Want to improve your chess?
Here's a tip: reset your pieces after each game!
What's the logic behind this tip, you may ask? Well, to improve, you have to play more. And what's more tempting than a chess board, all set up and ready to play? How many times have you walked past the board and seen two kings, three pawns and a queen sitting on the board, all the other pieces just sitting there in a clump... you walk by, thinking, I'll play later...
When you reset the pieces after the game, you will find yourself playing more chess! Guaranteed. Then, the more you play, the better you'll get!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Chess Sunday!
Hi Mill Valley Chess Families,
On Sunday, December 30th, we will be attending a chess tournament at the Jewish Community Center located at 6255 N Santa Monica Blvd in Whitefish Bay. This is a 6 round event with a $10 registration fee which is paid on site. Please arrive by 8:30 and awards will be about 4:30. I have attached a flyer with all the information.
There is a K-3 division with three team trophies, five individual trophies and medals to 30th place. The K-6 division will have three team trophies, five individual trophies and medals to 20th place. We will have both a K-3 and K-6 team at this event.
If you can attend please let us know by phone or email (avugames@netzero.net) by 8:00 Thursday evening.
Hope to see you there!
Pam Reese
Mill Valley Chess Club
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Reese Takes First! Magellan Edges Out Mill Valley
Congratulations to Mill Valley fourth grader's Gregory Reese, Jr., who took ALL 6 GAMES in the K-6 division, again (!!) for the Mill Valley Knights. Gregory had some very tough matchups, and had to face Christian Krueger, Brian Dennis and Charlie Burton. Way to go, Greg!!!
In a very close tournament, Mill Valley JUST got edged out by the powerful Magellan Day Schoolers, 17.5 to 17.0... We did very well, and took second place! Besides Greg at 6-0, we had Chris Tillson at 4-2, third-grader Jorin McGuire at 4-2, and Kolton Otterbacher at 3-3. The competition is very tough for K-4 Mill Valley this year, seeing some of its stronger players move from K-3 to K-6. Mill Valley has done extremely well so far this year, and this second-place trophy is one more for the case!
Good job, Knights!
P.S. The USCF Ratings are being used still for the WSCF events. This is new to 2007, and we continue to seek to understand why this is being done. This is not a huge problem in the scheme of things, and CHESS is the most important thing! The boys are having a really fun year with their friends playing the game of Kings.
In a very close tournament, Mill Valley JUST got edged out by the powerful Magellan Day Schoolers, 17.5 to 17.0... We did very well, and took second place! Besides Greg at 6-0, we had Chris Tillson at 4-2, third-grader Jorin McGuire at 4-2, and Kolton Otterbacher at 3-3. The competition is very tough for K-4 Mill Valley this year, seeing some of its stronger players move from K-3 to K-6. Mill Valley has done extremely well so far this year, and this second-place trophy is one more for the case!
Good job, Knights!
P.S. The USCF Ratings are being used still for the WSCF events. This is new to 2007, and we continue to seek to understand why this is being done. This is not a huge problem in the scheme of things, and CHESS is the most important thing! The boys are having a really fun year with their friends playing the game of Kings.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Garry Kasparov- Chess Genius and Political Activist
( from Moscow, Saturday December 8, 2007, The Guardian )
(Thought by many to be the best chess player in history, Garry Kasparov has had troubles recently in his home country of Russia. The article below reminds us that the brains we exercise on the chess board should also be used to stand up for what we believe in, despite the odds. When the other guy gets "109%" of the vote, you know something is not quite right..!)
He has been slammed in jail, frozen off the airwaves, and flattened in last week's elections in Russia. Spare a thought for Garry Kasparov. Not even playing Deep Blue, the computer that famously defeated him 10 years ago, can have been this hard.
Kasparov may have crushed a host of formidable opponents during his extraordinary career as chess world champion, but he is now up against an adversary more ruthless and cunning than any he ever faced across the chessboard.
Last Sunday Vladimir Putin won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The president's United Russia party romped home with 64% of the vote and will dominate the new Duma. Kasparov's liberal allies were wiped out.
Kasparov's own role in the election was necessarily limited - first the Kremlin banned him from standing, then had him arrested last week when he tried to lead an opposition march.
After a kangaroo trial, a judge sent him to jail for five days. "It wasn't the greatest experience of my life," Kasparov says. "I won't say I enjoyed it but I was amazed by people's warmth."
The Kremlin claims that United Russia won last Sunday's vote fair and square. Kasparov - the most conspicuous leader of opposition coalition The Other Russia - says the vote was rigged.
He claims election officials manipulated the poll using different methods: old-fashioned ballot box-stuffing, widespread misuse of absentee ballots, and even buses whizzing voters from polling station to station. Kasparov is most incensed at results from the north Caucasus. In Chechnya 99.3% of the population were said to have voted for Putin's party, he says, while in the republic of Mordovia the figure was apparently 109%.
"There was a well-oiled machine to add votes to United Russia. The one technique that was relatively new was forcing people to vote at their workplaces," Kasparov told the Guardian in a phone interview from his home in Moscow.
"I don't think United Russia got more than 40% of the vote. If you look at Moscow and St Petersburg, the results were much lower. It's very clear in big cities ... where information is available they vote differently."
Since retiring from chess two years ago, Kasparov has thrown himself into a full-time struggle against Putin. This can't be much fun. At his last rally in Moscow Kremlin saboteurs played tapes of maniacal laughter when he got up to speak.
