Female Grandmaster Wins Hamilton Rookies Shield!

Posted: 02/03/2011 by Scott in Club News
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At great expense to the Hamilton Chess Club management, two strong chess players were secretly imported from Europe to test the resolve and current skill level of the Waikato juniors and beginners on 20th Feb. Lara Stock (wgm) and her father Michael Stock (2200+) cleverly kept their relationship, ages – she was over 18 – and identities secret (by using false names) and both convincingly blitzed the field of up and coming but unsuspecting budding chess enthusiasts. We all enjoyed the lessons learned – both on and off the chess board, of honesty and integrity or what happens when there is a lack of it. Stay tuned for the next secret mission of the management – we may be able to exhume Bobby Fischer yet! Some pics of our undercover chess players are below. Update 05/03/2011: You may also wish to follow where else the pair have been, and other Australian/New Zealand reaction here.  

 

Club Rapid Championship Update

Posted: 01/03/2011 by Scott in Club News
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This 7-round 20+5 tournament started 4 weeks ago (we are playing 1 round on each club night). After 4 rounds, and with a few players taking the odd 1/2 point bye, Hilton Bennett is the outright leader. See the current cross table under events, that also includes the provisional draw for the next round. Go Stefan to reign in the bolter!.

Hamilton Rapid

Posted: 24/02/2011 by Scott in Club News
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The Hamilton Chess Club is running a number of rapid play (NZCF rated) chess events at the Hamilton Chess Centre from 10am to 4.30pm (Sundays). The chess will be fast and furious – rapid time controls of 20 minutes and 5 seconds a move each for all your thinking time.

Cash Prizes will be given for overall 1st and 2nd, the highest scoring adult, and for the best U18, U16, U14, U12, U10 and U8 players (players can only win one prize).

The next event is 13 March 2011. Please register here.

These events are NZCF rapid rated – players must be NZCF registered or pay the NZCF registration fee ($20) before round 1. There will be 6 rounds of 20+5 chess.

Entry fees:
$20 for adults
$15 for juniors and Hamilton Chess Club members.

The prize pool is 80% of entry fees after expenses.
Be there from 10am – and there will be a 35 minute lunch break after round 2.

Club rapid championship continues

Posted: 23/02/2011 by Scott in Club News
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We had a good turn out (over 9 boards) last night for round 2 (of 7) for this tournament, despite the recent tragic news from Christchurch. Hilton Bennett, Richard Dare and Richard Jackson remain undefeated, with Erwin Pacua a half point behind. These 4 should meet in round 3 next week.

It was encouraging to now have 25 club members. This is more than double from 6 months ago. It is especially good to see we have 5 junior members.

How to improve your chess?

Posted: 21/02/2011 by Scott in Club News
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I often get asked how to improve your chess playing ability? Well, apart from the 10,000 hour rule (if you want to be an expert at anything, then you need to put in that many hours! – see Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers), then a structured practice and training regime is also useful (sorry, no short cuts here). Pattern recognition and learning can also help.

On the library page I have included a few useful sites (well, I have found them useful) for tactical instruction and puzzles. So 10 chess tactic challenges a day may keep the chess blunder doctor (or is it the grim reaper?) away. I have also attached there some advice for beginners and parents – useful techniques, planning, time management and how to survive a day of rapid chess.

The club also offers chess coaching for novices/parents, Tuesdays during school term from 5.30pm for 1 hour at the club. Please use the contact form to register your interest.

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