Results
We're better at chess than our record shows. We just have trouble showing up!
I was hoping we'd do well against MetC, but neither Heritage nor FHMS had their A Team there.
Heritage was playing with #2 #8 #10 #20 and one forfeit.
FHMS was playing with #3 #8 #14 and forfeited 2 games. I think we have a shot at Metc B if we have our A-Team there.
Team Match Games
Metcalf A 8-0 38.5- 1.5
Metcalf B 7-1 31.0- 9.0
Metcalf C 5-3 23.5-16.5
FHMS 3-5 12.0-28.0
Heritage 1-7 8.0-32.0
FaithShep 0-9 7.0-33.0
Friendly Hills vs Heritage next week! If Heritage can win both matches and win 7 games they will take over 4th place
Ratings Changes
FHMS Elijah and Dhanush -4, Jose -2
HERITAGE Boomer +31, John, Aiden and Leo -2
Remaining Schedule
Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:00
ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
ROUND10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetC, MetB vs FHMS
Friday, February 21, 2020
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Remaining League Schedule
The previous post shows some upcoming opportunities to compete, but now let's focus on finishing strong in our match play.
Remaining Schedule
Notice that Heritage has a realistic chance to win 3 of its last 4 matches
Friendly Hills has a good chance to win 2 and end up with a respectable 5-5 record.
Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf 3:40-6:00
ROUND 7 MetcC vs Heritage, MetcB vs FS, FHMS vs MetcA
ROUND 8 Heritage vs MetcB, MetcC vs FHMS, MetcA vs FS
Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:00
ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
ROUND 10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetcC, MetcB vs FHMS
Remaining Schedule
Notice that Heritage has a realistic chance to win 3 of its last 4 matches
Friendly Hills has a good chance to win 2 and end up with a respectable 5-5 record.
Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf 3:40-6:00
ROUND 7 MetcC vs Heritage, MetcB vs FS, FHMS vs MetcA
ROUND 8 Heritage vs MetcB, MetcC vs FHMS, MetcA vs FS
Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:00
ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
ROUND 10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetcC, MetcB vs FHMS
Friday, February 14, 2020
Positiions from Feb 7
1. Shanmuka from Friendly Hills has just played Nd4 attacking Ssoren's queen. What's Soren;s only good move?
In the actual game he played Qe3??
What should Shanmuka do?
2. In that same game Shanmuka reached this position. What's Black's bet move?
3. Here Boomer from Heritage playing black carefully avoided checkmate and now has a chance to gain material. How?
Answers:
#1) a) Nxd4 ?? results in Bxe2 losing the queen
b) Qd3 ?? results in Nxc2+ lsoing the queen
c) Qf1 ?? results in Nxc2+ losing the rook
d) Qd2 ?? results in Bxf3 losing the knight (Soren can't take back lest Nxf3+ forking the queen
e) Qe1 is the only move that doen't lose material.
In the actual game, Soren played Qe3, but Shanmuka missed the opportunity to get his queen and played Bxf3 which is a good move and wins the knight. However, Soren could castle and save his queen, but he played gxf3 allowing Shanmuka one more chance to get the queen and that time Shanmuka played Nxc2+ followed by Nxe3.
#2. White's biggest assets are his rook and his passed pawn on the f-file. Black can eliminate one with Nh5 forking both. The game might have continued: 1. ... Nh5 2 Re3 Nxf4+ 3.Kkd2 Nxh3
#3. 1. ... Qa5+ 2. c3 Bxd6
In the actual game he played Qe3??
What should Shanmuka do?
2. In that same game Shanmuka reached this position. What's Black's bet move?
Answers:
#1) a) Nxd4 ?? results in Bxe2 losing the queen
b) Qd3 ?? results in Nxc2+ lsoing the queen
c) Qf1 ?? results in Nxc2+ losing the rook
d) Qd2 ?? results in Bxf3 losing the knight (Soren can't take back lest Nxf3+ forking the queen
e) Qe1 is the only move that doen't lose material.
In the actual game, Soren played Qe3, but Shanmuka missed the opportunity to get his queen and played Bxf3 which is a good move and wins the knight. However, Soren could castle and save his queen, but he played gxf3 allowing Shanmuka one more chance to get the queen and that time Shanmuka played Nxc2+ followed by Nxe3.
