2020 Chess

 Due to the covid outbreak, I am currently not teaching any after-school chess. However SCA has gone virtual with a successful virtual chess camp this summer. 

VIRTUAL TOURNAMENTS

SCA will be conducting virtual tournaments until we can get back together again. 

Merit points will be awarded and all awards will be mailed.

CHESS CLUB SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY

There will be no more chess until further notice in a effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
Also note that if you were planning on attending the SCA Tournament on March 21, that has been cancelled as well.

March 10

Upcoming tournaments:
See older posts for more details or check out www.schoolchess.org 
March 12 Grade level - Play only other students in your own grade (Teams of 3) Plymouth M.S.
April 18 Sections for K-3, 4-6, 7-9 (Jr. High Championships) Plymouth M.S.
May 2-3 Statewide Championships 7 rounds (sections for K-3, 4-6) (Teams of 4) Robbinsdale M.S.
My criteria for being able to win one game
     1st grade   250
     2nd grade 300
     3rd grade  350
     4th grade  400
If your rating has been going up, that's better than if it has been stagnating
Anyone can come (if you don't mind losing). This is a good way to improve.

Rank	Gr	Name	10-Mar
1	2	Travis	672
2	2	Kellen	388
3	4	Robert	384
4	2	Erick	363
5	4	Dean	339
6	2	Gus	330
7	3	Caitleen	292
8	3	Max	278
9	3	Gianna	239
10	2	Camden	221
11	2	James	215
12	3	Audrey	186
13	4	Leon	137
14	1	Edward	135
15	1	Jose	131
16	3	Margot	125
17	4	Juan	121
18	3	Sadie	120
19	2	Brandon	114
20	1	Chrissy	113
21	1	Dexter	100
22	1	Zoe	100

March 3

See previous post for upcoming opportunities for 2nd graders especially.
RATINGS

1	2	Travis	675
2	2	Kellen	366
3	4	Robert	356
4	2	Erick	347
5	2	Gus	347
6	4	Dean	319
7	3	Caitleen	289
8	3	Max	266
9	3	Gianna	232
10	2	James	222
11	2	Camden	203
12	3	Audrey	200
13	4	Leon	137
14	1	Jose	131
15	2	Brandon	122
16	4	Juan	121
17	3	Sadie	121
18	1	Dexter	116
19	1	Edward	114
20	1	Chrissy	113
21	3	Margot	104
22	1	Zoe	100

Upcoming Tournament

There's a big tournament coming up!!
Put Saturday March 21 on your calendars!
WHO? Anyone can play - I recommend it for those with a rating of 300 or higher in 2nd or 3rd grade, 400 in 4th grade.
WHAT? This particular tournament is a grade level tournament which means you'll only be playing players in your own grade. You'll play five games. You'll play against another child with the same record as yours. So if after 3 rounds you have lost two games and won one, you will play someone else who won one game and lost 2. No elimination.
WHEN: Saturday March 21. Register at the door before 8:30 or online at www.schoolchess.com and show up at 9:00. You will be done by about 3:00
WHERE? Plymouth Middle School
WHY? Have fun playing chess and eating pizza, make new friends, earning awards.
DO WE HAVE A TEAM? I hope we will have at least 3 from 2nd grade. Trophy for the top team, certificates for 2nd and 3rd place.

Rank	Gr	Name	25-Feb
1	2	Travis	665
2	4	Robert	348
3	2	Erick	346
4	2	Kellen	345
5	2	Gus	334
6	4	Dean	301
7	3	Caitleen	284
8	3	Max	238
9	3	Gianna	227
10	2	James	218
11	2	Camden	214
12	3	Audrey	181
13	4	Leon	135
14	1	Jose	131
15	1	Chrissy	124
16	4	Juan	121
17	1	Dexter	119
18	1	Edward	118
19	2	Brandon	117
20	3	Margot	113
21	3	Sadie	112
22	1	Zoe	100

Today's Lesson: Two Rook checkmate (the ladder)

Name	18-Feb
Travis	659
Addi	440
Erick	346
Robert	337
Gus	329
Caitleen	302
Kellen	290
Dean	245
Max	236
James	214
Camden	210
Gianna	196
Audrey	192
Edward	143
Dexter	140
Leon	138
Mia	135
Chrissy	124
Juan	121
Milla	120
Sadie	119
Elijah	110
Zoe	110
Jose	103
Margot	100
Brandon	100

Discovered Attacks

TOURNAMENTS
Next Tournament is Sat. Mar 21. Show up before 8:30 a.m. to register with $22 to participate. 5 rounds - no elimination. Bring lunch or lunch money - they serve pizza, hot dogs, chips, fruit, etc. Play only students in your same grade. Recommended for students who have a rating of:
1st grade 250
2nd grade 300
3rd grade 350
4th grade 400

Today we learned about discover attack - what they are and how to set them up.
We also took a look at the idea of a double check.

