-century figures like Cochrane, Staunton, Loewe, Paulsen, and Lasker, and later by 20th-century masters such as Nimzowitsch, Tartakower, Alekhine, and Rubinstein. Aimed at contesting Black’s central control, especially the d5 square, this aggressive line seeks to create early troubleContinueContinue reading “The Stunning Steiner Variation”
Killer Cochrane Gambit
The Cochrane Gambit was used to good effect as a secret weapon to help my students bring home national titles to Fremont, California. Arising from the Petroff Defense, the Cochrane Gambit is an ultra aggressive line where white sacrifices their knight on move four to draw the black king out early. The starting point forContinueContinue reading “Killer Cochrane Gambit”
The Audacious Albin Countergambit
Teaching the most aggressive brand of chess was my specialty in the 2010’s and many of the most talented young players in Fremont California would flock to me for guidance. Those that trained hard would be rewarded with an ultra-aggressive opening repertoire that featured such swashbuckling favorites as the Fabulous Fritz Variation, the Scandalous ScandinavianContinueContinue reading “The Audacious Albin Countergambit”
Remembering Dakota’s Chess Journey and the Bonds of Family
A “chip off the old block” is a well-known English idiom used to describe someone whose behavior, personality, or talents closely resemble those of one of their parents. While aunts and uncles may not have a catchy phrase to capture how their nieces and nephews develop similar quirky habits, humor styles, or passions, that doesn’tContinueContinue reading “Remembering Dakota’s Chess Journey and the Bonds of Family”
The Fabulous Fritz Variation
Previously, I shared the “Scandalous Scandinavian Traps” I taught in the early 2010s to my star chess group in Fremont, California. When it came to countering the legion of scholastic players attempting the Fried Liver Attack, I chose to introduce them to the aggressive Fritz Variation: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6ContinueContinue reading “The Fabulous Fritz Variation “
Scandalous Scandinavian Traps
A former student from decades past messaged me wondering if I still had a copy of my “Scandalous Scandinavian Traps.” The referenced traps were taught to a star filled group of future chess masters in Fremont, California. As I sit back reminiscing about those spirited Saturday afternoons in Fremont, California, the chess group’s overall enthusiasmContinueContinue reading “Scandalous Scandinavian Traps”
Empower Your Daughters: Join Us at the 2026 Fremont All-Girls Chess Championship!
Bring your daughters to the 2026 Fremont All-Girls Chess Championship on Sunday, April 26th, in Fremont, California. This exciting event is not only a fantastic opportunity for young ladies in the Northern California chess community to showcase their skills in a supportive and empowering environment, but it’s also a free US Chess rated tournament! EncourageContinueContinue reading “Empower Your Daughters: Join Us at the 2026 Fremont All-Girls Chess Championship!”
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”