#2. White's biggest assets are his rook and his passed pawn on the f-file. Black can eliminate one with Nh5 forking both. The game might have continued: 1. ... Nh5 2 Re3 Nxf4+ 3.Kkd2 Nxh3
#3. 1. ... Qa5+ 2. c3 Bxd6
Friday, January 31, 2020
Feb 7 Results
Results
Friday Jan 31 at Friendly Hills 3:40-6:00
ROUND 3 MetcB 4, Heritage 1; MetcC 4, FHMS 1; FS 1, MetcA 4
ROUND 4 FHMS 3, Heritage 2; MetcB 0 MetcA 5; MetcC 5, FS
Friday Feb 7 at Metcalf 3:40-6:00
ROUND 5 Heritage 3 FS 2, MetcA 4.5 MetcC 0.5, FHMS 0.5 MetcB 4.5
ROUND 6 Heritage 0 MetcA 5, FS 1 FHMS 4, MetcB 4 MetcC 1
Team Match Games
Metcalf A 6-0 28.5- 1.5
Metcalf B 5-1 21.5- 8.5
Metcalf C 3-3 14.5-15.5
FHMS 3-3 12.0-18.0
Heritage 1-5 7.0-23.0
FaithShep 0-6 6.5-23.5
Metcalf C has to play both FHMS and Heritage next time!
Remaining Schedule
Friday Feb 14 no games
Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf 3:40-6:00
ROUND 7 MetcC vs Heritage, MetcB vs FS, FHMS vs MetcA
ROUND 8 Heritage vs MetcB, MetcC vs FHMS, MetcA vs FS
Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:00
ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
ROUND 10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetcC, MetcB vs FHMS
PUZZLES
PROBLEM #1 Here's a complicated position from Claire of Friendly Hills vs Aidan of Heritage.
It turned out to be the decisive game in a 3-2 victory for Friendly Hills.
It's Black's turn. He has two pieces in trouble. Can he save both or at least escape with minor damage?
PROBLEM #2
Chase of Heritage has checked the Black king. Shanmuka of Friendly Hills has blocked with his bishop. Before thinking about your next move, count the points in pieces (Q=10, R=5, B=3, P-=1).
a) who is ahead? b) What should White' plan be? c) What should Black's plan be? d) Finally, in accordance with the plan, how should Chase save his queen?
PROBLEM #3
It's Luke's turn as black against J. Sharma from Metcalf on Board 1. What's the correct move?
#4 EASY Black's last move was Kb5 attack White's b pawn. This was Shanmuka's last chance for an easy win. (He missed it!)
ANSWERS
#1. First notice that if the bishop retreats, White cannot take the knights because of Bxg4+ winning the queen. However, White could exchange Queens first, allowing the capture of the knight.
But Black can prevent the Queen trade by playing Bd4 saving both pieces. If White plays c3 attacking the Bishop, Black counters with Bf5 threatening exf3+ with a discovered attack on the rook.
Black has the upper hand after Nc3 with threats of Nxd4+ followed by Qa4+. So the correct move is Bd4. However, Black can also reverse the order of the first two move and play exf3+ first.
#2. a) both sides are equal in material
b) White has 3 passed pawns on the d and e files. His goal should be to promote one to a queen.
c) Black has 3 passed pawns on the g and h files. His goal should be to promote one to a queen.
d) White's correct move is is e5! (The computer has White ahead by a significant amount. Unfortunaely Chase played Qd2 losing control of the e5 square and giving Black, a significant advantage,)
#3 Nx e4 (Not Bxe4 which White answers with an undermining move - Bxf6)
#4. Nd4+ forking the King and Rook! From there the plan is take the Rook, take the f-pawn with the rook take the g-pawn with the N, Nh7 and march the pawn to queendom.
Friday Jan 31 at Friendly Hills 3:40-6:00
ROUND 3 MetcB 4, Heritage 1; MetcC 4, FHMS 1; FS 1, MetcA 4
ROUND 4 FHMS 3, Heritage 2; MetcB 0 MetcA 5; MetcC 5, FS
Friday Feb 7 at Metcalf 3:40-6:00
ROUND 5 Heritage 3 FS 2, MetcA 4.5 MetcC 0.5, FHMS 0.5 MetcB 4.5
ROUND 6 Heritage 0 MetcA 5, FS 1 FHMS 4, MetcB 4 MetcC 1
Team Match Games
Metcalf A 6-0 28.5- 1.5
Metcalf B 5-1 21.5- 8.5
Metcalf C 3-3 14.5-15.5
FHMS 3-3 12.0-18.0
Heritage 1-5 7.0-23.0
FaithShep 0-6 6.5-23.5
Metcalf C has to play both FHMS and Heritage next time!