Officials suggest he is mad, bad, and dangerous - a western stooge bent on destroying Russia's carefully crafted stability. Kasparov shrugs this off, denouncing Kremlin corruption, falling living standards and the increasingly obscene gulf in Russia between rich and poor.
But his modest rebellion has failed to snowball into any wider uprising against Putin, who is due to step down in March ahead of presidential elections. Last night there was also speculation - denied by the Kremlin - that Putin could become president of a newly merged union between Russia and neighbouring Belarus. So what will Putin do next?
"I doubt anybody in the country knows the answer to this question," says Kasparov. "But I think it's clear there is a fight going on in the Kremlin between different groups."
In particular Kasparov says the clan led by Igor Sechin - Putin's powerful deputy chief of staff - has triumphed over the more liberal Kremlin faction of finance minister Alexei Kudrin. Last month Kudrin's deputy Sergei Storchak was arrested and charged with stealing $43.4m.
The Sechin clan would ideally like to keep Putin in power, Kasparov believes. One possibility is that Putin returns as president in the summer after a brief interregnum, he says.
Despite frosty relations with the west, the Kremlin is not willing to push its luck on the world stage, Kasparov says. "The entire fortune of the ruling elite - their money, assets, families - it's now all in the free world. This makes it very awkward."
He says the Putin regime has elements of Latin American oligarchies, elements of the "Mussolini corporate state" and elements of mafia. What makes it different, he says, is that the trillions earned from Russia's oil and gas wealth has been hidden outside the country. "That's why Putin is getting so nervous: because he would like to go and enjoy life. But there is no guarantee for his safety. It's getting tough. Everybody, including Putin, has too many skeletons in the cupboard."
Kasparov is 44; he is a father; he has a young baby with his wife Daria Tarasova and a lot to lose. He spends thousands of dollars a month on bodyguards and refuses to fly on Aeroflot, the state airline.
With his opinions, is he worried that he could follow Anna Politkovskaya - the investigative journalist murdered outside her Moscow apartment last year?
Kasparov says that, to a certain extent "fame protects me". But he says that he expects the Kremlin to lock him up for longer next time, possibly using a new criminal law "against extremist activities".
He agrees that Russia's new protest movement bears a resemblance to dissidents of the Soviet era, although, he says: "We have a certain window to do things differently. But the problem is the country is sliding backwards. The examples and the fight of those great people inspires us."
From chess prodigy to Putin opponentAn arch-critic of Vladimir Putin, Garry Kasparov is better known as the greatest ever chess player. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, he was a child chess prodigy who, in 1985, became the youngest world chess champion ever. He remained champion for 15 years, an unprecedented dominance. Kasparov had the highest chess rating ever and suffered only one major defeat, in 1997 against the computer Deep Blue. In March 2005 he retired from chess and launched a democratic opposition movement against Putin. He has been banned from Russian TV and repeatedly arrested, most recently last week while leading a rally in central Moscow. He intends to stand as a candidate in March but is unlikely to collect the 2m signatures necessary.
(Thought by many to be the best chess player in history, Garry Kasparov has had troubles recently in his home country of Russia. The article below reminds us that the brains we exercise on the chess board should also be used to stand up for what we believe in, despite the odds. When the other guy gets "109%" of the vote, you know something is not quite right..!)
He has been slammed in jail, frozen off the airwaves, and flattened in last week's elections in Russia. Spare a thought for Garry Kasparov. Not even playing Deep Blue, the computer that famously defeated him 10 years ago, can have been this hard.
Kasparov may have crushed a host of formidable opponents during his extraordinary career as chess world champion, but he is now up against an adversary more ruthless and cunning than any he ever faced across the chessboard.
Last Sunday Vladimir Putin won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The president's United Russia party romped home with 64% of the vote and will dominate the new Duma. Kasparov's liberal allies were wiped out.
Kasparov's own role in the election was necessarily limited - first the Kremlin banned him from standing, then had him arrested last week when he tried to lead an opposition march.
After a kangaroo trial, a judge sent him to jail for five days. "It wasn't the greatest experience of my life," Kasparov says. "I won't say I enjoyed it but I was amazed by people's warmth."
The Kremlin claims that United Russia won last Sunday's vote fair and square. Kasparov - the most conspicuous leader of opposition coalition The Other Russia - says the vote was rigged.
He claims election officials manipulated the poll using different methods: old-fashioned ballot box-stuffing, widespread misuse of absentee ballots, and even buses whizzing voters from polling station to station. Kasparov is most incensed at results from the north Caucasus. In Chechnya 99.3% of the population were said to have voted for Putin's party, he says, while in the republic of Mordovia the figure was apparently 109%.
"There was a well-oiled machine to add votes to United Russia. The one technique that was relatively new was forcing people to vote at their workplaces," Kasparov told the Guardian in a phone interview from his home in Moscow.
"I don't think United Russia got more than 40% of the vote. If you look at Moscow and St Petersburg, the results were much lower. It's very clear in big cities ... where information is available they vote differently."
Since retiring from chess two years ago, Kasparov has thrown himself into a full-time struggle against Putin. This can't be much fun. At his last rally in Moscow Kremlin saboteurs played tapes of maniacal laughter when he got up to speak.
Officials suggest he is mad, bad, and dangerous - a western stooge bent on destroying Russia's carefully crafted stability. Kasparov shrugs this off, denouncing Kremlin corruption, falling living standards and the increasingly obscene gulf in Russia between rich and poor.
But his modest rebellion has failed to snowball into any wider uprising against Putin, who is due to step down in March ahead of presidential elections. Last night there was also speculation - denied by the Kremlin - that Putin could become president of a newly merged union between Russia and neighbouring Belarus. So what will Putin do next?
