Archive for the ‘Chess Events In Chicago’ Category
2013 Illinois Grades K-8 Chess Championship Tournament
The 2013 Illinois K-8 Kids Chess Championship is a fun tournament, but also very competitive. The top youth players in the state gather here (in Normal, Illinois this year) and play some very good chess. It is a multi day chess tournament from March 9th - 10th.
This year’s Illinois k-8 Chess Championship is taking place at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center at 100 North University Street in Normal Illinois.
For more info about this chess tournament check out the tournament listing.
Team Chess!
Right around the corner lies some of the most fun and competitive chess events in the nation, the United States Amateur Team chess tournaments. But, what exactly IS Team chess? Although it may sound intimidating, it is a favorite of both amateurs and grandmasters alike.
United States Chess Team (right) playing in 2012 Olympiad in Istanbul
In team chess, each team normally has 4 players, possibly 5 if the team wants to have an alternate player. Each player is arranged from highest rating to lowest rating, and competes against other teams with that same order. If your first board plays white, than board 2 and 4 play black, and board 3 will get white. All the players play on the same side of the board, however. Each player on the team plays their own individual game, but the result of your and all the rest of your team members points get added up. If your team scores 2.5 against 1.5, you win the round and get a (1) on the wall chart. If your team ends up with 2 -2, then the team draws the match: (.5), and 0 – 4 would result in (0).
From my perspective, team chess is more fun that standard chess, mainly because it increases the competition, and adds the element of observing others chess games. It also takes the sting out of losing, and sometimes if the rest of your team gets whipped out, it can be even more rewarding to win a game for the entire team. Most team tournament also gives prizes for best – and usually funny – team names. Here is a link to some classic funny chess team names. My personal favorites are: My last year’s team name was “Leftover Salmon”.
A shot of my team (me in front playing chess as white) in last years United States Amateur Team North Chess Event
The United States Armature Team Chess Tournament is divided up into four sections ( also known as chess regions) based on geographic location: north, east, south, and west. This year, the USATN chess tournament will be held in Schaumburg, IL. Each team must collectively have an average team rating of under 2200, which means that there is fair game for all teams! More information can be found at the official website: Here
Good Chess,
NM Nolan Hendrickson
How to Play Chess Like an Animal
How to Play Chess like an Animal
Ever want to play chess like a gorilla? A bird? A wolf? Guess what! You can! There’s a chess opening called the Orangutan. It starts 1. b4 for white. It’s a nontraditional opening with an animal name. The Bird is another chess opening with an animal name (although it is actually just named after a man named bird.) It starts 1. f4. It is also a fairly nontraditional opening although it is played quite often at high levels of tournament chess. There are many chess openings named after animals.
Five time Colorado state chess champion, life-master Brian Wall and I are the co-authors of a colorful, illustrated children’s chess book called How to Play Chess Like an Animal. Animal chess openings are fun for kids to learn. We got the idea to write this book when we were both teaching chess in after school chess programs in Denver, Colorado. Brian used to get the kids all excited about chess by teaching them to play the Elephant Gambit. First he would tell these young kindergardeners and first graders to get up and swing their arm like an elephant trunk. Then he would teach them to make a sound like an elephant. Then he would teach them the Elephant Gambit. To see more about chess animal openings you can click on the link. Meanwhile, keep playing chess and don’t forget to have fun!
Learning Chess from Yasser Seirawan
Day one with GM Yasser Seirawan who was the World Junior Champion in the 1970′s. He is not only a phenomenal chess player but he is also a very intriguing and interesting person who not only kept us involved and attentive during a 6 hour-long lecture but he kept us entertained as well. He told sad stories, funny stories, and often times outright ridiculous stories but somehow in the end he managed to connect it to chess in a seamless manner. This was very inspiring for me because this is a very important skill to obtain especially if one is to become a chess captain or chess coach like myself. I believe this is because it allows the audience to delve in and become a part of the lesson. Well after the lecture was completed he went on to compete against 27 individuals in a simultaneous exhibition (playing 27 people at once) including myself. As he made his first move on each board, he shook hands with each individual and he politely smiled and wished all his opponents good luck. As he was making his way towards me I was really excited to play him as he is one my role models.