Remaining Schedule
Friday Feb 14 no games
Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf 3:40-6:00
ROUND 7 MetcC vs Heritage, MetcB vs FS, FHMS vs MetcA
ROUND 8 Heritage vs MetcB, MetcC vs FHMS, MetcA vs FS
Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:00
ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
ROUND 10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetcC, MetcB vs FHMS
PUZZLES
PROBLEM #1 Here's a complicated position from Claire of Friendly Hills vs Aidan of Heritage.
It turned out to be the decisive game in a 3-2 victory for Friendly Hills.
It's Black's turn. He has two pieces in trouble. Can he save both or at least escape with minor damage?
PROBLEM #2
Chase of Heritage has checked the Black king. Shanmuka of Friendly Hills has blocked with his bishop. Before thinking about your next move, count the points in pieces (Q=10, R=5, B=3, P-=1).
a) who is ahead? b) What should White' plan be? c) What should Black's plan be? d) Finally, in accordance with the plan, how should Chase save his queen?
It's Luke's turn as black against J. Sharma from Metcalf on Board 1. What's the correct move?
ANSWERS
#1. First notice that if the bishop retreats, White cannot take the knights because of Bxg4+ winning the queen. However, White could exchange Queens first, allowing the capture of the knight.
But Black can prevent the Queen trade by playing Bd4 saving both pieces. If White plays c3 attacking the Bishop, Black counters with Bf5 threatening exf3+ with a discovered attack on the rook.
Black has the upper hand after Nc3 with threats of Nxd4+ followed by Qa4+. So the correct move is Bd4. However, Black can also reverse the order of the first two move and play exf3+ first.
#2. a) both sides are equal in material
b) White has 3 passed pawns on the d and e files. His goal should be to promote one to a queen.
c) Black has 3 passed pawns on the g and h files. His goal should be to promote one to a queen.
d) White's correct move is is e5! (The computer has White ahead by a significant amount. Unfortunaely Chase played Qd2 losing control of the e5 square and giving Black, a significant advantage,)
#3 Nx e4 (Not Bxe4 which White answers with an undermining move - Bxf6)
#4. Nd4+ forking the King and Rook! From there the plan is take the Rook, take the f-pawn with the rook take the g-pawn with the N, Nh7 and march the pawn to queendom.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Jr High Chess League 2020 Schedule
Scroll down to find some interesting postions from Jan 24, 2020. Or look at the previous blogs - there are some good problems from last year.
Results (corrected)
Friday Jan 24 at Friendly Hills 3:40-6:15
ROUND 1 MetcA 5 Heritage 0, FHMS 3.5 Faithful Shepherd 1.5, MetcB 5 MetcC 0
ROUND 2 Heritage 1 MetcC 4, FS 1 MetcB 4, MetcA 5 FHMS 0
Team Match Games
Metcalf A 2-0 10.0-0.0
Metcalf B 2-0 9.0-1.0
Metcalf C 1-1 4.0-6.0
FHMS 1-1 3.5-6.5
FaithShep 0-2 2.5-7.5
Heritage 0-2 1.0-9.0
Remaining Schedule
Friday Jan 31 at Friendly Hills 3:40-6:15
ROUND 3 MetcB vs Heritage, MetcC vs FHMS, FS vs MetcA
ROUND 4 FHMS vs Heritage, MetcB vs MetcA, MetcC vs FS
Friday Feb 7 at Metcalf 3:40-6:15
ROUND 5 Heritage vs FS, MetcA vs MetcC, FHMS vs MetcB
ROUND 6 Heritage vs MetcA, FS vs FHMS, MetcB vs MetcC
Friday Feb 14 no games
Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf 3:40-6:15
ROUND 7 MetcC vs Heritage, MetcB vs FS, FHMS vs MetcA
ROUND 8 Heritage vs MetcB, MetcC vs FHMS, MetcA vs FS
Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:15
ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
ROUND 10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetcC, MetcB vs FHMS
PROBLEMS
1. DIFFICULT Here's an interesting position from Board 1 Shanmuka of Friendly Hills is playing White against Mayotte from Faithful Shepherd. Mayotte has just moved his bishop from h6 to e3. The f pawn is pinned and helpless. What's White's best move?
