by scribe | May 5, 2019 | current news, games, people, ruminations
As I mentioned a few days ago, Jonathan Speelman’s Agony column at chessbase.com featured two of my games this week. I hope you’ll click on over, see what Speelman has to say, and enjoy the thrill of paying without your queen from move six on!...
by scribe | Apr 18, 2019 | chess clubs, current news, positions, ruminations
One of the delightful things about running a chess club for kids is that I can watch them learn. And, sometimes, I can learn from them. Take, for example, this Tuesday, when I learned a new chess term: “robot ninja warriors.” One of the kids, named Joaquin, called me...
by scribe | Apr 11, 2019 | literature, off-topic, ruminations
Coming to the U.K. on May 2! Last week I got a package in the mail from England: ten copies of the paperback edition of The Book of Why! The occasion brought to mind that goofy old Beatles song, Paperback Writer. In fact, I’ve been waiting quite a long time...
by scribe | Mar 29, 2019 | chess clubs, games, positions, ruminations, Uncategorized
I have some questions for all the chess coaches out there. Do you ever play games against your students? Do you think it is ever worth playing a bad move on purpose against them, to give them a learning opportunity or a chance to win? Do you think it is appropriate to...
by scribe | Mar 11, 2019 | chess clubs, current news, people, positions, ruminations
This weekend two of my protégés at the Aptos Library Chess Club, Emmy and Ryder Pimentel, ventured into the world of rated chess for the first time. And they did it in a reallllly big way: they played in the CalChess Super State Championships, a scholastic tournament...
by scribe | Mar 6, 2019 | people, positions, ruminations
Recently I watched a lecture by Elizabeth Spiegel online where she talked about the importance of blunder-checking, especially for scholastic players. It’s not a new idea. Before you make your move, she said, write it down, and then look back at the board and ask,...