"I doubt anybody in the country knows the answer to this question," says Kasparov. "But I think it's clear there is a fight going on in the Kremlin between different groups."
In particular Kasparov says the clan led by Igor Sechin - Putin's powerful deputy chief of staff - has triumphed over the more liberal Kremlin faction of finance minister Alexei Kudrin. Last month Kudrin's deputy Sergei Storchak was arrested and charged with stealing $43.4m.
The Sechin clan would ideally like to keep Putin in power, Kasparov believes. One possibility is that Putin returns as president in the summer after a brief interregnum, he says.
Despite frosty relations with the west, the Kremlin is not willing to push its luck on the world stage, Kasparov says. "The entire fortune of the ruling elite - their money, assets, families - it's now all in the free world. This makes it very awkward."
He says the Putin regime has elements of Latin American oligarchies, elements of the "Mussolini corporate state" and elements of mafia. What makes it different, he says, is that the trillions earned from Russia's oil and gas wealth has been hidden outside the country. "That's why Putin is getting so nervous: because he would like to go and enjoy life. But there is no guarantee for his safety. It's getting tough. Everybody, including Putin, has too many skeletons in the cupboard."
Kasparov is 44; he is a father; he has a young baby with his wife Daria Tarasova and a lot to lose. He spends thousands of dollars a month on bodyguards and refuses to fly on Aeroflot, the state airline.
With his opinions, is he worried that he could follow Anna Politkovskaya - the investigative journalist murdered outside her Moscow apartment last year?
Kasparov says that, to a certain extent "fame protects me". But he says that he expects the Kremlin to lock him up for longer next time, possibly using a new criminal law "against extremist activities".
He agrees that Russia's new protest movement bears a resemblance to dissidents of the Soviet era, although, he says: "We have a certain window to do things differently. But the problem is the country is sliding backwards. The examples and the fight of those great people inspires us."
From chess prodigy to Putin opponentAn arch-critic of Vladimir Putin, Garry Kasparov is better known as the greatest ever chess player. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, he was a child chess prodigy who, in 1985, became the youngest world chess champion ever. He remained champion for 15 years, an unprecedented dominance. Kasparov had the highest chess rating ever and suffered only one major defeat, in 1997 against the computer Deep Blue. In March 2005 he retired from chess and launched a democratic opposition movement against Putin. He has been banned from Russian TV and repeatedly arrested, most recently last week while leading a rally in central Moscow. He intends to stand as a candidate in March but is unlikely to collect the 2m signatures necessary.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Next Up: Hamilton H.S. December 15th
On Saturday, December 15th, we will be attending a tournament at Hamilton High School that is sponsored by Lannon Elementary School.
The address is W220 N6151 Town Line Road in Sussex. This is a six round event and the registration fee is $10 which is paid on site.There is a K-3 Division with 3 Team Trophies, 5 Individual Trophies and Medals to 30th Place. The K-6 Division will have 3 Team Trophies, 5 Individual Trophies and Medals to 20th Place.
Click here to see the flyer with all the details.
According to Mrs. Reese: Please arrive by 8:30 and awards will be about 4:30. Lunch will be available to purchase on site. If you bring your own, please no peanut products. This is a peanut free event! It you plan to attend please call the Reeses at home, or email them at avugames@netzero.net before 8PM on Thursday.
Hope to see you there!
The address is W220 N6151 Town Line Road in Sussex. This is a six round event and the registration fee is $10 which is paid on site.There is a K-3 Division with 3 Team Trophies, 5 Individual Trophies and Medals to 30th Place. The K-6 Division will have 3 Team Trophies, 5 Individual Trophies and Medals to 20th Place.
Click here to see the flyer with all the details.
According to Mrs. Reese: Please arrive by 8:30 and awards will be about 4:30. Lunch will be available to purchase on site. If you bring your own, please no peanut products. This is a peanut free event! It you plan to attend please call the Reeses at home, or email them at avugames@netzero.net before 8PM on Thursday.
Hope to see you there!
Best Finish Ever for Knights!!!
Mill Valley had its best finish ever this past Saturday at the Port Washington Chess Tournament!
Evan Seghers, Gregory Reese Jr., and Reid Seghers all had 6 out of a possible 6 points to take first, second and third place in the tournament!!! Kolt Otterbacher had 4.5 to take 4th place, rounding out the first place team finish, scoring 22.5 points out of a possible 24! WOW!!!
Great job Mill Valley Knights!!!
Click here to see full results.
Evan Seghers, Gregory Reese Jr., and Reid Seghers all had 6 out of a possible 6 points to take first, second and third place in the tournament!!! Kolt Otterbacher had 4.5 to take 4th place, rounding out the first place team finish, scoring 22.5 points out of a possible 24! WOW!!!
Great job Mill Valley Knights!!!
Click here to see full results.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Fairview Results
For full results, click here
Mill Valley did a great job at Fairview, taking another 1st place trophy with 15.5 points out of a possible 20. 2nd place was Ronald Reagan with 11.5.
In the K-5, Evan Seghers took 4 out of 5 for 3rd place, Greg Reese took 4 out of 5 for 4th place. Brian Schroeder also took 4 out of 5, and took 6th place. Tie breakers made the difference. Rounding out the K5 team were Chris Tillson with 3.5 wins and Reid Seghers with 3 wins.
The K-3 team also did well, taking 4th place out of 9 teams, paced by Connor Andrews with 2.5 points and Griffin Weber with 2. Cole Miller and John Bennett added 1.5 points apiece.
