Chess for Children

I am coaching an elementary school chess club. It is wonderful.

The first day they learned how the pieces move.

The second day they learned en passant, castling, and notation.

Next week I hope to show them the "Overkill Mates" Q+R vs. K, Piece valuations, and general principles.

Go forth children! Swipe those hanging pieces! Then attack or trade down and win!

Mu ha ha ha ha!

Humble

"God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

I have been playing the Caro-Kann and Slav as black, and the London as white for about a half a year now. I am doing this because I just don't care as much about chess right now. The London-Slav-Caro Kann suits my easy going, risk managing style just fine.

But Mihail Marin is such a temptress! I will soon own his complete English repertoire, and I can feel myself being pulled into the vortex of advanced opening preparation.

I am only an 1800 on chess cube for crying out loud. That probably is like a 1500 USCF. Why should I be ashamed of playing the London? Why should I dream of taking up with the English?

I am tempted because Mihail Marin's style suits my own imagined style. Can a person of my low level and lack of real tournament even claim to have a style? At any rate, I buy books, so that is good for chess. Let me dream.

I plan to stick with the London, and use the English when the fancy strikes me.

I plan to stick with the Caro-Kann, and use the Accelerated Dragon, when I'm in the mood.

I plan to stick with the Slav, and use the Semi-Slav when I'm adventurous.

Call me tedious or tenatious, but I am doing what I want to do.

Good morning to my one reader out there. I suppose that would be me.

Dear Self,

Q-How is that Caro-Kann, Slav, London opening working out for you?

A-It is going fine. I am fairly relaxed in the opening. I am becoming more and more familiar with the typical lines and troubles.

Q-What are the troubles?

A-Believe it or not, I have had difficulties with the Slav-exchange. If I am not careful, I get into trouble there. I have made mistakes with the London system where after Black plays 2...c5 and 3...cd, the tempo saved by not yet having played d5 has permitted some active bishops. I have seen the Bb4 pin with Qa5 and Ne4 more than once.

Q-So are you doing badly?

A-No. Actually I am doing well. It is a patient old man way of playing that suits my patient old man self. Quite often I find myself reaching equality, and then slowly turning it the other way. I know it is nothing much, just chesscube, but I like being over 1800.

Q-What other openings tempt you?

A-I am tempted to go straight out with Mihail Marin's English Opening System as White, and the Accelerated Dragon as Black. I have considered that book called the Sniper, where after the fianchetto, ...c5 is played. I wonder about this as a sort of King's Indian, hybrid.

Q-Are you falling for shots? How is your endgame?

A-I am not falling for to many shots. I don't make them much either. I think this is in part, the nature of the solid system and style that I like. But it is an area where I know I need improvement. As for the endgame, I know I have made draws where I could have pushed for more, but because of the shortage of time on the clock. I like a safe half point, more than an error and a loss.

Q-Thank you very much for your time. Good luck in 2011.
A-Thank you. May your family be happy and safe, and may things go well for you at work.

The Easy Life

I am living the easy life. I am just snoozing with the London System as White, and the Caro-Kann and Slav as Black.

I'm playing when I want to on Chesscube and FICS. I am rated in the low 1700's on both.

I'm a slacker, anti-hacker, non-sacker.

I still fight. I just looking for no fuss, no rush, just a risk free crush.

Rubinstein French

I have been looking at the Rubinstein variation in the French.

I don't know if I will enjoy it. But I'll try it out at Chess cube.

It could be a stepping stone into the myriad French variations.

Mediocrity

I went to chess cube in order to play easy ego-free chess. The idea was that I needed to relax and just play. Chess is supposed to be fun.

Furthermore, because I am nowhere near the place where masters are in my chess understanding, fine tuning my game is not my game. I still need to fix big problems.

I believe children improve in chess quickly because they play often and have fun. We adults get a bit too serious.

The problem is I signed up as serious player and was given a provisional rating of 1800! Then quickly saw it drop into the 1600s. I played on and now it is in the 1800s.

But now I feel I am getting too attatched and defensive about my rating. And this is not even USCF official. This is not with anybody I even know.

So I am making myself lighten up and play.

I accept my limitations, my mediocrity.

I will do my best, and have fun.

GM Jekyll & Patser Hyde

Please allow me to introduce myself. I am a class chess player. That means I play like Jekyll/Hyde. Sometimes I am sharp like a knife. Other times I am dull like a spoon.

It reminds me of an old zen story where the master was always holding up one finger to explain enlightenment. One disciple used to imitate him by holding up his finger the same way.

One day the master catches him doing it. He tells him he has it all wrong. He cuts off the disciples finger! Then the master makes the familiar gesture and looks at the disciple. In that moment the student reaches enlightenment.

So much for zen stories. I think everyone should read Brian Victoria's Zen at War for an education on the nature of religions.

In my imagination my hero Ulf Andersson plays 1Nf3. He sees me play 1.Nf3 and in anger and horror, he sweeps the pieces off the board. After setting them up again he plays 1.Nf3. And I get enlightenment! I understand that I cannot play 1.Nf3 like Ulf plays Nf3 until I can play endgames like Ulf does.

Then I bow to the great Master Ulf, and play, 1.e4. Nigel Short comes into the room and sweeps my pieces off the table. How could I assume I can play 1.e4?

Perhaps I should open with 1.h4?