2. EASY Here's a position where T. Spencer, as Black, had a checkmate in two, but he missed it and let Graham Styles of Friendly Hills fight on for another 20 moves. Can you find the mate in two?
3. EASY Heres a common error. Chase of Heritage made a mistake against David Santos of Metcalf, but David playing White didn't capitalize on it. What move should David have made?
4. MEDIUM Beckham from Heritage has just lost his rook on a1. Time to resign?
ANSWERS
1. c6! wins the bishop because if Black does not take the pawn immediately, it queens.
2. 1. Nf3+ covers the escape square 2. Bd2 Qxd2#
3. e5 forking the Knight and Bishop.
4. Beckham didn't resign, but he missed a good move - Nbc3 wins the queen for a rook which would have evened the score.
RULES
1. All games must be notated.
2. We will play with the touch-move rule. If you touch a piece with the intent to move it, you must move that piece if it is legally possible to do so. If you touch an opponent's piece, with either your hand or your piece, you will be required to capture that piece if it is legally possible to do so.
3. All games will be played with a clock if we have enough. Bring your fully charged I-Pad and become familiar with the chess clock application, which you can find with the link in the upper right. Time control will be announced at the beginning of the round - probably 30 minutes with 5-second delay or 35 minutes with no delay. That means a game may last 1 hr 10 min. There is a link to a nice chess clock from our chess club blog.
4. Players will be assigned a board based on their rating. If a teammate is not present, all players move up one board and a sub will play on board 5. If a team is short a player or two, that team will forfeit the game. If both teams are short a player, both teams will forfeit the game. To win a match a team must score 3 or more points. If a team scores 2.5 points the match is considered a draw.
Results (corrected)
Friday Jan 24 at Friendly Hills 3:40-6:15
ROUND 1 MetcA 5 Heritage 0, FHMS 3.5 Faithful Shepherd 1.5, MetcB 5 MetcC 0
ROUND 2 Heritage 1 MetcC 4, FS 1 MetcB 4, MetcA 5 FHMS 0
Team Match Games
Metcalf A 2-0 10.0-0.0
Metcalf B 2-0 9.0-1.0
Metcalf C 1-1 4.0-6.0
FHMS 1-1 3.5-6.5
FaithShep 0-2 2.5-7.5
Heritage 0-2 1.0-9.0
Remaining Schedule
Friday Jan 31 at Friendly Hills 3:40-6:15
ROUND 3 MetcB vs Heritage, MetcC vs FHMS, FS vs MetcA
ROUND 4 FHMS vs Heritage, MetcB vs MetcA, MetcC vs FS
Friday Feb 7 at Metcalf 3:40-6:15
ROUND 5 Heritage vs FS, MetcA vs MetcC, FHMS vs MetcB
ROUND 6 Heritage vs MetcA, FS vs FHMS, MetcB vs MetcC
Friday Feb 14 no games
Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf 3:40-6:15
ROUND 7 MetcC vs Heritage, MetcB vs FS, FHMS vs MetcA
ROUND 8 Heritage vs MetcB, MetcC vs FHMS, MetcA vs FS
Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:15
ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
ROUND 10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetcC, MetcB vs FHMS
PROBLEMS
1. DIFFICULT Here's an interesting position from Board 1 Shanmuka of Friendly Hills is playing White against Mayotte from Faithful Shepherd. Mayotte has just moved his bishop from h6 to e3. The f pawn is pinned and helpless. What's White's best move?
2. EASY Here's a position where T. Spencer, as Black, had a checkmate in two, but he missed it and let Graham Styles of Friendly Hills fight on for another 20 moves. Can you find the mate in two?
3. EASY Heres a common error. Chase of Heritage made a mistake against David Santos of Metcalf, but David playing White didn't capitalize on it. What move should David have made?
4. MEDIUM Beckham from Heritage has just lost his rook on a1. Time to resign?
ANSWERS
1. c6! wins the bishop because if Black does not take the pawn immediately, it queens.
2. 1. Nf3+ covers the escape square 2. Bd2 Qxd2#
3. e5 forking the Knight and Bishop.