The WSCF has been a solid organization and has organized many great tournaments. While we still believe that there are some issues with the way ratings are assigned, we are all working together to understand these issues, and to ensure that a fair and equitable environment exists for ALL players so we can return our focus to our children and the game itself - and all the wonderful benefits this game provides to our children and our families.
Mill Valley did a great job at Fairview, taking another 1st place trophy with 15.5 points out of a possible 20. 2nd place was Ronald Reagan with 11.5.
In the K-5, Evan Seghers took 4 out of 5 for 3rd place, Greg Reese took 4 out of 5 for 4th place. Brian Schroeder also took 4 out of 5, and took 6th place. Tie breakers made the difference. Rounding out the K5 team were Chris Tillson with 3.5 wins and Reid Seghers with 3 wins.
The K-3 team also did well, taking 4th place out of 9 teams, paced by Connor Andrews with 2.5 points and Griffin Weber with 2. Cole Miller and John Bennett added 1.5 points apiece.
The WSCF has been a solid organization and has organized many great tournaments. While we still believe that there are some issues with the way ratings are assigned, we are all working together to understand these issues, and to ensure that a fair and equitable environment exists for ALL players so we can return our focus to our children and the game itself - and all the wonderful benefits this game provides to our children and our families.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
K-5 Fighters First at Fairview!
Congratulations to the K-5 Team who took first place today at Fairview! Evan Seghers took third place and Greg Reese took fourth. Several other Mill Valley players placed quite highly. K-3 did a great job with only two players! More details about the tournament to come...
See the game below, where Evan beat a very tough University School student. Gotta love those Queen-King "forks"!! Great job to Evan and the whole Mill Valley team! Parents- send me your notation and I will post your games!
- Assistant Coach Mark Seghers, stuck out of town this weekend.
Congratulations to the K-5 Team who took first place today at Fairview! Evan Seghers took third place and Greg Reese took fourth. Several other Mill Valley players placed quite highly. K-3 did a great job with only two players! More details about the tournament to come...
See the game below, where Evan beat a very tough University School student.
- Assistant Coach Mark Seghers, stuck out of town this weekend.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
J.V. vs. Evan Seghers
Evan says "I thought I would lose in the beginning of this game, but later I took his Knight just at the right time. I ended up 2 points ahead - Bishop for Pawn - and then he resigned after I was a Bishop and a Knight up. He was a very good player and I was happy to win."
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Jorin, Gregory, K-3 and K-5
ROCK THE HOUSE at Goodrich!
A big WELCOME BACK to 3rd grader Jorin McGuire who stomped the competition, taking 6 out of 6 for the first place trophy. Way to go Jorin! Newcomer Julia Redlinger took 2 wins in her very first tournament! That is awesome! And a big congratulations also to Ben Schalk who not only won 3, but also beat the TOP-RATED K-3 player in the tournament, Najeeb Hadi. John Bennett and Luke Megal added 3.5 and 2.5 points to help the Mill Valley Knights take the FIRST PLACE TROPHY for K-3!!!
This is a tough year for our fourth graders. Competing against 5th and 6th graders in K-5 and K-6 division, their work is cut out for them! Last weekend, Gregory took 6 out of 6 to win first place! Chris Tillson and Evan Seghers had 4 points each, Brady Megal and Kolt Otterbacher added 3.5 and Brian Schroeder 3. Mill Valley edged out the very tough Magellan Day Schoolers, 17.5 to 17.0 to take the FIRST PLACE TROPHY for K-5!!!Another awesome job for Mill Valley, and four more first place trophies!!!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Remember Chess by Mail?
Some of you parents might remember a version of chess where you would send a move by US Postal mail (back in the day before email)... (yes, I'm old)....
If you have fond memories of those 1-move at a time games, check out RED HOT PAWN. Red Hot Pawn is a free web site that allows you to challenge people by EMAIL. You make a move, they make a move, and so on. You receive an email when your opponent makes a move, and can click on the email to access the game. You make your move, and that's it. Your opponent then gets an email, and so on. You can have a few simultaneous games going at once for free... if you want more than a few, you have to pay a little bit. Check the site for details.
Red Hot Pawn
I have a couple interesting games going on right now with Coach Reese (actually I suspect it's really young Gregory behind these devilish moves) and Mr. Markowski.
RHP's Email Notification
Our Next Three Tournaments Coming Up...
Hi Mill Valley Chess Families, (from Pam Reese)
Here is a list of the next three chess tournaments that we will be attending. As always, if you wish to attend any of these events you can email or call Mr. Reese. His email is avugames@netzero.com. We will take care of the registration for you and payment for the tournament is collected on site. All of these tournaments have a $10 registration fee.
On Saturday, November 10th, White Rock School in Waukesha is hosting a tournament. Check in is by 8:30 and the award ceremony about 4:30 for this 6 round event. There are both K-3 and K-6 divisions with individual trophies to the top three players and medals to 20th place. There will also be three team trophies in each division.
Saturday, November 17th we will be at Goodrich Elementary School in Milwaukee. This is a 6 round event with check in by 8:30 and the awards around 4:30. The divisions are K-3 and K-5 with individual trophies to the top five players and medals to 20th place. There will be team trophies to 5th place.
On Saturday, December 1st, we are going to Fairview Charter School in Milwaukee. This also is a 6 round event with check in by 8:30 and awards around 4:30. This event does not have a K-3 division. The K-5 division will have individual trophies to the top five players and medals to 30th place.
