“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” Maya Angelou This past week the homework at the club required solving the following tasks: a) Name the opening b) Who stands better and why? c) Black to move and win Our students have at least 4 days to … Continue reading "You know what to do. Why don’t you? (2)" The post You know what to do...

Φίλες και φίλοι καλημέρα,Την ερχόμενη Πέμπτη (28 Νοεμβρίου) ξεκινάει στο Ξενοδοχείο ΦΙΛΙΠΠΕΙΟΝ στη Θεσσαλονίκη η τελική φάση των αγώνων του 12ου Πανελληνίου Ομαδικού Πρωταθλήματος Παίδων - Κορασίδων το οποίο θα...

The first two volumes of my Chess Heroes series are now available as eBooks on Amazon. If there’s ay interest I’ll make print on demand paperbacks available as well. For the moment, I’m still open to offers from chess publishers interested in this unique project. The books are designed for players who know the moves … Continue reading "Chess Heroes Update: Checkmates for...

As an instructor and coach, one of the most frustrating things I see with my beginning students is missed checkmates. Once they learn the rules of the game and start playing, beginners face the often daunting task of delivering a solid checkmate to win the game. They usually start their mating attempts by delivering a … Continue reading "Basic Checkmates One" The post Basic Checkmates One...

During my current foray into table tennis I’ve been struck by the number of analogies there are with chess. In this regard it’s particularly interesting to compare chess openings to table tennis equipment: 1) In choosing equipment or openings, consider your strengths and weaknesses as a player. 2) Choice of equipment can dictate your style … Continue reading "Lessons from Table...

ΠΡΟΚΗΡΥΞΗ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ: Παιδικό Τουρνουά Rapid Παιδικό rapid τουρνουά με ελβετικό σύστημα 7 γύρων με διεθνή αξιολόγηση ELO FIDE Rapid (Οι διοργανωτές μπορούν να αλλάξουν σύστημα αγώνων ανάλογα με τον αριθμό συμμετοχών)  Την Κυριακή, 01...

Το Σαββατοκύριακο που μας πέρασε ολοκληρώθηκε το ομαδικό πρωτάθλημα Κ12 καθώς και τα ανοιχτά τουρνουά Κ-07, Κ-09 και Κ 11-15.Η ομάδα μας, με μία νίκη και μία ισοπαλία το Σάββατο, ανέβηκε αρκετά ψηλά στη βαθμολογία αλλά οι δύο...

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement” Bo Bennett (businessman) The Scheveningen variation was a favorite of GM Garry Kasparov. That gave it exposure and kept it in the spotlight for many years. It is true this happened 20 something years ago; still the ideas from that time, as well … Continue reading "Need Sure Points? Sicilian Defense...

My final game of the season was again against Surbiton, and, as expected, I was paired against a much higher graded opponent, in this case a former RJCC member. In an attempt to get him out of the book I selected the unusual Smyslov (fianchetto) Defence against his Ruy Lopez. Here’s the game. 1. e4 … Continue reading "2018-19 Season 12" The post 2018-19 Season 12 appeared first on The...

ΝΑΥΤΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΗ  ΕΝΩΣΗ  ΠΑΤΡΩΝ Παπαφλέσσα 29 Πάτρα  Τηλ. 6906582950 Πάτρα 4/11/2019 Χειμερινό Τουρνουά ΝΕΠ με διεθνή αξιολόγηση (30/11 ως 9/12) ΔΙΟΡΓΑΝΩΣΗ: Ναυταθλητική Ένωση Πατρών ΧΩΡΟΣ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ: Εντευκτήριο ΝΕΠ Παπαφλέσσα 29, Πάτρα...

Often, when I have a conversation with a stranger at a social gathering, the topic of things they’ve tried to do in their lives comes up. More likely than not, I hear the statement “I tired to do that but gave up because I just wasn’t any good at it.” I used to simply accept … Continue reading "Keep Going" The post Keep Going appeared first on The Chess Improver.

Vadim Zviagintsev is one of the more original players on the tournament circuit, constantly coming up with new ideas and interpretations. So it was interesting to see him play a King’s Indian Attack in this game and apparently come to similar conclusions to myself. I’ve long felt that pushing on with e4-e5 with White is … Continue reading "King’s Indian Attacking" The post...

Φίλες και φίλοι καλημέρα,Τα νέα του ΣΑΧ αυτή την εβδομάδα συνοπτικά:Πρωτάθλημα παμπαίδων (κάτω των 12)Επερχόμενα Τουρνουά open για παιδιά (και όχι μόνο)Οι καινούριες μπλούζες της ομάδαςΤουρνουά παμπαίδων2 νίκες και 2...

“… How much attention we apply to a task will vary depending on what the task demand is.” Dr Gemma Briggs A very interesting article on this subject has been published seven years ago on this website HERE . It covers a lot of ideas I was thinking about and complements nicely this week’s chosen examples. We all … Continue reading "Attention Span" The post Attention...

My tenth game of the season was the return match against Ealing Juniors where I had the black pieces against an opponent with a similar grade to myself. I opened with my favourite Dutch Defence 1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 h6 6. Bf4 d6 7. c4 … Continue reading "2018-19 Season 10 & 11" The post 2018-19 Season 10 & 11 appeared first on The Chess Improver.