2000 elo
My first goal is to hit 2000 elo. I have a fair bit of work to do now to achieve this because of my total ignorance in how the FIDE rating system works. If i'd drawn my 9th game I would have gone in at 2040, as I lost it I went in at 1776. In fact if i'd realised how important the first 9 gamnes are I would have not played in FIDE rated events until I was better! This is quite a harsh lesson to learn - although I still have a K factor of 25 for about 15 ...
My First Chess Composition
I decided to try my hand at chess compositions - I have to say it's quite tricky thinking of something - let me know how you did!
Opening Repertoires
Having an opening repertoire is very important if you plan to take Chess seriously. I read in lots of forums that many players spend too much time worrying about their openings and should just focus on play the 'best' move in a given position. This is good advice to a certain extent but I think to make serious progress you must learn some theory and ideas behind certain openings. If you don't understand the basic plan of a certain opening this could lead to you having a bad position. This means that the defect is now in your position very early on in ...
Middle Game Technique
It's white to play and he's been playing for 2 hours against a much stronger player, and feels in this position he ought to be able to at least hold for a draw. How should he proceed? Should he exchange pieces?, keep pieces?, shuffle his king around or takgo all out trying to create complications and attack blacks king!? Black is determined to play for a win and they both have ample time on clocks.
A lesson in time management?
At move 24..Qe7 against WFM Richmond I thought I managed to make it out of the middle game ok and a whole 35 minutes up on my opponent who had only 10 minutes to make the 40 move time control (Rybka 2 even evaluates Black has a small advantage) even though the h8 rook will be tricky to activate. After she played d5 I then proceeded to flap for 30 minutes thinking about the consequences of ignoring it and giving her a past pawn and thus debating what would be best. Whether to A. Exchange queens, B. exchange pawns, C. play a check try and keep things complicated and eat up ...
2011 Frome Congress
The Frome Congress was run with usual professionalism in all sections. A fantastic turnout. Open :- First: (4.5/5) Chris Jenks (Southbourne) Second equal (4/5) David Buckley (Bath) Andrew Smith (Bourne End) British Championship Qualifying Place Chris Jenks (Southbourne) U175 Grading prize (3.5/5) William Foo (Reading) Major (U170):- First equal (4/5) Stephen Williams (Colchester) Russel Barlow (South Bristol) Paul Jackson (Coulsdon) U150 Grading prize (3.5/5) Paul Tew (Bridgend) Intermediate (U140):- First (4.5/5) Roger Walker (Belper) Second (4/5) John Symons (Salisbury) Paul Errington (Bournemouth) George Hollands (Sportsman Club Kent) Paul Brackner (Weymouth) Thomas Thorpe (Pete’s Potentials) Mark Stone (Petts Wood & Orpington) U125 Grading prize (3.5/5) Simon Denney (Bristol University) Minor (U115):- First equal (4.5/5) Geoff Gammon (Downend & Fishponds) Phil ...
2000 elo
// Aug 23rd, 2011
My First Chess Composition
// Jul 17th, 2011
Opening Repertoires
// Jun 12th, 2011
Middle Game Technique
// Jun 12th, 2011