Please let us know if you would like to attend any of these events. I will send you more information on December and January tournaments as the event flyers become available, or you can see them at http://www.wisconsinscholasticchess.com/.
Pam ReeseMill Valley Chess Club
Mill Valley Shines at JCC
While it was a tough K-6 division at the Jewish Community Center last Sunday the 28th, and Mill Valley did not DOMINATE by any stretch of the imagination, the small contingent did well, and won some tough matches!
The tournament directors did a great job keeping the tournament running quickly and smoothly! This is not an easy thing to do, and parents and coaches were appreciative of the fast pace.
As a team, Mill Valley tied with Magellan Day School, yet took 2nd place due to tiebreakers and slightly easier matchups overall. The WSCF has decided this year to use the USCF ratings for Mill Valley players and selected other players. We are looking into this to more fully understand this seeming inconsistency, and its effects.
The top Mill Valley finisher was Chris Tillson, took 5th place and a trophy by going 4-2. Reid Seghers won his last three games including a challenging final match against the always-tough Michael Pantzlaff of Green Bay to also go 4-2 and take 6th place. Greg Reese took 8th with 3.5 and Evan Seghers took 10th place, also with 3.5. Kolt Otterbacher won two games in this very tough K-6 division.
Great Job, Mill Valley!
For full results, click here.
The tournament directors did a great job keeping the tournament running quickly and smoothly! This is not an easy thing to do, and parents and coaches were appreciative of the fast pace.
As a team, Mill Valley tied with Magellan Day School, yet took 2nd place due to tiebreakers and slightly easier matchups overall. The WSCF has decided this year to use the USCF ratings for Mill Valley players and selected other players. We are looking into this to more fully understand this seeming inconsistency, and its effects.
The top Mill Valley finisher was Chris Tillson, took 5th place and a trophy by going 4-2. Reid Seghers won his last three games including a challenging final match against the always-tough Michael Pantzlaff of Green Bay to also go 4-2 and take 6th place. Greg Reese took 8th with 3.5 and Evan Seghers took 10th place, also with 3.5. Kolt Otterbacher won two games in this very tough K-6 division.
Great Job, Mill Valley!
For full results, click here.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Mill Valley Dominates
At the Goldin Center yesterday in the heart of Milwaukee, Mill Valley once again asserted its elementary school chess tournament skills.
Bringing four players to the event, Mill Valley scored 17 points to win first place. Three of Mill Valley's players took home first, second and third place individual trophies!
Gregory Reese Jr. and Reid Seghers (the recent bughouse championship team) tied by going 5-0. Greg won the first place individual trophy because of tie-breakers. Reid took home the second place trophy. Chris Tillson took third place, also a trophy. Kolton Otterbacher, a new Red Division player, took 3 out of 5 wins for 11th place.
Way to go Mill Valley! Four more trophies for the trophy case.
Team Results:
1 MILL VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , (4) 17.0 50.0 48.0 80.0 34.0
- REESE JR., GREG (5.0,1061)
- SEGHERS, REID N (5.0,729)
- TILLSON, CHRIS (4.0,854)
- OTTERBACHER, KOLTON (3.0,422)
2 GOLDA MEIR ELEMENTARY, MILWAUKEE (6) 12.5 33.5 39.5 31.5 23.5
- HALL, TYLAN (3.5,211)
- KRUEGER, CHRISTIAN (3.0,660)
- ABDUL-WAHID, ZAAKIR (3.0,320)
- SANKOVITZ, WILL (3.0,327)
3 GOODRICH ELEMENTARY , MILWAUKEE (8) 7.5 24.0 56.0 33.5 13.5
- CAMARA, TRISHA (2.0,573)
- MEUNSY, MANYKOM (2.0,410)
- LEA, EMANI (2.0,257)
- DEANDRE, SABATINO (1.5,156)
Link to full results by clicking here.
Bringing four players to the event, Mill Valley scored 17 points to win first place. Three of Mill Valley's players took home first, second and third place individual trophies!
Gregory Reese Jr. and Reid Seghers (the recent bughouse championship team) tied by going 5-0. Greg won the first place individual trophy because of tie-breakers. Reid took home the second place trophy. Chris Tillson took third place, also a trophy. Kolton Otterbacher, a new Red Division player, took 3 out of 5 wins for 11th place.
Way to go Mill Valley! Four more trophies for the trophy case.
Team Results:
1 MILL VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , (4) 17.0 50.0 48.0 80.0 34.0
- REESE JR., GREG (5.0,1061)
- SEGHERS, REID N (5.0,729)
- TILLSON, CHRIS (4.0,854)
- OTTERBACHER, KOLTON (3.0,422)
2 GOLDA MEIR ELEMENTARY, MILWAUKEE (6) 12.5 33.5 39.5 31.5 23.5
- HALL, TYLAN (3.5,211)
- KRUEGER, CHRISTIAN (3.0,660)
- ABDUL-WAHID, ZAAKIR (3.0,320)
- SANKOVITZ, WILL (3.0,327)
3 GOODRICH ELEMENTARY , MILWAUKEE (8) 7.5 24.0 56.0 33.5 13.5
- CAMARA, TRISHA (2.0,573)
- MEUNSY, MANYKOM (2.0,410)
- LEA, EMANI (2.0,257)
- DEANDRE, SABATINO (1.5,156)
Link to full results by clicking here.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Mill Valley Does it Again!
Mill Valley's K-6 Team took first place today in the West Suburban Christian Academy. Mill Valley's K-3 Team took second place in their division - with only three players!
