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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 Read more

Fourteen enthusiastic juniors bravely faced the chilly weather to enjoy a lively Saturday morning chess session. It was wonderful to see familiar faces like Austin, Lishanth, and Arthur return after taking a short break. Their presence was truly appreciated and added to the positive atmosphere of the morning. Ladder games were the order of the day with just a few weeks left to decide the final winner. Two of the juniors really enjoyed playing their Read more

Five questions, each one based on previous topics worth 2 points each. Question 1 – Opening Principles Both sides have developed their pieces, it’s White to move, what should be the next move and why? Question 2 – Pawn structure White has a bad pawn structure, four pawn islands of doubled pawns, triple pawns and isolated pawns, but what compensation would you say White has in this position if any? Question 3 – The Fork Read more

Today, 16 very enthusiastic and devoted chess kids came along, bringing a wonderful energy to our session. We focused primarily on playing tournament games, as the end of the term is approaching quickly, and it’s important to get the games played before then. The kids show great dedication and eagerness to improve their skills during these competitive matches. A very warm and heartfelt welcome to our new beginners, Otis and Iris. I had the opportunity Read more

Based on the material we covered during our Saturday morning lesson, here are 5 carefully crafted questions for you. Each question is worth 2 points for every correct answer you provide. Question 1: What are the first three moves that define the Italian Game?  Question 2: In the Giuoco Piano variation of the Italian Game, what is Black’s typical third move? Question 3 Which tactical motif is often associated with the Two Knights Defense after Read more

With the schools’ half-term holiday now over, I am genuinely pleased to see a group of 13 enthusiastic youngsters return, ready to engage in more chess instruction and competitive gaming sessions. Their continued interest and participation are truly encouraging and make the experience even more rewarding. A very warm welcome to newcomers Tanya and Kiara and great to see both Reyaan and Jack coming back after a short break. Today’s theme focused intensely on the Read more

This week, there are only 5 questions to focus on, but two points for each correct answer. All questions revolve around the specific topic of removing the guard. Please take your time to think carefully about each question and provide your thorough answers. Question 1 White to play and win material Question 2 Best move for Black? Question 3 White to move and force Checkmate Question 4 White to play, remember what the strongest move Read more

The second weekend of the half term holiday coinciding with Halloween and Firework displays was met with great enthusiasm as 10 juniors eagerly expressed their strong desire and interest to play chess. Special thanks are extended to Jon Catchpole for his exceptional expertise and his highly instructive tuition, which has greatly benefited and strengthened the skills of our more advanced players. The theme for the day centered around the intriguing concept of Removing the Guard, Read more

As usual, 10 questions each worth 0NE point. This week’s quiz will focus specifically on important topics such as Targets, Hanging pieces, and Checks. Participants will be challenged to demonstrate their understanding and application of these strategic elements in various scenarios. Q 1 Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 TARGETS Best Move for White? Q 7 CHECKS Best move for Black Q 8 CHECKS Best move for White Q 9 TARGETS Read more

During this half term holiday weekend, we were delighted to host 12 enthusiastic juniors today. A special warm welcome was extended to Arjun, a Poole Chess club ‘Baccus’ League board one player, who had an impressive and well-deserved victory this week at Poole. We were also pleased to see his younger brother Aryan joining in the fun. The day was filled with a lively frenzy of exciting friendly games, keeping everyone engaged and entertained. As Read more