News

Achieving 19 on a very hot and sunny Bank Holiday Saturday is an excellent outcome for the club, reflecting both strong effort and impressive dedication from everyone involved in such challenging weather conditions. One new visitor arrived today, named Vzzaer, who after playing just a few games clearly demonstrated that he possesses a sharp and impressive chess brain. His quick understanding of the strategies and tactics showed that he has great potential in the game. Read more

Today, 23 juniors stepped over the threshold, which is a fantastic and encouraging number for us. Among the new visitors were Thomas, Oscar T, and David; we sincerely hope they enjoyed their time with us and found the experience rewarding. We warmly welcome them to come back again for future visits. My sincere thanks extend to the dedicated tutors Jon Catchpole, Samuel Gorsuch, and John Heath, without whose invaluable help and support the club simply Read more

Today we had a good, strong class consisting of 19 members, who were divided into three different sections based on their skill levels: Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginners. This allowed each group to focus on exercises and techniques suited to their experience and abilities, ensuring everyone received targeted instruction and support. Jon Catchpole led the Master Class in the annexe room, which included participants Constance, Kieran, Samuel and Jonah. The session involved compiling various strategies, focusing Read more

You can definitely count on the fact that holidays usually mean family activities take top priority, which is why we see a lower number this May Day Bank Holiday weekend. Today, there are just 13 juniors participating, reflecting how many are likely spending time with their families instead. A very warm welcome to Thomas, who has joined our club for the very first time. He is a young beginner full of enthusiasm and determination, showing Read more

A total of 23 juniors walked through the doors of the library today, bringing a lively and energetic atmosphere. It was especially wonderful to see familiar faces like Gagan, Tishi, and Felicity return after taking a short break. In the main room, where both intermediate and beginner players were gathered, I took the opportunity to demonstrate several examples on the display board illustrating the tactic known as ‘discovered attacks and checks.’ This allowed everyone to Read more

Today, a total of 21 enthusiastic juniors gathered to make up the lively chess ‘party,’ creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere for everyone involved. For the very first time, a second ‘secret’ room was introduced and utilized specifically for the more advanced players. This special session was expertly led by Jon Catchpole and abely assisted by new tutors Russell Peg and Samuel Gorsuch, who brought fresh energy and support to the group consisting of Wyatt, Read more

Opposition Let’s have a detailed look at the concept of ‘opposition’ in chess, especially focusing on how crucial it is during the endgame phase. Opposition occurs when one king positions itself directly in front of the other king on the same rank, file, or diagonal. This strategic placement forces the opposing king to make a move either to the side or step backward, as moving forward would result in an illegal position. It doesn’t necessarily Read more

With the final weekend of the Easter break upon us, a total of 23 enthusiastic juniors joined us today, which I find truly amazing and impressive. A very warm welcome to beginner Henry and his wonderful mum Camilla, who might assist in teaching some of the beginners whenever she is available. Also a warm welcome to Samuel, a Southbourne player who is not only very strong but also highly skilled and experienced, someone who could Read more

There are 15 weeks remaining from 11th April until 18th July (the beginning of the summer holidays break). Starting immediately with an average of one game per week, each individual has the opportunity to play a MAXIMUM total of 15 Ladder games over the entire period. This limit applies regardless of whether a person attends every session or not, maintaining fairness and equal chances for all players throughout the duration. Players are awarded 3 points Read more

Fifteen juniors graciously graced us with their presence, and they were very warmly welcomed by everyone during this special Easter holiday. Their participation truly added a wonderful and lively atmosphere to the occasion. With many thanks to Jon Catchpole and John Heath for generously helping to entertain and engage the more advanced players, I spent some time running through a variety of tactics and clever tricks on the large display board. My hope is that Read more