The next match of the Cities Division of the Jr High Chess League is:
Feb 1, 8:45 am Friendly Hills Middle School. We'll be done at 12:00.
If you're coming south on 35E, go east on 494.
Take Dodd Rd North from 494 to Mendota Hgts Rd. Then East about 4 blocks to FHMS on your left.
Use the Main entrance and go left to the cafeteria.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Six Interesting positions from Jan 25
I went over some of the notated games and found some interesting positons. I also discovered that some boards were set up wrong with queens on the wrong color, white pieces on ranks 7 and 8. Etc. Let's try to do a better job at that next week. I'll remind everyone to check their board before they start.
Since you all have a few snow days off, I'll give you more. Here Josh, playing black, found a nice move against Pov, but then Pov almost found a way to save the game.
Magnus from Friendly Hills, playing white, shows one reason Friendly Hills is in first place with a sweet move against Pahlee from Farnsworth.
Anton from Friendly Hills has just played Bb5. Why is this a mistake? What should Simon from Farnsworth play? Answers below.
In this next position at board 1, Tom from Friendly Hills finds a weakness after Cowboy from Washington Tech played c5 attacking Tom's knight.
In this next position at board 1, Tom from Friendly Hills finds a weakness after Cowboy from Washington Tech played c5 attacking Tom's knight.
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Josh from Friendly Hills was down a piece and almost in checkmate against Seth from Farnsworth. Josh lost on the next move by playing Rxc4, but he could have finished the game in style. How?
Since you all have a few snow days off, I'll give you more. Here Josh, playing black, found a nice move against Pov, but then Pov almost found a way to save the game.
Magnus from Friendly Hills, playing white, shows one reason Friendly Hills is in first place with a sweet move against Pahlee from Farnsworth.
Answers
1. This was the deciding games between the top two teams. If Simon had found this move and gone on to win, Farnsworth would be in first place and Friendly Hills in second. Nxe5 snatching a nice central pawn. If dxe5 Bxb5 and if Bxe7+ Nxe7!
Game 2 continues Tom showed why he is 3-0 at board 1. 1.Qa5+ Kd7 (the knight and h-pawn are both pinned preventing 1. ... g6. Else 2. fxg6 cxd4 3. g7+)
2. Ne6 Qe8 3. Qxe8 Kxe8 4. Nxc7+ with a nice fork.
Seth was lucky to go 3-0 on day one. He should not have won this game. In game 3 Josh should have proceeded as follows 1.... Qd2+ Kb3 2.Qd1+ Ka3 3.Qc1+ Qb1 with a perpetual check and draw. If Seth would try to escape it would be disaster. 4.Kc3 Qc1+ 5.Kd3
(Kd4 is mate next turn) Qxd4+ 6.Kd2 Rd8+ 7.Ke1 Qe4+ 8.Kf2 (Kf1 is met with Rd1+ then Qe3#) Qe3 9. Kf1 Rd1# Almost always a Q and R can deliver checkmate against a lone King. That's a good thing to remember. But Josh has to remember to keep him in check every turn else Seth checkmates Josh.
In position 4, Josh from Friendly Hills found Bf8! attacking the trapped Queen. But then Pov found a way to save his queen with Ne6!
Magnus played Qd5 with two powerful threats. He picked up the knight and she was so rattled, she left her bishop out there for him to take next. I saw lots of evidence of panic in the games I went over. Chess is part mental and part psychological. Don't let your opponents' good moves rattle you. Don't look back and regret your last move. Just take a deep breath and resolve that you're going to move forward, take your time and play hard - especially on that next move after making a mistake. The bigger mistake usually happens on the next move.
In position 4, Josh from Friendly Hills found Bf8! attacking the trapped Queen. But then Pov found a way to save his queen with Ne6!
Magnus played Qd5 with two powerful threats. He picked up the knight and she was so rattled, she left her bishop out there for him to take next. I saw lots of evidence of panic in the games I went over. Chess is part mental and part psychological. Don't let your opponents' good moves rattle you. Don't look back and regret your last move. Just take a deep breath and resolve that you're going to move forward, take your time and play hard - especially on that next move after making a mistake. The bigger mistake usually happens on the next move.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Division Standings after week 1
Team Standings
Individual Standings
Round by Round Results
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Individual Standings
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Round by Round Results
| Round 1 | Friendly Hills | Farnsworth Aerospace | ||
| Thomas Miranda | 1 | 0 | Chinu Thao | |
| Frank Sullivan | 0 | 1 | Elise Lothrop | |
| Anton Priborkin | 1 | 0 | Simon Thao | |
| Josh Philips | 0 | 1 | Seth Xiong | |
| Magnus Nordby | 1 | 0 | Pahlee Thao | |
| Washington Tech | Nellie Stone Johnson | |||
| Cowboy Dway | 0 | 1 | Freddy Alonso | |
| Shuepheng Lee | 0 | 1 | Eli Barban | |
| forfeit | 0 | 1 | Eric Hall | |
| Mula Lay | 0 | 1 | Angel Alonso | |
| Pov Thao | 0 | 1 | Michael Hopewell | |
| Round 2 | Friendly Hills | Washington Tech | ||
| Thomas Miranda | 1 | 0 | Cowboy Dway | |
| Frank Sullivan | 1 | 0 | Shuepheng Lee | |
| Anton Priborkin | 1 | 0 | Mula Lay | |
| Josh Philips | 1 | 0 | Pov Thao | |
| Magnus Nordby | 1 | 0 | forfeit | |
| Farnsworth Aerospace | Nellie Stone Johnson | |||
| Chinu Thao | 1 | 0 | Freddy Alonso | |
| Elise Lothrop | 1 | 0 | Eli Barban | |
| Simon Thao | 0 | 1 | Eric Hall | |
| Seth Xiong | 1 | 0 | Angel Alonso | |
| Pahlee Thao | 1 | 0 | Michael Hopewell | |
| Round 3 | Nellie Stone Johnson | Friendly Hills | ||
| Freddy Alonso | 0 | 1 | Thomas Miranda | |
| Eli Barban | 0 | 1 | Frank Sullivan | |
| Eric Hall | 0 | 1 | Anton Priborkin | |
| Angel Alonso | 0 | 1 | Josh Philips | |
| Michael Hopewell | 1 | 0 | Magnus Nordby | |
| Washington Tech | Farnsworth Aerospace | |||
| Cowboy Dway | 0 | 1 | Chinu Thao | |
| Shuepheng Lee | 0 | 1 | Elise Lothrop | |
| Mula Lay | 0 | 1 | Simon Thao | |
| Pov Thao | 0 | 1 | Seth Xiong | |
| forfeit | 0 | 1 | Pahlee Thao |
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Jan 25 Match at First Covenant
When you are entering the building from the parking lot, use the triple doors to the south.
