It has been a common observation at amateur level that they tend to exchange almost equal value pieces whilst playing against stronger opponent, with a draw in mind. Sometimes, they just move mechanically based on general rules. This in fact, gives masters an opportunity to demonstrate their technique. Here is an instructive example: In the […]

The European Youth Chess Championship 2016 is set to take place from 17-28th August at the Top Hotel Praha in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic. The Championship is organized by AVE-KONTAKT Pardubice agency, Czech Chess Federation and the European Chess Union. The tournament is played in 6 age categories: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 [...]

The 2016 Isle of Man International Chess Tournament will be held in Douglas from 1 to 9 October 2016, sponsored by Chess.com and the Scheinberg family. The Masters event will be a 9-round Swiss open with a prize fund of £50,000, including a first prize of £12,000, and four-figure prizes down to tenth place. Five [...]

The 2016 EU Youth Chess Championship took place from 5-14th August in Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic. The event was organized by the Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou in cooperation with the Czech Chess Federation and under the patronage of the ECU. Boys and girls played in the same tournament, but were ranked separately. The [...]

(φωτ. είναι ίσως το μόνο καθιερωμένο τουρνουά που γνωρίζω, στο οποίο η ονομασία του δεν αποτελεί μια τυπική προσθήκη στον τίτλο χωρίς καμία παραπέρα σημασία. Πιο έντονη βέβαια η θύμηση του Μπλόκου στο τουρνουά ράπιντ...

“Ενάντια στους κανόνες αυτού του παράξενου παιχνιδιού”. Και μια αναφορά στο παιχνίδι μας, το σκάκι, από τον Ιταλό Μάριο Νταλμαβίβα που είχε προφυλακιστεί με την “ειδική αντιτρομοκρατική νομοθεσία” για...

Η ΣΑ Πύργου διοργανώνει τουρνουά rapid (8′ + 3”) 7 γύρων στις 28/8 στο Καφέ ΚΑΣΤΡΟ στον Αγ. Ανδρέα Κατακόλου. Επίσης διοργανώνει στις 26 και 27 / 8 σεμινάριο ανάδειξης και προαγωγής διαιτητών.

One more obstacle for the WCC 2016 complete

Whilst recent studies have not confirmed the value of a bit of chess in raising kids’ IQs, I would maintain that they’re not looking for what’s important. Rather than try to study short term intellectual attainments, that may or may not be achievable by different means, it is important to look at chess as a […]

After a very dramatic round, America’s #3 rated player, Wesley So, won the 2016 Sinquefield Cup. His road to victory was not easy, as today there were several different scenarios in which someone could have tied with him, sending them to the playoffs tomorrow; in the case he lost, someone could have passed him! Wesley [...]

The solution to last Monday’s problem is that White can breakthrough with 1. b6! 1…Kxb6 is met by 2. Ba5+ and 1…Bxb6 is met by 2. Kb5. In this week’s problem, the opening has just finished, so in many ways the game has just started. Both sides should try to find plans, and try to […]

The 20th Hogeschool Zeeland Tournament was organized by Stichting Schaak Walcheren from 6-13th August at the HZ University of Applied Sciences in Vlissingen, Netherlands. The 9-round Swiss tournament attracted 262 players from 15 countries, including 14 Grandmasters and 21 International Masters. Local star Loek Van Wely emerged clear winner with an excellent score of 8,0/9 [...]

The 47th Annual Southern Chess Congress will be held from August 19-21, 2016, at the Sheraton Atlanta Downtown Hotel, 165 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia. The event has 7 sections: Open, Under 2200, Under 2000, Under 1800, Under 1600, Under 1400 and Under 1100. Each section has either a 3-day schedule (August 19-21) or 2-day [...]

These were posted on the Quality Chess blog and since more posts there will bury them in back pages, I thought it would be nice to create a reference to them here.Part IPart II

Firstly, a quick correction from last time. The study I referred to last week was actually commissioned by the EEF, who paid CSC to conduct it. Most English chess players will be aware that, before doing anything of any importance in chess you should consult an organiser from Twickenham of below average height. So if […]