He finally came around and shook my hand and then my game, along with everyone else’s, began. After 2 hour long struggle, I managed to hold a draw against Mr. Seirawan and I was quite content with the results. GM Seirawan scored 23.5/27 points. He won 20 games, drew 5 and lost 1 so overall he had a very good result. Simuls are especially fun for me to not merely play in but also watch because GM Seirawan was breezing through boards playing amazing moves in the matter of 2-3 seconds. Having a group of people also adds to the fun and excitement. All in all simuls are a great way to play in chess and have fun. I am currently a Senior at Niles North High-School and playing in this simultaneous exhibition or simul was tons of fun for me and I am definitely looking forward to the next one! Until then, this is Rafeh Qazi signing out.
Minooka Chess Tournament
Minooka Chess Club and CheckmatesUSA
present the first ever
Minooka Area Chess Tournament
Sunday, April 15, 2012 (1pm to 4:30pm)
Minooka Village Community Room
121 East McEvilly Rd. (Next to Creamery)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Entry fee: $10 with advance registration, $15 on-site
Sections: Juniors (K-8) and Open (All ages)
Juniors = 4 rounds, Open = G/30, 3 rounds
For more information, please contact [email protected]
Or call Brian Quast at (815) 922-9291
Insufficient Mating Chances (a technicality in chess)
I love learning something new in chess, and this is something I never knew about. Here’s the deal:
Insufficient Mating chances (or insufficient losing chances) is when a special rule that is used in tournaments. Basically, it has to do with a situation when the chess player with a winning position is almost out of time. They dont just need a winning position, but they need to have an un-winnable position. A referee is called over and the game is called a tie.
The Reason: The point here is simple, chess players want the game of chess to be decided on the moves a player makes rather than the time on the clock. If one player cannot with the game regardless of the moves that he/she makes, then why should he/she be awarded a victory. O Chess players…so righteous.
CheckMatesUSA Blog is Back
We’ve been upgrading other parts of the website, but now the blog is back! Check Back everyday for new articles and find out more than you ever imagined about chess.
Also, if you have questions about chess would like us to write an article about something particlar in chess, please let us know.
-George Krasnopolskiy
Elk Grove Village Library Winners!
Congratulations to Emmett for winning the Open Division and Chris for winning the Beginners Division!
This is from the Scholastic Chess Tournament CheckMates Chess Academy held in Elk Grove Village Illinois at the Elk Grove Village Public Library. This is a kids events run by Checkmates Chess Academy. Kids between the ages of 5 and 12 came to the library for this kids event to play in a chess tournament. CheckMates Chess Academy also ran kids chess classes at the Elk Grove Village Library for hree weeks prior teaching chess to two groups of kids (beginners and players that already knew the game of chess) different chess techniques and preparing them for the chess tournament.
CheckMates Chess Academy hosted a free kids chess tournament at the Des Plaines Public Library on Saturday October 22nd, 2011! Around 40 kids of all different ages ( grades K-6th) showed up to compete in this fun filled kid’s event.
Chess Players were split up into two groups: a beginners division and an open division. . All the children that participated earned a prize because their showed excellent sportsmanship and all tried their hardest. Everyone left the day happy and pumped to play more chess!
Chess Tournament this Saturday!
This Saturday we will be having a kids chess tournament at Elk Grove Village Library from 1:30 - 3:00. All kids from grades k- 6th are welcome to come, even beginners! Kids will be separated into two sections: Beginners and Intermediate/ Advanced. Everyone will leave with a prize and first place will leave with an even COOLER PRIZE!
Residents of Elk Grove can register now, while residents of other townships will have to wait until Friday to register. The library can be reached at 847-439-0447.
Congratulations to our Kids Chess Champs!
This is from the Scholastic Chess Tournament CheckMates Chess Academy held in Des Plaines Illinois at the Des Plaines Public Library. This is a kids events sponsored by Friends of the Des Plaines Library and run by Checkmates Chess Academy. Kids between the ages of 5 and 12 came to the library for this kids event to play in a chess tournament. CheckMates Chess Academy also ran kids chess classes at the Des Plaines Library for two weeks prior teaching chess to two groups of kids (beginners and players that already knew the game of chess) different chess techniques and preparing them for the chess tournament.
CheckMates Chess Academy hosted a free kids chess tournament at the Des Plaines Public Library on Saturday October 22nd, 2011! Around 40 kids of all different ages ( grades K-6th) showed up to compete in this fun filled kid’s event.
Chess Players were split up into two groups: a beginners division and an open division. . All the children that participated earned a prize because their showed excellent sportsmanship and all tried their hardest. Everyone left the day happy and pumped to play more chess! Congratulations to Davis for winning the Open Division and Yusra for winning the Beginners Division!
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