Thursday, April 29, 2010

FINAL MEETING OF SPRING 2010 - Today!

Thank you one and all - this chess club is the best!

Today is our final meeting for the Spring 2010 Semester and time does fly when you are having fun. We have had a lot of fun - chess-wise and otherwise - this Semester and I am already looking forward to our next edition of the Cherokee Chargers Chess Club this fall! I will send out the final chess club email update later on this week. As always feel free to contact me should you have any chess club or chess questions - I am your chess coach and it has been my pleasure to have served the entire Cherokee Chargers Chess Community this Semester!

Your Cherokee Chargers Chess Coach
Chess Coach Sean Tobin.

CHARGERS CHARGE HEADLONG INTO FINE RESULTS AT THE 2010 EDITION OF THE "GOVERNOR'S CUP" on April 24th & 25th, 2010!




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Our top two players competed at this year's BIG ASCF STATE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP! Congratulations to both Bennett (7th place) and Peter (17th place) who both competed in the K-3 CHAMP section of this event within a pool of 242 players! Quite the achievement for both of our Chargers! The entire event drew 450 players this year.

NEXT YEAR LET US HAVE A FULL SIZED TEAM COMPETE AT THIS EVENT! One in each section - the K-3 and K-6! Peter and Bennett would love to have their friends compete along side them and they all would have fun together!
Your Cherokee Chargers Chess Coach
Chess Coach Sean Tobin

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

WEAK DIAGONALS and of BISHOPS & QUEENS!

This is a follow up lesson on our WEAK DIAGONALS and ANNOYING QUEEN CHECKS lesson. Enjoy!

Jason Bell versus Sean Tobin

DESCHUTES COUNTY CHESS CLUB 05 08 2006

JASON BELL VS SEAN TOBIN:

[Event:"Casual Chess Game"]
[Site:"Redmond Public Library; 827 SW Deschutes Avenue; Redmond OR. 97756"]
[Date:"05.08.2006"]
[White:"Bell, Jason"]
[Black:"Tobin, Sean"]
[Opening:"Saragossa Opening"]
[ECO:"A00"][NIC:"VO.12"]
[Time Control:"None used"]

1. c3

This is known as the Saragossa opening... not the best way to seize the center! Such an opening would not be played by our CHAMP PLAYERS - Peter or Bennett!

1... e5

If given the opportunity Black/the second player should play as though he/she is at the helm of the White pieces! Plant that flag in the center of the board!



WHO IS PLAYING THE WHITE PIECES HERE?

2. d4

1. c3 was the "slow build up" to 2. d4. Not a bad strategy though. People can and do play the Saragossa opening to win and do so. This is just not the best way to make use of the initiative nor is it the best way to control the center.

2... d5

Gambit anyone?

3. Nf3 e4

The second player should grab some space now as otherwise he could just regret having offered the gambit pawn! The idea behind this move is to cramp Jason Bell's chess style! The pawn on e4 will create all sorts of problems for members of the opposing White Army.


4. Nfd2 Bd6

The second player looks to exploit the b8 to h2 dark diagonal. WHERE HAVE WE ALL SEEN THIS IDEA BEFORE - AHEM!



5. f3??

This move is now a terminal weakness that will result in the first player losing the game. The idea here was to dissolve the second player's center but overlooks black's control of the b8 to h2 diagonal. Can you find Chess Coach Sean's reply? : P



5... Qh4+

Ah-ha! THE POWER OF THE ANNOYING QUEEN CHECK - one of the best ways to take advantage of a really weak diagonal!! A move obviously overlooked by the first player. Now White is lost as his King is blocked in by his own pieces and can be attacked along the h4 to e1 diagonal with dire consequences. Dire consequences = checkmate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



6. g3 BOX

BOX equals only move - you have just got to love those silly INFORMATOR CODES! When our King is in check we must either 1. Capture the offending piece; 2. Block the check or 3. Move away. Here only option two is available.




BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN

WHAT'S THE BEST MOVE?

6... Qxg3+!

THAT IS NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY - WAIT, ACTUALLY IT IS! Either piece could have made the capture on g3 but I - Chess Coach Sean - obviously wanted to deliver mate with the Bishop! Thus forcing option numeral uno!!



QUEEN SAC!

7. hxg3 Bxg3 checkmate!

A very instructive game.



Attention passengers - Flight 0-1 checkmate has arrived! Thank you for flying CHESS!

FINAL POSITION

0 - 1

CHARGERS BENNETT & PETER STRIKE AGAIN!


CHARGER ACES DO IT AGAIN!

1st PLACE TEAM TROPHY k-3 CHAMP @ TYPHOON 04_17_2010

Peter and Bennett took home the 1st place team trophy in the K-3 CHAMP section while also taking individual trophies - well done lads! They make a great team as each of them is a strong player in his won right. When you next see our two most accomplished chess players please do feel free to congratulate both of them - they deserve it!

- Chess Coach Sean Tobin.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

GAMES from TWISTER 4/3/2010

Enjoy the games of Bennett and Peter!













The first three rounds from our top two players - a lot of food for thought here. Our players will be at "2.0" by their next tournament together! I look forward to seeing the "2.0" team in action! - Chess Coach Sean Tobin.

Friday, April 2, 2010

BENNETT and A GOOD START at the SCOTTSDALE CLASSIC

It's always nice to start a chess tournament with a good hard fought game - it is even nice to win that game as well! Let's take a look at Bennett's round one game from the Scottsdale Classic.



Bennett and Peter were quite the team at this event and they worked very well together as a team. Their ASCF ratings both went up - Peter's went from 603 to 624 while Bennett has hit a new milestone as he went from 873 to 900! Well done guys - and once again congratulations on your fine 1st place team finish in the K-3 CHAMP section of the SCOTTSDALE CLASSIC held on 3/27/2010.

- Chess Coach Sean Tobin.

COACH WOODY - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL! : P



I felt we needed more of a coach Woody presence on our Community Blog! Coach Woody and I will be looking forward to working with all of our chargers chess players at tomorrows chess tournament.

- Chess Coach Sean Tobin.