I'm back. Who cares? Nobody? Fine with me.

Perhaps this is just an on line journal to myself.

If I could learn to enter games in java so they play, that would be something. I will look into that again.

For now, Elementary State Championships are a week away. Good luck to us.

Peace-Out.

For Better or Worse

So I took Caissa to be mine.

I am practicing tactics every day.

I am honing my repertoire.

And I am doing worse!

Even so, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, losing at chess is better than no chess at all.

Kiss me Caissa.

Bigby Skittles

http://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/110/games/27680

I don't know if this will work. The link seems to be live, but we will see after I post it.

In the mean time. Look at this!

 


Okay. So even if the link didn't work, there still were these pretty pictures. I hope to get it working again like I did once before.

Kiss me Caissa!

Dan Nailed It!

Dan Heisman is giving me just what I need to teach my kids at the Chess Club. If they get playing slowly, safely, and actively, they will have what they need to succeed!

I am thinking of ways to teach this to them.

I am thinking of making a Gesu chess pledge that includes a commitment in these three areas.

How? How? How can I get them to slow down, play safe moves, and activate all their pieces?  How? How?

Stay tuned.

Kiss me Caissa.

Dan Heisman is a good teacher

I have been fooling around with chess for 40 years. I have been content to just play skittles around town and study it for fun. But now that I am coaching an elementary school team, and teaching them to be tough, I believe I need to improve my game.

Thank you Dan. (I completed, Back to Basics, Tactics, twice, and I am now reading A Guide to Chess Improvement.)

I have been studying to be a better coach, and in the process I have uncovered some of my own deficits.


The old guy probably tells the kids, "Back when I was your age Chess was tough! We didn't have computers. We didn't even have books. We had to make our own pieces out of sticks we found in the woods and carved ourselves. We were poor, but we were happy. Ah those were the days!"

Kiss me Caissa!

Chess Projects

I have two chess projects.

First I want our Elementary Chess club to continue to enjoy success. By this I mean that our new children get a good foundational chess education so they can rightly play and enjoy the game. And I want our more experienced players to continue to improve through playing and learning. Chess has been a great hobby for me. I want to pay that forward for them.

My other project is my own chess play. To this end I am preparing to play "1001 Arabian Knightmares" This is my way of saying that it is time for me to play and apply my studies. I want to play hundreds of games on line, then re-join the USCF and play live tournaments.

I plan on posting regarding both projects here.


What is wrong with this picture?
Chess players know.

Kiss me Caissa.

Elementary School Once a Week Coaching

Dear Caissa,

Today I paired the experienced players of the Gesu Chess club against each other.

I will put the tournament style pairings sheet on the wall. This will remind them how it works in tournaments. I will remind them of the touch move rule, and silence. If they have a problem, they should raise their hand, and wait for an arbiter.

I will also be asking for them to notate the first ten moves. This will refresh their memories regarding chess language. I will need, 1.Notation Sheets 2.Pencils 3. Notation instructions. 4.Clocks set for 1/2 hour can be used if available.

Coaches Mike and Brian will serve as Arbiters and teachers for this group.

I will take the beginners group.  I plan on teaching the Kings, the Queens, and pawns if there is time.
I will use the laser pointer, demonstration board, and constantly name squares, just to get them used to it. I will have them play mini games with just these pieces.  I will need King and Queen and pawn sheets for them. I will need Checkmate and Stalemate, explained.

*Game one- King on King, If White can get across the Board White wins. If Black can stop White, Black Wins. * Game 2-King and Queen against the lone King. Take turns winning and not stalemating. *Game 3, opposite 2-1 pawn Majorities with Kings.

If this works, they will actually have a better foundation than some of the older players.

I only have about six sessions before they have an opportunity to play in one of Jim's wonderful beginner tournaments.

I plan to give homework sheets. Mate in one problems. I want them to sign them, and return them next week. We will keep a record of this and give out chess prizes to our best students, regardless of their ranking, or tournament success.

Sincerely,
This Old Patzer

(My Studies) Today I enjoyed more of Nigel Davies "Build a 1.d4 Repertoire"  and the "Kaufman Repertoire for Black and White". I am trying to see if a simple economical 1d4 opening can be crafted to my personal satisfaction, or if I just should adopt "A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White, by John Watson, in its entirety.

I am happy to report that I have a comprehensive Black Repertoire scripted into Bookup  based on Dreev, Schandorff, Tiviakov, Lakdawala, Houska, Cox, Rizzitano, and Avrukh.

Now I am crafting the White side.

Good luck, self!