Bughouse is a popular variant of chess played by four players in teams of two. Each player controls a standard chess set and board. The unique aspect of Bughouse is that when a player captures an opponent’s piece, they hand it to their partner, who can then place that piece on their board as aContinueContinue reading “Playing Bughouse Chess with My Son”
Tag Archives: Youth Chess
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”
Chess Parenting: Encouraging High Expectations While Avoiding the Pitfalls of Unrealistic Goals
Recently, I revisited a blog post entitled “The Importance of Setting Lofty Goals in Chess.” While previously, I stressed the importance of setting lofty goals, I now want to speak of the dangers of having unrealistic goals. As a coach I like to separate expectations from goals. Every great chess player I have coached hadContinueContinue reading “Chess Parenting: Encouraging High Expectations While Avoiding the Pitfalls of Unrealistic Goals”
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”
Why Young Chess Players Should Focus on Pawn Endgames
Opening courses and books get all the love from consumers. However, it is of much greater practical importance for young chess players wishing to get better at chess to spend time mastering basic endgame techniques instead of investing hours of time memorizing lines of openings made fashionable by popular chess streamers. My advice on thisContinueContinue reading “Why Young Chess Players Should Focus on Pawn Endgames”
Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament
The US Amateur Team West Championship is one of the most enjoyable California chess traditions. A team event, the US Amateur Team West attracts all the usual faces and their friends to compete in a weekend long celebration of chess. Each year there is also a USATW Scholastic Tournament. As a chess coach, Editor forContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament “
Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship
I had a blast attending the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship hosted by Bay Area Chess. From the enthusiasm of the young competitors to getting to hear from many fans of my Daily Chess Musings YouTube Channel, I could not have ask for a better way to spend my birthday weekend. I look forward toContinueContinue reading “Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship”
Puzzle Worthy Position 41
At just 19 years of age, FM Ekaterina Goltseva has made quite a name for herself by twice tying for first place at the European Youth Championships and also winning the silver medal at 2017 Russian Youth Chess Championship. Today’s Puzzle Worthy Position comes from the seventh round victory by Fide Master Ekaterina Goltseva overContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 41”
Don’t Miss the 17th Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys
If you are a chess parent who lives or can travel to Bellevue, Washington, consider taking your child/teen to the 17th annual Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys. The SPFNO, which will take place on October 22-23, is one of the most prestigious scholastic chess tournaments in the United States and theContinueContinue reading “Don’t Miss the 17th Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys”
Girls K-12 CalChess State Championship 2022
A friendly reminder that the 2022 Girls Calchess State Championship is this Saturday (June 4th). The Berkeley Chess School does a wonderful job organizing this prestigious event and I highly recommend that all the young ladies in the Northern California chess community consider attending. All participants will be broken into sections by school grade: Kindergarten-3rdContinueContinue reading “Girls K-12 CalChess State Championship 2022”
How to Help Young Chess Players Bounce Back from a Tough Loss
Losing is part of the game of chess and an important part of a young chess player’s growth. As a chess coach or chess parent, one of our most important roles is helping a child deal with a difficult loss at a chess tournament. Step 1 After every round, examine the chess game together inContinueContinue reading “How to Help Young Chess Players Bounce Back from a Tough Loss”
Preparing Youth Chess Players for the State Scholastic Championships
March and April are traditionally the months that State Chess Organizations hold their Scholastic State Championships sometimes referred to as “Super States.” So it is, every year around this time, I receive lots of questions about the best way to prepare a young chess player for the Scholastic State Championships. Most of my students whoContinueContinue reading “Preparing Youth Chess Players for the State Scholastic Championships”
Tournament Report for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic
On May 22, The Eade Foundation Spring Scholastic Chess Classic took place online. This prestigious event attracted many of the top youth chess players from around the United States and Canada. The tournament which was organized by Chris Torres of https://dailychessmusings.com and directed by Jay Stallings of https://chesshootz.com was a well-run 5 round rapid playContinueContinue reading “Tournament Report for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic”
Great Chess On Display During The Practice Event for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic
It’s especially inspiring to witness great chess moves in scholastic tournaments. As a scholastic chess coach and tournament director, seeing young minds play brilliantly is really what it’s all about. Jay Stallings (top) and Chris Torres live-streaming during today’s practice event. Today, while running a practice event for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic,ContinueContinue reading “Great Chess On Display During The Practice Event for The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic”
In 1 Week: The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic
Join us! For The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic online youth chess tournament NEXT SATURDAY, May 22! This prestigious online chess tournament is open to scholastic chess players of all abilities to help spread awareness for The Eade Foundation’s efforts of promoting chess excellence globally. The top 20 players in each section will receive incredibleContinueContinue reading “In 1 Week: The Eade Foundation’s Spring Scholastic Chess Classic”
Changes to US Chess Federation Junior High Nationals
Announcement from the United States Chess Federation regarding changes to the structure of the Junior High Nationals: In June 2019, the Scholastic Council formed a subcommittee of the Scholastic Committee to examine the current structure of the Junior High Nationals. This nine-person subcommittee from across the country examined data from the last four years andContinueContinue reading “Changes to US Chess Federation Junior High Nationals”
14-year-old R Praggnanandhaa crowned under-18 chess champion
“Praggnanandhaa scored an impressive and unbeaten 9/11 and he ended with a performance rating over 2700.” — Read on http://www.google.com/amp/s/www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/sports/in-other-news/131019/14-year-old-r-praggnanandhaa-crowned-under-18-chess-champion.html