There were 12 juniors present today on this final Saturday of November. With only three more Saturdays remaining before Christmas arrives, everyone is eagerly anticipating the upcoming holiday break.
A warm welcome to new starter Oscar, I hope he enjoyed his day and learnt something.
Before that, we need to complete both the Knockout and Ladder competitions in their entirety. This will allow us to organize and hold a prize-giving presentation on the 20th of December to celebrate the achievements and hard work of all participants. It is also hoped to hold a quick 5 or 10 minute competition to add to the fun.
Theme of the day – the Scandinavian defence
The Scandinavian Defence (1.e4 d5) is a bold, direct opening for Black that challenges White’s centre immediately.
♟️ Key Ideas of the Scandinavian Defence
- Move order: 1.e4 d5
- Black instantly strikes at White’s pawn on e4, forcing White to decide whether to defend or capture.
- The most common continuation is 2.exd5 Qxd5, where Black’s queen enters the center early.
- White usually responds with 3.Nc3, attacking the queen and gaining development tempo.
⚔️ Main Variations
- Main Line (2…Qxd5):
- Black’s queen is exposed but aims to retreat to a safe square (often a5 or d6).
- White gains tempi by chasing the queen, but Black gets solid development and often castles queenside.
- Modern Variation (2…Nf6):
- Instead of recapturing immediately, Black develops a knight.
- After 3.c4, Black can later recapture with the knight, leading to dynamic play.
- Portuguese Variation (2…Nf6 3.d4 Bg4):
- Black develops aggressively, pinning the knight and aiming for sharp tactical chances
🎯 Strengths
- Surprise weapon: Many 1.e4 players are less prepared for it compared to mainstream defences like the Sicilian or French
- Direct central challenge: Black contests the centre from move one.
- Queenside castling plans: Black often castles long, placing the rook on the semi-open d-file for counterplay.
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Early queen exposure: White can gain tempi by attacking the queen.
- Development lag: Black may fall behind in piece activity if not careful.
- Theoretical risk: At higher levels, White can often secure a small but lasting advantage.
Ladder positions after todays games..
Wins today for Advik, Wyatt, Tishitha, Reyaan and Lewis.
Draws for Michal, Isaac and Jonah.
Showing the top 13 places, Advik takes top spot but still very tight at the top and the trophy to play for.
Knockout Chart and Trophy
My thanks extend to Jon Catchpole once again for helping out with the teaching.
