Prophylaxis in chess

Over the 2 hour session we had 27 highly active juniors gracing the boards, occupying two rooms. A warm welcome to Thomas who being a little nervous, set up a table and played just outside the very busy main room.

The main room at its busiest, with juniors facing each other across green and white boards on long tables and more games going on by the window. — The very busy main room.

My sincere thanks must go to Samuel for helping out today by taking on the more advanced members.

Two juniors sit side by side at one end of a table and look up at the camera, while the helper opposite reaches across to make a move on one of the two boards between them. — Taking on the more advanced members in the second room.

Prophylaxis

A brief demonstration on the display board explaining the Prophylaxis or Preventive measures in chess.

Prophylaxis: three preventive moves

1. e4  e5  2. Nf3  Nc6  3. c3
    c3 prevents the Knight on c6 from entering Whites half of the board on b4 and d4
3… a6
    a6 prevents the bishop on f1 going to b5, attacking the Knight on c6
4. h3
    White is anticipating Black's Bishop on c8 will move to g4 pinning the Knight on f3

Each note explains what the move stops before it can happen.

This was then followed by a set position in which a combination of Pins, Removing the Guard, Exchanges and Forks, can turn a game around very quickly.

Note how the d file is heavily congested, but will soon clear.

Pins, removing the guard, exchanges and forks 1–0

1. Bxc6
    start by removing the Knight defending e7
1… Bxc6  2. dxe5
    force pxp as the Knight is pinned
2… dxe5  3. Qxd8
    swap of Queens, another defender of e7
3… Raxd8  4. Ne7+
    now at long last the Knight forks the King and the unprotected Bishop
4… Kh8  5. Nxc6
1–0

A set position where the crowded d-file clears and a knight fork wins a piece.

Ladder games

Many Ladder games were played today with wins for Arnav, Seyon, Otis, Lenaya, Adah and Phoebe.

Scoring is 3 points for a win, 2 for a draw and 1 for a loss.

Rooks

Rooks — Ladder games played so far
Player	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
Kieran	2	0	2	0	4
Jonah	2	0	1	1	3
Henry	3	2	0	1	7
Oscar T	4	2	1	1	9
Uzzaer	3	1	0	2	5

Also in the Rooks, and yet to play a Ladder game: Michal M and Lewis.

Bishops

Bishops — Ladder games played so far
Player	Played	Won	Lost	Points
Rowan	1	0	1	1
Michal K	1	1	0	3
Tishi	3	1	2	5
Gagan	1	1	0	3
Arnav	3	3	0	9
Zayd	2	0	2	2
Wyatt	3	1	2	5

Also in the Bishops, and yet to play a Ladder game: Constance and Eden.

Knights

Knights — Ladder games played so far
Player	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
Jack	3	0	0	3	3
Lenaya	3	1	2	0	7
Otis	3	2	1	0	8
Seyon	4	4	0	0	12
Mason	1	0	1	0	2
Orson	2	1	1	0	5
Fin	3	1	0	2	5
Adah	4	2	0	2	8
Tristan	1	0	1	0	2
Oscar F	2	1	0	1	4
Phoebe	6	4	0	2	14
Florence	3	0	0	3	3
Henry M	3	0	0	3	3

Also in the Knights, and yet to play a Ladder game: Rupert.

The Knockout tournament

Wyatt beat Jack in a very close game, Henry N beat Zayd and Kieran won against Constance.

Two games were drawn and will have to be played again as we must have a winner.

The same cartoon climbing wall, now with a second row of cards on the crash mat above the sixteen names: three carry the names of players through to the next round, two mark games that were drawn, and three are still blank. — Level two of the wall, after this week’s games.

On the wall: Henry, Wyatt and Kieran are through. Gagan and Oscar T drew, as did Michal K and Fin, so both of those games will be replayed. Rowan and Oscar F, Uzzaer and Mason, and Tishi and Lewis have still to play.

Friendly games

Friendly Games played resulted in wins for Wyatt, Seyon, Tishi, Henry M, Fin, Adah and Florence. So well done to all of you.

Reporting your results

All Ladder results must be reported back to Graham.

We meet at Ferndown Library every Saturday, 10am–12 noon, and the club is open to 6–16 year-olds.