Chess Club

Spring 2012 Updated Chess List

1.Tyson Scott 920 First Category

2. James Stigall 905 First Category

3. Ayodele Kuponiyi 905 First Category

4. Greg Thompson 895 First Category

5. Kurt Goodman 895 First Category

6. William Isler 895 First Category

7. Keenan Henderson 895 First Category

Chess Club Classification of Players:

2000+ Grandmaster

1999-1800 Master

1799-1600 5th Category

1599-1400 4th Category

1399-1200 3rd Category

1199-1000 2nd Category

999-1 1st Category

FIRST TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR:

January 11th, Monday, 2 p.m.

Once a month, we will have a knockout chess tournament. If you lose, you are eliminated from the tournament. The winner is the college chess champion and will not play in the next tournament. The winning player of the next knockout tournament will play against the champion, who will defend his college title.

The champion plays only the winning player in the weekly tournament in order to defend his or her title. Each player has ten minutes on the clock. In the championship match, the tournament winner plays two games against the defendingchampion in a match to defend the title. If there is a tiebreak game, each player will only have five minutes on the clock for tiebreaks. The first player to win a tiebreak is the victor.

Rating System:

Every month, Saint Paul's Chess Club will hold a tournament. Each player has 10 minutes to play. During the tournament, ratings will be given. Every student starts with a provisional rating of 900 points.

In a knockout tournament, everyone plays everyone else regardless of rating differences (with the exception of the college champion).This ensures that everyone has a chance to win.

The winner of a game receives 5 points against a player with a similar rating, while the loser of a game loses five points against a player with a similar rating. If a player with a lower rating beats a player with a higher rating, the player gains 10 points, while the higher rated player loses 10 points. If a higher rated player beats a lower rated player, he only receives 5 points. The lower player loses 5 points.

There is no change in anyone's rating with a draw, but the players must continue to play each other until one player wins to advance to the next round of the knockout tournament.

The winner of the tournament will be considered the College Champion, and in the next tournament, the winner will play the winner of the second knockout tournament. Games will be 10 minutes in length, and Dr. Comprone will act as the referee.

Saint Paul’s Chess Club

Basic Rules of Chess:

1. The goal of the game is to checkmate.

2. In the opening, develop knights before bishops.

3. Castle early in the opening to connect rooks and queen.

4. Do not develop queen early in the game.

5. Do not move the same piece twice in the opening.

6. Whoever develops more pieces in the beginning of the game usually wins a tempo and wins the game.

7. Avoid cramped positions.

8. Gain control of the center early in the game: example, if you are white, open with e4 or d4.

9. Do not develop knights to the side of the board. "A knight on the rim is dim."

10. Do not block your bishop behind the pawns. Bishops like open diagonals.

11. Learn different types of openings, but avoid risky openings unless you study them.

12. Sacrifice material if you can win the game.

13. Relative values of pieces: 1 pt. = pawn 3 pts.= bishop/knight 5 pts.= rook 9 pts.=queen. A passed pawn is a pawn about to promote by reaching the last rank and is worth more. Bishops are usually worth more than knights in open positions without many pawns on the board. Knights are usually worth more than bishops in closed positions with many pawns on the board. Rooks are more valuable when the control an open file without any obstructing pawns. Queens tend to be more valuable towards the end game. A king often plays a valuable role in the endgame when it must be more active. If you can checkmate, it doesn't matter how much material you or your opponent has. Sometimes, it is worthwhile to exchange a rook for a knight or bishop if it gives you the possibility to attack the enemy king.

14. Learn how to accumulate small advantages and maintain the tension in the game. Keep pressuring your opponent to make a mistake.

15. Pay attention to the clock. You can be winning but still lose the game on time.

16. Devise a strategy, don't just move your pieces randomly. For example, how do you think you can attack your enemy's king and checkmate?

17. Learn all endgames: King and Rook versus lone king, King and Queen versus lone king, king and two bishops versus lone king, King and Queen versus King and Rook, King and Two Rooks versus King and Rook, King and Rook and pawn versus King and Rook, King and Bishop versus King and Rook, King and Knight versus King and Queen, as well as pawn endgames.

18. Learn at least one opening such as queen's gambit. Study all possible variations.