Club news

Storming of the Bastille

Graham Morris 24 October 2026

Despite the wet and windy conditions outside on the first weekend of the half-term holiday, 26 enthusiastic juniors joined us for today’s session.

Many thanks to Jon Catchpole, John Heath and Samuel for assisting with the teaching.

The main room, with juniors at long tables of green and white boards: at the nearest table one leans across to move a piece while two more think with a hand to the chin, an adult plays a junior at the back by the kitchen counter, and more games run along the window.
Deep in thought in the main room.
The glossy black table in the second room, with three boards in a row and chess clocks beside them: an adult smiles across the nearest board at a player sitting back with hands clasped, juniors play the two games beyond, and one reaches across to move a piece on the far board.
Three games on the go in the second room.
An adult in a red jumper thinks hard with a hand to the chin over a game on the left, while on the right a junior in glasses waits across a board whose pieces are still being set out, and more juniors chat and play at the tables behind.
A long think, and a new game about to start.
A table of juniors below the demonstration board on its easel, with an adult in a grey hoodie leaning in to talk to them from the end of the table, one junior with a hood up and both hands over the ears glancing sideways, someone in a leopard-print coat smiling on the left, and a figure in a blue coat hurrying past in a blur.
A word of advice from the end of the table.

The theme for the day was the French Defence. A brief introduction to this popular opening was demonstrated on the large display board, highlighting the main plans for both White and Black.

French Defence

The heading “French Defence (1. e4 e6)” over the top of a board where Black’s king’s pawn has moved to e6, and a cartoon man in a beret and a striped top, with a curled moustache, smiling beside a tricolour flag, his speech bubble reading “Solid. Tactical. French.”

The French Defence is a solid and respected chess opening that begins:

1.e4 e6

Black prepares …d5 to challenge White’s centre.

A typical continuation is:

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5

Now White usually chooses one of several main systems:

Advance Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5

White gains space and restricts Black’s kingside knight.

Typical plans:

  • White attacks on the kingside.
  • Black counterattacks the pawn chain with …c5 and …f6.

Exchange Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5

A symmetrical structure.

Typical plans:

  • White often aims for active piece play.
  • Black develops naturally without worrying about a cramped position.

Key French Defence themes

For Black

  • Attack White’s centre with …c5
  • Develop the light-squared bishop carefully (it can become passive behind the e6-d5 pawn chain)
  • Look for breaks with …f6
  • Use queenside counterplay

Simple club-level tip

A good rule for Black in the French is:

Attack the base of White’s pawn chain.

If White has pawns on e5 and d4, Black usually plays …c5 against d4 and later …f6 against e5.

For a junior chess club, I often summarise the French Defence as:

“White builds a big centre; Black tries to undermine it.”

That single idea explains most French Defence plans.

Ladder games and results

Wins today for Oscar T, Henry N, Kieran, Uzzaer, Gagan, Constance, Eden, Henry M, Julian, Jack and Fin.

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

Rooks

Rooks — Ladder games played so far
PlayerPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints
Kieran632114
Jonah51138
Henry840416
Eden30033
Oscar T1171326
Constance20022
Uzzaer1160523

Also in the Rooks, and yet to play a game in this group: Lewis.

Bishops

Bishops — Ladder games played so far
PlayerPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints
Constance440012
Rowan40044
Michal K31207
Tishi61058
Gagan651017
Arnav1051421
Eden33009
Zayd70168
Wyatt41127
Lewis32017

Knights

Knights — Ladder games played so far
PlayerPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints
Jack940517
Lenaya41218
Otis431011
Seyon440012
Mason21105
Orson733116
Fin741216
Adah52039
Trisztan31116
Oscar F630312
Phoebe640214
Florence30033
Henry M911712
Julian714213

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

Friendly game results

Wins today for Arnav, Rowan, Zayd and Henry N.

Worthy draws for Fin, Zayd, Orson, Rowan, Uzzaer and Constance.

The Knockout tournament

Congratulations to Oscar T and Lewis, who recorded victories today against Fin and Tishi respectively.

The cartoon climbing wall, with the sixteen names along its foot, the second row of eight cards on the crash mat now all filled, a third row of four cards higher up with two names and two still blank, and a new fourth row of two cards near the top, one carrying a name and one still blank.
The wall after this week’s games, with a fourth row begun.

On the wall: Oscar T is through to the fourth row, and Lewis’s win fills the last card on the second. Kieran and Rowan have still to play each other, and so have Uzzaer and Lewis.

Half-term – no respite!

We’re open again next Saturday for another morning of chess, learning and fun. We hope to see you there!

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.

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