Click HERE for FULL RESULTS!
Three more trophies for our case, and a great showing by all players!
K-6 Mill Valley Players:
REESE JR., GREG (5.0,1061) - 3rd place
SEGHERS, EVAN (5.0,1130) - 4th place
TILLSON, CHRIS (4.5,845) - 6th place
SCHROEDER, BRIAN (4.0,567) - 8th place
OTTERBACHER, KOLTON (4.0,420) - 11th place
SEGHERS, REID (4.0,707) - 13th place
FILLER, NICK (3.5, 451) - 14th place
K-3 Mill Valley Players:
1. SCHALK, BEN (3.5,349) - 10th place
2. MCKAY, CHRIS (3.0,434) - 12th place
3. MEGAL, LUKE (3.0,266) - 15th place
Click HERE for FULL RESULTS!
Great Job Mill Valley Knights!!!
Click HERE for FULL RESULTS!
Three more trophies for our case, and a great showing by all players!
K-6 Mill Valley Players:
REESE JR., GREG (5.0,1061) - 3rd place
SEGHERS, EVAN (5.0,1130) - 4th place
TILLSON, CHRIS (4.5,845) - 6th place
SCHROEDER, BRIAN (4.0,567) - 8th place
OTTERBACHER, KOLTON (4.0,420) - 11th place
SEGHERS, REID (4.0,707) - 13th place
FILLER, NICK (3.5, 451) - 14th place
K-3 Mill Valley Players:
1. SCHALK, BEN (3.5,349) - 10th place
2. MCKAY, CHRIS (3.0,434) - 12th place
3. MEGAL, LUKE (3.0,266) - 15th place
Click HERE for FULL RESULTS!
Great Job Mill Valley Knights!!!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Tournament this Saturday, Oct 6th!
The following message is from Pam Reese -
Hi Mill Valley Chess Families,
On Saturday, October 6th, West Suburban Christian School is hosting a Chess Tournament. West Suburban Christian School is located at 1721 Northview Road in Waukesha, so it is close to home.
There will be a K-3 and a K-6 division with 3 team and 3 individual trophies in each section. K-3 will have medals to 30th place and K-6 to 20th place. This is a 6 round event. Check in is from 7:45 to 8:45 with the first round beginning at 9:30. This is an all day event with the award ceremony around 4:00 or 4:.30. The registration fee is $10. Not all tournaments have a K-3 section so this is a good opportunity for our younger players!
If you are interested in attending, please contact Mr. Reese no later than Thursday. We will take care of online registration for our team and the registration fee is collected on Saturday. Registration cut-off is Thursday evening. If you decide to attend after that, the registration fee increases to $15. For more information about this tournament and upcoming events you can go to wisconsinscholasticchess.org. They have a "map it" feature to get directions to the school.
If you plan to participate on Saturday, please email or call Mr. Reese. His email is avugames@netzero.net. If you have any questions, please give me a call.Thank you,
Pam Reese
Mill Valley Chess Club
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Chess Club has started!
Hi Mill Valley Chess Families,
Chess Club has started! Last week Thursday and Friday were the first meetings for Chess Club. If your child missed the session don't worry, it was just an overview of what to expect from Chess Club. This week is when the lessons and playing begin.
If your child is attending the Thursday after school session and usually rides the bus home, you must send a note to the teacher stating your child will be attending Chess Club on Thursdays and should not get on the bus. If you do not send a note, your child will have to get on the bus.
Thank you,
Greg Reese
Mill Valley Chess Club
Chess Club has started! Last week Thursday and Friday were the first meetings for Chess Club. If your child missed the session don't worry, it was just an overview of what to expect from Chess Club. This week is when the lessons and playing begin.
If your child is attending the Thursday after school session and usually rides the bus home, you must send a note to the teacher stating your child will be attending Chess Club on Thursdays and should not get on the bus. If you do not send a note, your child will have to get on the bus.
Thank you,
Greg Reese
Mill Valley Chess Club
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Reese/R.Seghers win first place in K-6 Bughouse
Mill Valley Team Wins Bughouse Tournament!
Congratulations to Mill Valley players Gregory Reese, Jr., and Reid Seghers, who took the first place trophy in last Friday's WSCF Bughouse Tournament!
Taking third in the K-6 was the team of Otterbacher (Mill Valley) and Bredso - a partner Colton met that same night!
K-6 Standings
1 REESE/SEGHERS,E
2 BAUERIF/ZIMMERMAN
3 OTTERBACHER/BREDSON
4 SCHNEIDER/DEIRUSTEK
5 VEECH/SCHNEIDER
6 TILLSON/GROHOWSKI
7 SHROEDER/SEGHER
8 HUEBLER/MCELDUF
9 SAGER/MISEY
10 CHEN/HUEBLER
Monday, September 24, 2007
Fischer-Spassky 1972
1972: Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky
Much can be learned by studying the great games of all time. Enjoy re-playing this classic Fischer-Spassky game from the match that captivated the world. Look at the very end, where Spassky resigned. What a finish! At first glance, it seems as if Spassky has several options, but when you play them out (you can do this by moving the pieces with your mouse, then clicking on R to reset), you can see there is no escape. Unbelievable.
Next, see if you can see the fatal and final mistake Spassky made, and how Fischer brilliantly capitalized on it. It's not all about balance of material. Position is also EXTREMELY important as this game illustrates.
Much can be learned by studying the great games of all time. Enjoy re-playing this classic Fischer-Spassky game from the match that captivated the world. Look at the very end, where Spassky resigned. What a finish! At first glance, it seems as if Spassky has several options, but when you play them out (you can do this by moving the pieces with your mouse, then clicking on R to reset), you can see there is no escape. Unbelievable.
