Chess Kids Newsletter Apr 09chesskids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/pdf/knight-times/knight_times...Page 2 Coming Up ... RJ Shield Chess Tournament ... are trying to promote a passed pawn?

Knight Times April 2009

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Message from the Guru,Next year my son goes to school for the first time. So, this month I have been investigating schools and am pleased to find the idea that schools should impart knowledge to their students is nowhere to be found!

When I was at school it was all about learning information. Problem was, the information we learned was outdated so quickly that we never had a chance to use it. Today we can compound that problem with just the sheer weight of information that exists. Specialisations are becoming more specific and it is harder to add to the total of human knowledge because you first have to know all that has come before.

Thankfully our education system is finally catching up and realising that teaching thinking skills is how best to prepare our children for the future. These skills will enable our children to be successful in years to come; problem solving, decision making (under pressure and in a given time frame), lateral thinking, planning and goal setting, analysis, an internal locus of control, self-confidence, good habits surrounding intellectual exercise and the valuing of knowledge, information and intelligence.

This is also good news for chess because kids can learn ALL of those important skills without even realising! They think they are just playing a game and having fun. I suspect this is why more schools than ever before are running one of our Educational Programs in Term 2. An Educational Program is designed to teach a variety of thinking skills using chess as a medium - please contact us if you would like to find out more.

David Cordover,Managing Director, Chess Group of Companies

Knight TimesChess World Australia Pty. Ltd. ABN 41 118 087 862

Chess Kids Contacts:www.chesskids.com.au

Coaching: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

1300-424-377

Jack Saunders playing Dalal Rounak at the RJ Shield.

RJ Shield TournamentS

The second RJ Shield tournament for 2009 was held on 14th March at Caulfield Grammar and was in the form of two lightning tournaments.

Full Scores (1st Event):6.5 Jack Saunders, 5.5 David Yu, Tristan Boelsen-Robinson, Isaac Zhao, 5 James Despotellis, 4 Jun Hung Phua, Jonathan Tissa, Ben Lucas, Arjun Easwar, Felix Salim, Brenton Levin, Nidhi Wadhwa, 3 Vignesh Ashok, Aaron Gill, Jeremy Emrose, Preston Seow, Jacob Plummer, Brandon Hu, George Kanavos, 2 Aaron Ng, Juliette Davies, Simone Gong, 1 Saachi Lane.

Full Scores (2nd Event):6.5 David Yu, 6 Tristan Boelsen-Robinson, 5 Jack Saunders, 4.5 Jeremy Emrose, Isaac Zhao, 4 Johnathan Tissa, Jerry Mao, Jun Hung Phua, 3.5 Levin Brenton, 3 George Kanavos, David Moad, Matthew Grady, Tien Liu, Preston Seow, Christian Seow, 2 Aaron Gill, Daniel Gong.

The third RJ Shield tournament for 2009 was held on 29th March at Tucker Road Primary School. An innovation was the use of an electronic board on board one which enabled these games to be automatically recorded. They will thus be available for publication or use in coaching classes in the future.

Full Scores:7 Jack Saunders, 6 Dylan Kaiser, 5.5 William Lai, 5 Tristan Boeslen-Robinson, Kevin Ren, Dalal Rounak, 4.5 Max Kirkman, 4 Matthew Watkins, Jonathan Tissa, Harry Dempsey, James Hackett-Smith, Daniel Choi, Jun Phua, Henry Lai, Alex Papadopoulos, 3.5 Jimmy Ying, Karu Handoyo, James Papadooulos, 3 Ayden Khalil, Kate Robertson, Blake Melbourne, Haris Brljak, Roy Fitts, Dino Zoroa, Sarah Loschiavo, William Huang, 2.5 Peter Zoros, Michael Whelan, Morgan Foot, 2 Max Scott, Bobby Zhang, 1.5 Daniel Ward, Benjamin Vom, 1 Andrew Ward Isaac Rodrigues.


