My First Hook!

Last weekend I played a 7-minute game that combined three of the things that I am best known for: the Bird Variation of the Ruy Lopez, the Hook and Ladder Trick, and … losing on time. Although I have written about the Hook and Ladder Trick many times and...

USATW results

This weekend I played in the U.S. Amateur Team West tournament, on a team called “Stean Punks,” which consisted of me, Larry Smith, John Wilson, John Williams, and Richard Robinson. It was, as always, a lot of fun to play in a team tournament. I actually...

Good Mistakes and Bad Mistakes

One of the kids who has been coming longest to the Aptos Library Chess Club is named Alex. He’s maybe 12 or 13 years old. Over the years he has gotten more interested in chess and less interested in making trouble, and he has now reached the point where he is...