First Covenant Church will open around 8:00 am
Also please note that hwy 52 (Lafayette Freeway) will be closed Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
So you should be able to use it in the morning, but plan an alternate route at noon.
First Covenant Church will open around 8:00 am
Also please note that hwy 52 (Lafayette Freeway) will be closed Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
So you should be able to use it in the morning, but plan an alternate route at noon.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Schedule and Rules (modified 1-12)
Welcome to the Junior High League for Chess - Twin Cities Division
WT - Washington Tech in St. Paul
NSJ - Nellie Stone Johnson in Mpls
FH - Friendly Hills in Mendota Heights
FA - Farnsworth Aerospace in St. Paul
SCHEDULE
Jan 25 - First Covenant Church 1280 Arcade (Arcade & Hyacinth)
Rounds 1 - 3 Team listed first is white on boards 1-3-5
8:45 Intro and rules 9:55 Rd 1, 10:00 Rd 2, 11:05 Rd 3
Feb 1 - Friendly Hills Middle School, 701 Mendota Hgts Rd (Mendota Hgts Rd & Huber Dr)
Rounds 4 - 6 Team listed first is white on boards 1-3-5
8:45 Rd 1, 9:50 Rd 2, 10:55 Rd 3 12:00
March 1 Playoffs at Metcalf for only the top team from this division!
March 29-30 State Championship for Jr Hi and High School at St. Catherine's University. Awards from the league will be presented at the conclusion of this tournament.
RULES
Rules are USCF rules. All games must be notated (moves recorded) by both players. A clock will be used on all games. Each player will have 30 minutes with a 5 second delay. (We could run over an hour by 7 minutes on a 40 move game or by 15 on an 80 move game, but with only 10 games we are more likely to finish early. So I think we'll be OK with this time control.)
Touch move - if you touch a piece with the intent to move it you must move it if you can legally do so. If this means you have to block check with your queen, so be it. If you touch an opponent's piece with your hand or your piece with intent to capture, you must capture. A player is not required to say check. The three-move repetition rule will be enforced. Press the clock with the same hand that moved your piece. No kibbitzing, verbal or otherwise - penalty will be forfeit of 1 point from your team score that round. If you have a question or issue, raise your hand. No one will remind you to press your clock or notify you if you have an illegal position on the board. You must be aware of these yourself.
WT - Washington Tech in St. Paul
NSJ - Nellie Stone Johnson in Mpls
FH - Friendly Hills in Mendota Heights
FA - Farnsworth Aerospace in St. Paul
SCHEDULE
Jan 25 - First Covenant Church 1280 Arcade (Arcade & Hyacinth)
Rounds 1 - 3 Team listed first is white on boards 1-3-5
8:45 Intro and rules 9:55 Rd 1, 10:00 Rd 2, 11:05 Rd 3
| RD 1 | RD 2 | RD 3 |
| WT vs NSJ | FH vs WT | WT vs FA |
| FH vs FA | FA vs NSJ | NSJ vs FH |
Feb 1 - Friendly Hills Middle School, 701 Mendota Hgts Rd (Mendota Hgts Rd & Huber Dr)
Rounds 4 - 6 Team listed first is white on boards 1-3-5
8:45 Rd 1, 9:50 Rd 2, 10:55 Rd 3 12:00
| RD 4 | RD 5 | RD 6 |
| WT vs FH | FA vs WT | NSJ vs WT |
| NSJ vs FA | FH vs NSJ | FA vs FH |
March 1 Playoffs at Metcalf for only the top team from this division!
March 29-30 State Championship for Jr Hi and High School at St. Catherine's University. Awards from the league will be presented at the conclusion of this tournament.
RULES
Rules are USCF rules. All games must be notated (moves recorded) by both players. A clock will be used on all games. Each player will have 30 minutes with a 5 second delay. (We could run over an hour by 7 minutes on a 40 move game or by 15 on an 80 move game, but with only 10 games we are more likely to finish early. So I think we'll be OK with this time control.)
Touch move - if you touch a piece with the intent to move it you must move it if you can legally do so. If this means you have to block check with your queen, so be it. If you touch an opponent's piece with your hand or your piece with intent to capture, you must capture. A player is not required to say check. The three-move repetition rule will be enforced. Press the clock with the same hand that moved your piece. No kibbitzing, verbal or otherwise - penalty will be forfeit of 1 point from your team score that round. If you have a question or issue, raise your hand. No one will remind you to press your clock or notify you if you have an illegal position on the board. You must be aware of these yourself.
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