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Coming Up ...RJ Shield

Chess Tournament

Saturday 16th MayCaulfield Grammar, Wheelerʼs Hill72-84 Jells Rd, Wheelerʼs Hill11.00 am to 3.00 pm$20 per player.Enrol at www.chesskids.com.au

Chess Quotes:“Strategy requires thought, tactics require observation”

(Max Euwe)

Chess Quotes:“The winner of the game is the player who makes the

next-to-last mistake”

(Savielly Tartakover)

Bobby Zhang, winner of the encouragement award at the March RJ Shield.

http://www.chesskids.com.au

http://www.chesskids.com.au

Rooks are powerful, long range pieces and, much like a tank, they prefer open terrain and work well behind enemy lines.

Rook endings are more common than any other type of ending so it is important that players understand how best to deploy their rooks.

Queening a PawnWhere should you place your rook if you are trying to promote a passed pawn?Look at the diagram below. If you were White and you could place your rook anywhere on the board, which square would you choose? (Black will then place his rook).

Where would you place your Rookin the following position?

Students in one of my classes suggested d4, c4 or c5 as being the best square, but ROOKS BELONG BEHIND PASSED PAWNS. Remember this rule. The best square is A1 so that the R can “push” the pawn from behind and every move of the pawn increases its mobility. If the R were in front of the pawn it would be in the way of queening and every move of the pawn would decrease the mobility of the R.

What would you play as Blackin the following position?

Black should immediately seize the open “d” file by 1...Rd8 (ROOKS BELONG ON OPEN FILES) then follow up with 2...Rd2 tying White down to the defence of the “c” pawn. Try to be aggressive with your rooks.


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Novices CornerBy IM Robert Jamieson

ROOKSThe Tanks of the Chessboard

Imagine that you are running a marathon and you know that there is a finishing line but you don’t know where it is or how to get there. That’d be ridiculous.

It’s the same when you are starting to learn chess. You know that you want to checkmate your opponent, but how can you do that if you don’t know which positions are drawn and which are wins based on the material left on the board?

For instance you could swap off to a position where you have a queen for a rook (and nothing else). Is it a win or a draw? The answer is that it’s a difficult win ... but you need to know that before making your decision.

This happened to my opponent in a summer inter-club match in 1992 when we reached the following position with White to play.

Hastings v JamiesonSummer Interclub 1992

Play continued...

1.Nc1 Bc5+ 2.Kf3 a4 3.Na2 Kd4 4.Kf4 Kc4 5.Kg5 Kb3 6.Nc1+ Kc2 7.Na2 Kb2 8.Kxh5 Kxa2 9.Kg6 Kb3 0-1

At the post-mortem Michael Baron (a recent migrant from the Soviet Union) was watching, and when we reached the position in the diagram he exclaimed (in his broad Russian accent) “Oh, Robert, you was lucky! Is easy draw! I play so....” and at this point he grabbed the N on b3 and played 1.Nxa5!

Michael had noticed that Black has a rook pawn and a bishop which does not attack the queening square ... an easy draw if White can get his king in front of the pawn.

(Black cannot force the white King from h1)

Had my opponent realised this he would have avoided defeat.

The message for new players therefore is learn what minimum material you need to checkmate your opponent so that you can make the correct decisions over the board.


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Where’s the finish line?By IM Robert Jamieson

By IM Robert Jamieson

The best player that Victoria has produced in the past 10 years is undoubtedly Sam Chow, now aged 21 and ranked number 11 in Australia.

Sam went to Scotch College and showed exceptional promise as a young player dominating Victorian Junior Chess and being unlucky on 3 or 4 occasions not to win the Australian Junior Title.

He recently obtained his first International Master Norm. at the Queenstown International Tournament in NZ, but unfortunately for chess Sam excels in other fields also (notably mathematics) and has limited time to play chess these days.