Rank	Grade	Name	11-Feb
1	2	Travis	650
2	4	Addi	440
3	2	Erick	334
4	4	Robert	324
5	2	Gus	311
6	3	Caitleen	302
7	2	Kellen	276
8	2	James	224
9	4	Dean	218
10	3	Gianna	207
11	3	Max	205
12	2	Camden	195
13	3	Audrey	178
14	1	Edward	143
15	4	Leon	138
16	2	Mia	135
17	1	Dexter	135
18	3	Sadie	126
19	1	Chrissy	124
20	4	Juan	121
21	4	Milla	120
22	3	Elijah	110
23	1	Zoe	105
24	1	Jose	103
25	3	Margot	102
26	2	Brandon	100

Hurdle Review

We reviewed hurdles and skewers.
We looked at ways of getting out of trouble.
And we also discussed what to do after you make a mistake - don't panic, relax; don't think about the previous move, think of this move.

Rank	Grade	Name	4-Feb
1	2	Travis	640
2	4	Addi	440
3	2	Erick	349
4	4	Robert	323
5	3	Caitleen	303
6	2	Gus	297
7	2	James	236
8	2	Kellen	235
9	4	Dean	213
10	3	Gianna	199
11	2	Camden	190
12	3	Max	174
13	3	Audrey	158
14	1	Dexter	146
15	2	Mia	135
16	4	Leon	132
17	1	Edward	132
18	4	Juan	122
19	3	Sadie	121
20	4	Milla	120
21	1	Chrissy	119
22	3	Margot	112
23	3	Elijah	110
24	1	Zoe	105
25	1	Jose	103
26	2	Brandon	100

Hurdles

Today we learned about huirdles. Look for a piece in line with the king, Check the King. Capture the piece on the other side of the king.

Rank	Gr	Name	Rating
1	2	Travis	629
2	4	Addi	440
3	2	Erick	337
4	4	Robert	319
5	2	Gus	291
6	3	Caitleen	288
7	2	James	236
8	4	Dean	220
9	2	Kellen	216
10	3	Gianna	178
11	2	Camden	171
12	3	Max	169
13	3	Audrey	169
14	1	Dexter	141
15	2	Mia	135
16	4	Leon	132
17	3	Sadie	129
18	1	Edward	128
19	4	Milla	120
20	1	Chrissy	119
21	4	Juan	117
22	3	Margot	117
23	3	Elijah	110
24	2	Brandon	108
25	1	Jose	103
26	1	Zoe	100

Jan 14 Ratings

Don't forget if your rating is near 300 and you'd like to compete in a chess tournament with children your own age, there are tournaments run by the School Chess Association. There's one this next Saturday at Plymouth Middle School. Cost is $22. Register before 8:30; done by 2:30.

Rank	Grade	Name	14-Jan	7-Jan
1	2	Travis	621	611
2	4	Addi	440	440
3	4	Robert	319	292
4	2	Erick	317	293
5	2	Gus	288	267
6	3	Caitleen	280	263
7	2	James	251	264
8	4	Dean	220	198
9	2	Kellen	197	166
10	3	Gianna	176	155
11	3	Max	166	163
12	2	Camden	160	142
13	3	Audrey	149	160
14	4	Leon	143	138
15	3	Sadie	141	120
16	3	Margot	136	153
17	1	Dexter	136	131
18	2	Mia	132	132
19	4	Milla	120	120
20	4	Juan	110	105
21	3	Elijah	110	110
22	1	Zoe	106	125
23	1	Jose	103	103
24	1	Chrissy	102	127
25	2	Brandon	100	100
26	1	Edward	100	116

Jan 7 Ratings

Today we learned about pins:
1) Look for two big pieces in a line
2) Pin the piece
3) Attack the pinned piece

Travis	611
Addi	440
Erick	293
Robert	292
Gus	267
James	264
Caitleen	263
Dean	198
Kellen	166
Max	163
Audrey	160
Gianna	155
Margot	153
Camden	142
Leon	138
Mia	132
Dexter	131
Chrissy	127
Zoe	125
Milla	120
Sadie	120
Edward	116
Elijah	110
Juan	105
Jose	103
Brandon	100