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!”
Tag Archives: Norcal Chess
The CalChess Journal: Fall 2025
Announcing the Fall 2025 Edition of the CalChess Journal I am thrilled to announce the release of the Fall 2025 edition of the CalChess Journal, the official chess magazine for Northern California. This issue is packed with insightful articles on California’s chess history, tournament highlights, player spotlights, and expert analysis to inspire and elevate yourContinueContinue reading “The CalChess Journal: Fall 2025”
CalChess Grade Level Championships 2025
The CalChess Grade Level Championship took place on November 8-9 against the backdrop of Northern California’s beautiful and often idyllic Autumn weather at the spacious Sonesta Silicon Valley Event Center. The tournament is a testament to how Scholastic chess in the region continues to thrive, drawing students from schools across Northern California eager to showcaseContinueContinue reading “CalChess Grade Level Championships 2025”
A Vibrant Chess Community in Lathrop, California
This past Saturday, I arrived a little late to the Lathrop Chess Club and was greeted by the warm murmur of friendly conversations, the soft clack of chess pieces being moved, and the steady pulse of a room alive with focus. Every chair was taken, the tables crowded with players bent over boards as ifContinueContinue reading “A Vibrant Chess Community in Lathrop, California”
Proud Moment for a Chess Dad
As a professional chess coach, I have experienced numerous proud moments over the past quarter century while witnessing the growth and success of countless students. From guiding gifted students to victories at CalChess State Championships, United States Chess Federation National Events and FIDE World Youth tournaments, I have watched my students shape the future ofContinueContinue reading “Proud Moment for a Chess Dad”
Amateur West Chess Championship 2025
California chess history is constantly growing. Every weekend, the San Francisco Bay Area’s many chess tournaments become living chapters of history, written not by historians but on the chessboards in chess centers, school gyms, community centers and hotel ballrooms. Each rated chess game adds a line to the evolving story—bold openings tested, grinding endgames, andContinueContinue reading “Amateur West Chess Championship 2025”
Puzzle Worthy Position 52
Mikhail Tal famously stated: “You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” If a chess game metaphorically becomes a forest, International Master Emory Tate was a tiger. Sometimes, his opponent would almost escape the forest only to be ambushed byContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 52”
2025 US Amateur Team West Chess Tournament
Attending the 2025 US Amateur Team West Championship chess tournament In Milpitas, California was an absolutely delightful experience. This chess tournament always brings together a vibrant mix of familiar faces and opportunities for new friendships. Wandering the hallways, I could see how reuniting with old friends added a comforting sense of camaraderie to the eventContinueContinue reading “2025 US Amateur Team West Chess Tournament “
A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Spooky Swiss hosted by the Berkeley Chess School. BCS decked out the spacious playing hall in Halloween decor and almost all of the young chess players arrived in costumes. As I analyzed games, I noticed how well played they were, which is a testament toContinueContinue reading “A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament”
Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships
The CalChess Super States (a.k.a. the CalChess Scholastic State Championship) is the annual chess tournament where a large number of Northern California’s youth chess players compete for the title of State Champion. As a chess coach, I have been attending this Northern California tournament every year for well over a quarter century. My commitment toContinueContinue reading “Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships”
Puzzle Worthy Position 48
Neil Falconer (April 1, 1923 – April 5, 2014) Many NorCal chess players recognize the name “Falconer” in reference to an annual award given to the highest rated youth chess player in Northern California. Established in 1999, the Falconer Award has been given to such notable players as GM Vinay Bhat and GM Sam Shankland.ContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 48”
Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship
https://youtu.be/95Z6xHOwAPY Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my daily chess musing for Sunday, February 18th, 2024. Chess is often perceived as a solitary pursuit, with players hunched over a board deep in thought, making strategic moves in isolation. However, this is a misconception, as chess players are very much partContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship”
Winning Chess Moves: Barrameda vs. Zhang, 2009 USATW
With the 2024 US Amateur Team West chess tournament happening this weekend, it seemed rather fitting to share a winning chess move from a past edition of the USATW. Tonight’s winning chess move comes from the 2009 US Amateur Team West game between Gabriel Barrameda and Kevin Zhang. Gabriel (white) has just played 31. Ra3ContinueContinue reading “Winning Chess Moves: Barrameda vs. Zhang, 2009 USATW”
The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman
https://youtu.be/4oz5Y6_IE1s View The CalChess Journal Fall 2023-Winter 2024 here OR download it below The-CalChess-Journal-Fall-2023_Winter-2024Download Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Saturday, February 3, 2024. As the Editor for the CalChess Journal, I play an important role in presenting stories and preserving the history of chessContinueContinue reading “The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman”
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”
Pawn Endgame Worthy of Study
“Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf.” — Cecil Purdy Pure pawn endgames are said to be the simplest of all endings but that doesn’t mean they are always easy to win. A case and point is presented in a recent blog post where I shared a blown opportunity in a KingContinueContinue reading “Pawn Endgame Worthy of Study”
2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship
The CalChess K-8 Scholastic Championship is truly one of the most special and memorable events on the Bay Area Chess tournament calendar. I took a stroll around the 2022-23 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship and was quickly reminded why this tournament is commonly referred to as the “Super States!” Enjoy the photos below and lookContinueContinue reading “2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship”
Photos from the 2023 CalChess K-5 Scholastic State Championship
This past weekend I was in attendance for the historic 2022-23 CalChess Scholastic State Championship and there was no place I rather be! Bay Area Chess put on a great tournament and as the CalChess Scholastic Coordinator I had the pleasure to review dozens of chess games and saying “hi” to hundreds of friends. BeingContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 CalChess K-5 Scholastic State Championship”