Sam attracted international attention in March, 2000 when, to launch his website, Kasparov played against some of the best under-13’s from around the world. Sam was selected to represent Australia and was nearly the only player to beat Kasparov but he rejected a drawing line to play for the victory and lost. Kasparov conceded only 1 draw in the 30 games he played.

Gary Kasparov - Samuel ChowInternet Simul, 15.03.20001.d4 e6 2.g3 f5 3.Bg2 c5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.0-0 Nc6 6.c4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Rd1 Qa5 11.Bf4 Bc5 12.Qd2 Qb6 [12...e5 13.Bd5+ Kh8 14.Bxe5 Bxf2+ 15.Kxf2 Ng4+ 16.Kg2 Nxe5] 13.e3 [13.Na4 Bxf2+ 14.Kf1 Qa6 15.Qb4 Bb6 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Rd6] 13...Bb4 14.a3 Ne4 15.Bxe4 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 fxe4 17.Rd6 White is clearly better. Best may have been 17.Be5 Rf7 18.Rd6 Qd8 19.Qd4 17...Qc5 18.Qd4 [18.Rad1 g5 (18...Rf5 19.b4 Qc7 20.Rxe6) 19.b4 (19.Be5 Rf5 20.Bh8) 19...Qf5] 18...Qf5 19.Qe5 g5 20.Qxf5 Rxf5 21.g4 Rc5 22.b4 Rxc4 23.Bxg5 a5 24.b5 [24.bxa5 Rxa5 25.Bf6 e5] 24...Rc5 25.Bd8

Rxb5 26.h4 a4 27.Bf6 Kf7 28.Bc3 Ra6 29.Rd2 Rc6 30.Bb4 d5 31.f4 exf3 32.Rf1 e5 33.Rxf3+ Rf6 34.Rxf6+ Kxf6 35.Rf2+ Kg6 36.g5 Kh5 37.Rf8 Bg4 38.Be7 d4 [38...Kxh4 39.g6+ Kg3 40.g7 (40.gxh7) 40...Rb1+ 41.Rf1 Rxf1+ 42.Kxf1 Be6; 38...Rb2 39.Rf7; 38...Be2] 39.exd4 exd4 40.Kf2 Rb2+ [40...Rf5+ 41.Rxf5 Bxf5 =] 41.Kg3

41...d3?? [41...Rb3+ 42.Kf2 Rb2+ 43.Kg3 Rb3+ =] 42.Rf6 Rg2+ 43.Kxg2 Kxh4 44.Rh6+ Bh5 45.g6+ Kg4 46.Rxh5 1-0


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Player Profile - Sam Chow

Book Review

The Usborne Complete Book of Chess, $24.95

• A complete guide to the history, techniques and tactics of chess.

• Includes advice on how to lay deadly traps, plan cunning moves, launch effective attacks and defend your pieces to ensure a winning result.

• Written in conjunction with Grand Master Jonathan Rowson.

• With Internet links and over 80 chess puzzles on the Usborne Quicklinks Website.

This is a nice little book that briefly covers most aspects of the game including “chess celebrities,” “the politics of chess” and “champions of the future”

as well as how to play. It is beautifully presented using colourful diagrams and cartoons to keep the attention of even the youngest of readers.

I like the way it directs the reader to their web site where there are more chess puzzles and resources to be found to compliment the book.

The price is very reasonable for such a beautiful little book, so this would be an excellent present for someone who you wish to introduce to chess.

Here is a sample position from one of the puzzles in the book.White is well ahead in material but black can still win! How?

Black to play.

Answer: 1...f6 threatening 2...Bf7# and if 2.g5 Bf3#.


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CHESS VARIANTS Holiday Program

Holiday Fun, Chess Coaching & Mind Games!