Next, see if you can see the fatal and final mistake Spassky made, and how Fischer brilliantly capitalized on it. It's not all about balance of material. Position is also EXTREMELY important as this game illustrates.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Bughouse Time!
Mill Valley joins its second tournament of the year tomorrow night, the 4th Annual WSCF Bughouse Chess Tournament.Bughouse, as you may know, is "team chess" played with two players, on two boards. When a player takes a piece, he/she hands it to their partner who can then either place the piece on an empty square, or hold onto the piece for a later move.
Good luck Mill Valley!!!
Fun bughouse sites include:
Get me your Notation!!!
Hey everybody! Get me your notation from notable games you have played, and I will gladly post them on this site!
It's fun to replay a good game online, or even a bad game, as you can see with Mr. Seghers' posts.
You can also post your own games! See instructions on this web site (in a previous article) on how to do that.
This blog is only as good as its contributions, so ... go nuts!
It's fun to replay a good game online, or even a bad game, as you can see with Mr. Seghers' posts.
You can also post your own games! See instructions on this web site (in a previous article) on how to do that.
This blog is only as good as its contributions, so ... go nuts!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Tournament Details
For details on the tournaments listed below, please see:
The Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation web site.
The Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation web site.
Tournament Schedule Announced
| Sep 21 | WSCF Bughouse Tournament | WSCF | Whitefish Bay | |||
| Oct 6 | West Suburban Christian Academy | WSCF | Waukesha | |||
| Oct 13 | COA - Golden Center | WSCF | Milwaukee | |||
| Oct 20 | Amery High School | WSCF | Amery | |||
| Oct 20 | WSCF All Girls Fall Classic | WSCF | Whitefish Bay | |||
| Oct 25, 26 | Green Bay Scholastic Chess Summit | WSCF/GBCA | Webster Elementary School | |||
| Oct 28 | Jewish Community Center | WSCF | Whitefish Bay | |||
| Nov 3, 4 | Wisconsin Jr. Open | WCA | Oshkosh | |||
| Nov 10 | White Rock Elementary | WSCF | Waukesha | |||
| Nov 17 | Schroeder YMCA | WSCF | Brown Deer | |||
| Dec 1 | Fairview School | WSCF | Milwaukee | |||
| Dec 8 | Thomas Jefferson Middle School | WSCF | Port Washington | |||
| Dec 15 | Lannon Elementary | WSCF | Sussex | |||
| Dec 26, 27, 28 | WSCF Pawn - Knight Winter Chess Camp | Jewish Communit | Whitefish Bay | |||
| Dec 27, 28, 29 | WSCF Bishop-Rook Winter Chess Camp | WSCF | Brookfield | |||
| Dec 30 | Jewish Community Center Winter Classic | WSCF | Whitefish Bay | |||
| Jan 5 | North Division Complex Winter Chess Jubilee | WSCF | Milwaukee | |||
| Jan 12 | Brookfield Christian School | WSCF | Brookfield | |||
| Jan 19 | McDowel Elementay | WSCf | Milwaukee | |||
| Jan 26 | YMCA - Young Leaders Academy | WSCF | Milwaukee | |||
| Jan 26 | Sheboygan Christian School | WSCF | Sheboygan | |||
| Feb 2 | Universiy School | WSCF | River Hills | |||
| Feb 9 | St. Bernadettes Catholic School | WSCF | Milwaukee | |||
| Feb 16 | Brookfield Academy | WSCF | Brookfield | |||
| Feb 23 | Mesmer High School | WSCF | Milwaukee | |||
| Feb 23 | Anne Sullivan Elementary | WSCF | Green Bay | |||
| Mar 1 | Wisconsin Grade Level Champion Ships | WSCF | St. Frances | |||
| Mar 8 | Richards Elementary School | WSCF | Whitefish Bay | |||
| Mar 8 | Southern Door High School | WSCF | Sturgeon Bay | |||
| Mar 15, 16 | WCA Wisconsin State Championships | WCA | Oshkosh | |||
| Mar 29 | Fries Lake School | WSCF | Richfield | |||
| Mar 29 | Plymouth Baptist School | WSCF | Plymouth | |||
| Apr 4, 5, 6 | WSCF K - 8 State Championships | WSCF | Wisconsin Dells | |||
| Apr 4, 5, 6 | National Jr. High Championships | USCF | Dallas | |||
| Apr 12 Apr 18, 19, 20 | Rose Glen Elementary National High School State Championships | USCF USCF | Waukesha Atlanta | |||
| Apr 26 | 3rd Annual Wisconsin All Girl Championships | WSCF | University School River Hills | |||
| May 9, 10, 11 | National Elementary Championships | USCF | Pittsburg |
Chess Sportsmanship
Just as important as the win-loss is sportsmanship. "It's not whether you win or lose - it's how you play the game." All players, especially children, can fall into the trap of letting their ego or emotions run away from them. This diminishes the fun and meaning of the game for others. Players need to remember to be both good winners and good losers. Both are very difficult. Below is an article I found on the Internet that discusses sportsmanship. - Mr. Seghers
___________________________________
Always be polite. Greet your opponent on time in a pleasant way with a handshake. You may say, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, my name is…” or “I look forward to playing you” or “thank you for playing me” or something along those lines. Never make any statement about your game expectations. Do not say anything that may offend your opponent. Also, avoid expressions, body language or gestures that may offend.