4. Beckham didn't resign, but he missed a good move - Nbc3 wins the queen for a rook which would have evened the score.
RULES
1. All games must be notated.
2. We will play with the touch-move rule. If you touch a piece with the intent to move it, you must move that piece if it is legally possible to do so. If you touch an opponent's piece, with either your hand or your piece, you will be required to capture that piece if it is legally possible to do so.
3. All games will be played with a clock if we have enough. Bring your fully charged I-Pad and become familiar with the chess clock application, which you can find with the link in the upper right. Time control will be announced at the beginning of the round - probably 30 minutes with 5-second delay or 35 minutes with no delay. That means a game may last 1 hr 10 min. There is a link to a nice chess clock from our chess club blog.
4. Players will be assigned a board based on their rating. If a teammate is not present, all players move up one board and a sub will play on board 5. If a team is short a player or two, that team will forfeit the game. If both teams are short a player, both teams will forfeit the game. To win a match a team must score 3 or more points. If a team scores 2.5 points the match is considered a draw.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Round 5 Results and Final Standings
Metcalf A 4-1 over Metcalf B
Metcalf C 3-2 over Salem Hills
Friendly Hills 4-1 over Faithful Shepherd
1st place trophy - Metcalf
2nd place trophy - Salem Hills
3rd place trophy - Friendly Hills
Metcalf C 3-2 over Salem Hills
Friendly Hills 4-1 over Faithful Shepherd
1st place trophy - Metcalf
2nd place trophy - Salem Hills
3rd place trophy - Friendly Hills
| Place | MA | MB | MC | SH | FH | FS | Pts | games | |
| 1 | MetA | / | 4-1 | 5-0 | 3.5-1.5 | 5-0 | 5-0 | 5 | 22.5 |
| 2 | MetB | 1-4 | / | 4-1 | 3.0-2.0 | 5-0 | 5-0 | 4 | 18 |
| 3 | MetC | 0-5 | 1-4 | / | 3.0-2.0 | 2.5-2.5 | 4-1 | 2.5 | 10.5 |
| 4 | Sal H | 1.5-3.5 | 2.0-3.0 | 2.0-3.0 | / | 4.5-.5 | 4.5-.5 | 2 | 14.5 |
| 5 | FrH | 0-5 | 0-5 | 2.5-2.5 | .5-4.5 | / | 4-1 | 1.5 | 7 |
| 6 | FaithS | 0-5 | 0-5 | 1-4 | .5-4.5 | 1-4 | / | 0 | 2.5 |
Friday, February 1, 2019
Rounds 3 and 4
Friendly Hills got shut out against Metcalf A and B as expected, but our easiest match is next week - we need a win or draw against Faithful Shepherd to come out ahead of them. If we do, I think we get the 3rd place trophy because Metcalf can only get one trophy. It is mathematically possible to come out ahead of Metcalf C if we can beat Faithful Shepherd 5-0 and Salem Hill can beat Metcalf C 5-0. Athough not likely, it could well happen.
Salem Hills needs a win or a draw against Metcalf C to hold onto third place. A loss would put us in 4th place.
Scores
Rd 3 Metcalf A 5 FHMS 0
Salem Hills 4.5 Faithful Shepherd .5
Metcalf B 4 Metcalf C 1
Rd 4 Metcalf A 3.5 Salem Hills 1.5
Metcalf B 5 FHMS 0
Metcalf C 4 Faithful Shepherd 1
Next week it's:
Met A vs Met B
Salem Hills vs Met C
FHMS vs Faithful Shepherd
School Matches Games
Met A 4.0 18.5
Met B 4.0 17.0
Salem 2.0 12.5
Met C 1.5 7.5
Friendly 0.5 3.0
Faithful 0.0 1.5
Salem Hills needs a win or a draw against Metcalf C to hold onto third place. A loss would put us in 4th place.
Scores
Rd 3 Metcalf A 5 FHMS 0
Salem Hills 4.5 Faithful Shepherd .5
Metcalf B 4 Metcalf C 1
Rd 4 Metcalf A 3.5 Salem Hills 1.5
Metcalf B 5 FHMS 0
Metcalf C 4 Faithful Shepherd 1
Next week it's:
Met A vs Met B
Salem Hills vs Met C
FHMS vs Faithful Shepherd
School Matches Games
Met A 4.0 18.5
Met B 4.0 17.0
Salem 2.0 12.5
Met C 1.5 7.5
Friendly 0.5 3.0
Faithful 0.0 1.5
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