Northern California boasts a thriving scholastic chess scene, as evidenced by the ongoing 2026 CalChess Super States at the Santa Clara Convention Center. This afternoon, I explored the tournament floor with my camera, capturing the vibrant atmosphere. While it certainly takes a dedicated team of professionals to orchestrate such an impressive chess event, the realContinueContinue reading “Checkmate in Silicon Valley: Celebrating Northern California’s Scholastic Chess Excellence at the 2026 CalChess Super States”
Tag Archives: Northern California chess
CalChess Super States: K-6 Championships 2026
This weekend, October 17-18, the Santa Clara Convention Center will host one of the most significant scholastic chess tournaments in California: the 2026 CalChess Super States K-6 Championships, along with the grades 7-12 1000+ tournament. This event is set to draw the region’s top youth chess players, who will compete for prestigious titles and hugeContinueContinue reading “CalChess Super States: K-6 Championships 2026”
Grandmaster Andrew Hong Hosts Exciting 30-Board Simul and Lecture in Santa Clara on October 12
Grandmaster Andrew Hong will give a 30-board simul on Monday, October 12, in the heart of Silicon Valley. The event will be hosted by the BAC Santa Clara Monday Night Club located at 2495 Cabrillo Ave in Santa Clara, California. in addition to the simultaneous exhibition, GM Hong will present a lecture and take partContinueContinue reading “Grandmaster Andrew Hong Hosts Exciting 30-Board Simul and Lecture in Santa Clara on October 12”
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”
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”
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”
California Dreamin’ on Such a Wing Gambit Play
One of the first Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit games Richard Shorman showed me was played by Charles Maddigan. Mr. Shorman described Charles Maddigan as a talented young man from Oakland who “played chess the right way.” Apparently, Maddigan went to the University of California at Berkeley in the early 70’s but dropped out to chaseContinueContinue reading “California Dreamin’ on Such a Wing Gambit Play”
The 50th Annual CalChess Scholastic State Championship
The 50th Annual CalChess Scholastic State Championship took place at the Santa Clara Convention Center on March 22 and 23, 2025. I began attending this event in 1997 at the same convention center and haven’t missed a year since. Throughout the past 28 years I have witnessed many historical moments featuring Northern California’s brightest youngContinueContinue reading “The 50th Annual CalChess Scholastic State Championship”
Chess Club at the Lathrop Library
Chess players in Lathrop, California. The Lathrop Chess Club is a vibrant community gathering of chess enthusiasts that meets every first and third Saturday afternoon of the month. Managed by my daughters, this welcoming and free event invites chess players of all ages to join in the fun from 12:30 to 2:00 PM at theContinueContinue reading “Chess Club at the Lathrop Library”
Helping My Chess Student Prepare for the US Junior Congress National Championship
Playing against students is a crucial aspect of a chess coach’s role, particularly in preparing them for significant tournaments. In today’s lesson video, I play a final practice with a student before the US Junior Chess Congress. This prestigious tournament, which will occur this weekend in Northern California, has longer time controls so practicing howContinueContinue reading “Helping My Chess Student Prepare for the US Junior Congress National Championship”
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”
More Coffee and a Danish Gambit Please
My fascination with Josef Holumbirek’s chess puzzles lead me to a splendid little chess game he played using the white pieces and the Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3). For many in Northern California, the Danish Gambit brings to mind its greatest advocate, Richard Shorman. Richard taught hundreds of children about this swashbuckling openingContinueContinue reading “More Coffee and a Danish Gambit Please”
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”
Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco
https://youtu.be/Q4oyWkA47tI Greetings Chess Players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Friday, February 16th, 2024. A good coach is said to put players in positions where they can succeed. As the CalChess Scholastic Coordinator, I use Daily Chess Musings as a platform to coach all of our youth chessContinueContinue reading “Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco “
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”
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