Online Payment Code: 2JLCH44 (Ormond) 2JLCGG2 (Mt Waverley) Enquiries & Bookings: 1300 424 377 When? 1st , 2nd & 3rd July

2 Convenient Locations – Places limited! ! Mind Sports Centre, 758 North Rd, Ormond - (Melway 68 H9)

! Wadham House, 52 Wadham Pde, Mt Waverley - (Melway 61 D12)

What is a chess variant? How can YOU create a chess variation? ! Discover chess variations played around the world. ! Play Tournaments & Win Prizes ! Solve Chess Puzzles ! Legendary Chess Stories

Wednesday Thursday Friday 1 July

9am – 5pm 2 July

9am – 5pm 3 July

9am – 5pm

Bughouse Chess Fischer Random Snowball Chess

Crazy Chess Transfer Chess Progressive Chess

File Chess Reptile Chess “Take me” Chess

Cost per full day ( 9am–5pm )

Cost per ! day session ( 9am–1pm or 1pm–5pm )

Bring-a-Friend Price for 2 kids

(friends or family) Single Day $55 $40 $100 or $75 2 Days $100 $75 $175 or $135 3 Days $130 $95 $235 or $175

Children attending full day sessions will need to provide their own lunch.

!"" " !"" " !"" " !"Online Payment Code: 2JLCH44 (Ormond) 2JLCGG2 (Mt Waverley) www.chesskids.com.au/pay Post: Chess Kids, 451 North Rd, Ormond, 3204 Fax: 9576 8152 Name of child: ________________________ Age: ____________ Ph #(s): ____________________ Email: _________________________________________School: ____________________________

Postal Address: ____________________________________________________________________ (street address, suburb & postcode)

Day/s your child will attend___________________________________________________________

Credit card payments can be made online or by phoning 1300 424 377 9am-5pm weekdays.

Holiday Program T2, 09

Chess Kids Ratings

The eagerly anticipated ratings system is now up an running and all of last year’s events have been rated to start the system off.

There are a few problems (like duplicated players) and some features which are not yet available, but these will be attended to shortly.

Players/schools who wish to find out their rating should visit chesskids.com.au. If you spot any errors (such as duplicated players or incorrect school) just send an email to Chess Kids with the details.

Recent TournamentsThis lists events which have recently been rated. Click on the event to display the scores. Note that events (such as your weekly school coaching tournaments) are only rated when they have been completed.

Top PlayersThis lists the leading players on the list who have a reliable rating. Note that players with 3 or less rated events have “new” next to their rating and will not appear on the top lists until they play in a fourth rated event.

The up and down arrows after the rating indicate the rating change in the last event.

Soon there will also be separate top lists for primary and secondary and boys and girls and age divisions. Make sure that you register your D.O.B. to be eligible.


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Check Out Your DetailsWe are encouraging all rated players to check their rating and press the “update your profile button” to ensure that all your details are present and correct.

Top SchoolsThis list ranks schools based on the total rating of their 4 strongest players. The list shows the 10 highest rated players at the school. Soon there will be separate lists for primary and secondary and boys and girls schools. Click on your school and the top players list appears.

Rating TournamentsAll Chess Kids events will be rated as a matter of course (Interschool, RJ Shield, Vic. Youth, etc.) and it is planned that schools using “Swiss” (the Chess Kids Tournament Programme) will be able to have internal school tournaments rated as well.


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PARENTS

How does the idea of you having a cup of coffee and a good book to read whilst your children play chess sound?

Chess Kids are running afternoon classes from 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm at Gloria Jeans- Borders Chess Club at Chadstone Shopping Centre on Mondays from 20th April to 22nd June.

Even better, chess players receive a discount on their coffees!

To sign up visit chesskids.com.au or phone 1300 424 377.

CHESS TOURNAMENTS

All schools which want to run a tournament in-school as a way of selecting your team, as a house-championships or just for extra practice... you can now use Swiss (the tournament management software which runs all the regional events) free of charge from:

www.swisstournament.com

http://www.swisstournament.com/

http://www.swisstournament.com/

School Profile

St.Leonard’s College Brighton is one of Australia’s leading independent co-educational schools so it is only natural that they recently approached Chess Kids to have chess taught at their school.

