Junior chess update Saturday 3rd May 2025
It was great to see 18 chess juniors arrive at the club on Saturday morning.
Paul took charge of the first session’s intermediates going through chess tactics and thinking outside the box from the typical chess “golden rules”. It was an opportunity for the juniors to express their thoughts on potential chess moves and to find the better move. Whilst the black pieces were in dire need of some development, Nirvan found a cracking move with the black Knight threatening a triple fork that could have led to loss of a white’s queen or a rook.
With the close of the last season’s chess ladder matches and the rapid play chess tournament of last week, it was an opportunity for the juniors to play some friendly and fun games of chess in a relaxed environment without the pressure to bag that point on the ladder !
Steve continued with his sterling work of coaching the beginners Kit, Nilay and Mariella.
I had set up a chess puzzle for white to get checkmate in two moves as a teaser and talking point for the intermediates. Whilst this was simple enough for the more advanced juniors it was a challenge for the intermediates. There was a lot of engagement and attempts to solve the puzzle but Markas managed to find the solution, well done Markas ! The solution to the chess puzzle required a “combination” of chess tactics, identifying the checkmating pattern for the rook and knight and then sacrificing a piece (the Queen of all pieces !) as a decoy to move the King to the position on the board that would secure a checkmate !
Tony also continued with his array of more advanced chess puzzles and given that the advanced juniors regularly keep coming back for more every week, I will take that as an indication that they are enjoying the challenges !
Martin went through a couple of his own chess games with the second session advanced group and then explored tactics with chess.
Puzzle 1 – from Martin’s game. White to play and simplify (already being a piece up)
Puzzle 2 – from Martin’s games. Black to play and win.
One of Magnus Carlsen’s positions from the Grenke Chess960 tournament –
This is a chess 960 position where the back pieces are shuffled along the back rank. Meaning a lot of high concentration and calculation is needed from move one!
Regards, Martin.
A thank you to all juniors for attending and for their parents support and of course the commitment from our all coaches.
The Bournemouth Junior Chess Club will be running next Saturday on the 10th May 2025 at the usual times of 10 am and 11.30 am. As you may know Eric was away this weekend , but he will be back in the driver’s seat next week !
Report by Azhar Ghose