On this final Saturday before Easter, I was truly delighted and pleased to see a total of 22 enthusiastic juniors come along to enjoy a fun and engaging session of Chess. A very warm welcome to Miles, who made the journey all the way from Wareham to be here with us today. He is genuinely an outstanding and exceptional player, especially considering his young age and impressive skills. Also Zeke, who really got involved with Read more
A wonderful turnout of 17 enthusiastic students gathered together on this beautifully sunny and bright day. With the invaluable assistance of Jon Catchpole and John Heath, we successfully managed to cover a wide range of important aspects within the various skills involved in playing chess. Jon and Jonah played Kieran and myself in a Hand and Brain game, which had to be agreed a draw after running short of time, good fun though! Mountain Final Read more
A new world record was set for Ferndown Junior Chess as an impressive total of 22 enthusiastic members tuned in to participate in a thrilling and intense chess monster session. The event was ably supported and guided by the dedicated Jon, who provided expert assistance throughout, and was briefly joined by a new volunteer, John Heath, who contributed to making the session even more engaging and successful. We warmly welcomed several new faces this time Read more
What an absolutely fantastic and memorable event for the Dorset Junior chess players. Representing Ferndown Junior Chess Club with great pride and enthusiasm, we had a wonderful team consisting of Advik, Gagan, Austin, Jack, Eden, and Kieran. Top Positions in all Groups The highlight and crowning glory of the tournament for Ferndown was undoubtedly Advik, who triumphed by winning outright in the highly competitive U8 group, showcasing exceptional skill and determination. Not to mention the Read more
Another fantastic attendance today with a total of 21 participants, including 4 new starters who joined us for the first time. If all of our members were to turn up on a Saturday, we would be very close to reaching full capacity! My thanks to Jon for his support and help with the tutoring. A warm and heartfelt welcome to Aida, Rowan, Harvey, and Archie, who are all fairly new to this incredible and timeless Read more
This midweek lesson is focused specifically on Openings in chess, so to help expand on that theory a little more and provide deeper insight, especially for those of you who are eager to improve your chess skills, here are some valuable ideas and strategies to consider and incorporate into your game. It’s essential to fully grasp the ideas and concepts behind each move. Below is a detailed breakdown of some of the most effective and Read more
Another fantastic super Saturday unfolded with 20 enthusiastic and eager students diligently keeping the dust off the boards and sharpening their chess skills throughout the entire morning session. My thanks to Jon for his valuable assistance and also to those parents and children who help to clear up at the end of the day. During the first hour, with the majority of juniors in attendance, I went through the Bird Opening, sharing insights and strategies Read more
To find out the answer to that important question, you must carefully analyse your games by writing down each move you make, a process known as notation. Taking the time to thoroughly examine your moves allows you to discover which were strong and effective, and which ones were mistakes or less optimal. This detailed review helps improve your overall playing ability. So let’s begin with a straightforward POINTS guide that you can easily apply to Read more
Although it was half term and the sun was shining, we still had a fantastic turnout of 21 enthusiastic juniors gathering around the chess boards to play and enjoy the game. A warm welcome to our new visitor Jonah, who joined us as an advanced player, bringing great skill and experience to our club. It’s also great to see several familiar faces returning after a brief absence, adding to the vibrant and friendly atmosphere we Read more
In each of these examples, you are playing as White, and your main objective is to find a way to get out of check. You need to carefully analyze the position and determine the best move that will successfully remove your king from being in check, ensuring your safety and continuing the game effectively. There are three possible ways to get out of check, it’s simple as A B C A = Move your King Read more