Philip Swedosh, the school’s maths master and himself a competent chess player, wanted his school chess team to do better in the Assoc. of Co-Ed Schools so he signed up Chess Kids to provide coaching. International Master Robert Jamieson has now been visiting the

chess group once a week during term one.

Philip has known David Cordover for a long time so naturally chose Chess Kids as the coaching provider. Chess Kids also put on a chess display as part of the school’s Community Day Fair on 21st March.

Philip stated “An ability to reason and apply logic is central to many school subjects so chess helps students in their studies.”

St.Leonards has some good players, such as school champion Alan Glenton and Dylan Kaiser, who was runner-up in a recent RJ shield event, and Philip looks forward the St.Leonard’s Chess Team being a force in this year’s Interschool Competitions.


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The St.Leonardʼs chess team - back - Dylan Kaiser, teacher Alex Edwards, teacher Philip Swedosh. Anthony Cross, front - Max Henbest , Ben Leopold, Alan Glenton, and Daniel Erczmann.


Max Euwe (1901-1981) was a Dutch chess grandmaster, mathematician and author. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion (1935–1937). Euwe also served as President of the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978 and was also a highly-regarded chess writer.

Euwe’s victory in the World Championship over Alekhine was largely considered a hiccup in Alekhine’s tenure of the World Title from 1927-1946 and today Euwe the chess-player is largely forgotten.

Euwe toured Australia in the 1970’s and I remember losing to him in a simul at the Melbourne Chess Club. On his day he could play some great chess. Here is his win against a 14 year-old Bobby Fischer.

New York 1957 Max Euwe Robert Fischer D35 - Queen's Gambit/Exchange Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Ne2 cxd4 10.exd4 O-O 11.O-O Be6 12.Bc2 Be7 13.Nf4 Qb6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Qd3 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Nb4

17.Qh7+ Kf8 18.a3 Nxc2 19.Ncxd5! Rxd5 20.Nxd5 1-0

Euwe is also famous for one of the biggest blunders of all time by a world champion. In the following position, with his N attacked, rather than move it he decided to counter-attack with Ba5. Can you see the flaw in this move?

Lasker v Euwe 1936

White to move and win.(Solution on page 12)


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The Forgotten World Champion

Max

Euwe

Chess Worldfor all your chess requisites.


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451 North Rd, Ormond www.chessworld.com.au Ph. 1300 424 377

Watch out for Checks


Cecil Purdy’s advice to help inexperienced players avoid mistakes was to “examine all checks and captures.”

Unfortunately Dr. Savielly Tartakover, himself a grandmaster and author of several books for beginners, was playing chess in the early part of the 20th century before Purdy had offered these words of advice. They would certainly have come in handy and saved the good doctor from one of the shortest and most embarrassing losses in the history of master chess.

Richard Reti Savielly TartakowerB15 - Caro-Kann Defence

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qd3 e5 6.dxe5 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qxe5 8.O-O-O (see diagram) 8...Nxe4?? 9.Qd8+!! Kxd8 10.Bg5+ Kc7 11.Bd8# 1-0If 10...Ke8 11.Rd8 is mate just the same. A beautiful finish indeed .... so check for checks!

Have You Heard:Two first graders at a tournament were playing chess. The chess coach asked the boy playing black what his rook (on the other side of the board) was doing because it was laying on its side. He looked up and grinned, "He is sleeping!"

Answers to Euwe Puzzle on page 11.In answer to 1... Ba5? Lasker played 2.b4! Bxb4 3.Nc2. Black now is a pawn to the good but has two pieces attacked and must lose one of them. He was forced to resign in a couple of moves.

The moral of this blunder is that, even if you are the World Champion, just before you make your move you should check for any surprise moves that your opponent could make.

Should Black play 8...Nxe4?

Documents

Chess Kids Newsletter Apr 09chesskids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/pdf/knight-times/knight_times...Page 2 Coming Up ... RJ Shield Chess Tournament ... are trying to promote a passed pawn?