Always follow the rules of chess. If your opponent breaks a rule and does not correct the move when asked, or you disagree about the move, ask a tournament director or person in charge to make a ruling on the situation. Do not argue with your opponent.
Following a match, be a good loser or winner. Either way, thank your opponent for a good game with a handshake. If you lost, consider this to be a good learning opportunity and analyze what you might have done different, preferably with your opponent. This is much more productive than getting upset. Remember, you can learn more from a single loss than from many wins, and when you learn you really win. If you won the game, make no statement about having won or celebrate in front of your opponent. Simply thank them for a good game with a handshake.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Mill Valley Starts the Year out Right!
Parker Sumwalt and Gregory Reese, JrIn the first chess tournament of the 2007-2008 season, at the Schroeder YMCA, Mill Valley started the year out right.
Competing in the K-6 division, in a 5-round event, Mill Valley (which only goes through 4th grade) took home both the team and the individual first place trophies!
In the individual K-6 division, Gregory Reese, Jr., took home the first place trophy with 4.5 points, earning a draw against the very tough Parker Sumwalt (who finished in 2nd place with 4.0 points). Sam Gorectke took 3rd place on tie-breaker, also with 4.0 points. Other Mill Valley kids to place well included Brian Schroeder (3.0, 7th place), Jorin McGuire (3.0, 8th place), Chris Tillson (3.0, 12th place), and Nick Filler (2.0, 16th place).
In the team competition for K-6, Mill Valley took the first place trophy with 13.5 points (Greg, Brian, Jorin and Chris) over the very solid Magellan Day School team, who took 2nd place with 11.0 points.
Thumbs up from Brian at his own YMCA!For a full listing of results, see the link below: http://www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org/websource/web/results/2007-08-18-ymca.pdf
Monday, July 30, 2007
Rob's Revenge
During the Muskego Chess Challenge, Rob Gorectke exacts his revenge, mercilessly taking apart Mark in this game.
Mark Seghers Vs. Joe Huang: Muskego Summer Chess Challenge
An Interesting Finish
We were happy to have Joe Huang and two of his daughters join us for our chess tourney on Saturday! As always, they were tough. In this match, Joe had an attack poised which I was able to turn around with a Queen and a Knight (with a dash of Rook). His last move attacking my Knight was, Joe admitted, a blunder. Otherwise he would have had me, I think.
We were happy to have Joe Huang and two of his daughters join us for our chess tourney on Saturday! As always, they were tough. In this match, Joe had an attack poised which I was able to turn around with a Queen and a Knight (with a dash of Rook). His last move attacking my Knight was, Joe admitted, a blunder. Otherwise he would have had me, I think.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Results: Muskego Summer Chess Challenge
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the 2007 Muskego Summer Chess Challenge!!!
The weather was great, and we had a great time! The kids seemed to rush through their games a little bit to hurry back to the swimming pool... but I'm not sure I can blame them. Interestingly, Reeses took both First place trophies, Seghers took both 2nd place trophies, and Huangs took both third place trophies. Rob Gorectke gave Mark Seghers his only loss, tearing him apart in a solid game which more than made up for Mark's victory over Rob in Waukesha (shown below). Thanks to all! Pictures will be shown soon.
Below are the results:
K-5 DIVISION:
1. Reese Jr., Greg 4.0
2. Seghers, Reid 3.0
3. Huang, Alena 3.0
4. Gorectke, Sam 3.0
5. Schroeder, Brian 3.0
6. McGuire, Jorin 3.0
7. Henkel, Erik 2.5
8. Seghers, Evan 2.0
9. Filler, Nick 2.0
10. Huang, Sabrina 2.0
11. Schalk, Ben 2.0
12. Megal, Luke 1.5
13. McLaughlin, Nick 1.5
14. Schroeder, Rachel 1.5
15. Miller, Cole 1.5
16. Megal, Brady 1.0
17. Hackbarth, Tim 1.0
18. Stetina, Zack 1.0
19. Weber, Griffin 0.5
20. Bartz, Josh 0.0
ADULT DIVISION (6th Grade and Up):
1. Reese Sr., Greg 4.0
2. Seghers, Mark 3.0
3. Huang, Joe 2.0
4. Gorectke, Rob 2.0
5. Gorectke, Chase 2.0
6. Megal, Kurt 1.5
7. Grochowski, Glynis 1.0
8. Megal, Kim 0.5
The weather was great, and we had a great time! The kids seemed to rush through their games a little bit to hurry back to the swimming pool... but I'm not sure I can blame them. Interestingly, Reeses took both First place trophies, Seghers took both 2nd place trophies, and Huangs took both third place trophies. Rob Gorectke gave Mark Seghers his only loss, tearing him apart in a solid game which more than made up for Mark's victory over Rob in Waukesha (shown below). Thanks to all! Pictures will be shown soon.
Below are the results:
K-5 DIVISION:
1. Reese Jr., Greg 4.0
2. Seghers, Reid 3.0
3. Huang, Alena 3.0
4. Gorectke, Sam 3.0
5. Schroeder, Brian 3.0
6. McGuire, Jorin 3.0
7. Henkel, Erik 2.5
8. Seghers, Evan 2.0
9. Filler, Nick 2.0
10. Huang, Sabrina 2.0
11. Schalk, Ben 2.0
12. Megal, Luke 1.5
13. McLaughlin, Nick 1.5
14. Schroeder, Rachel 1.5
15. Miller, Cole 1.5
16. Megal, Brady 1.0
17. Hackbarth, Tim 1.0
18. Stetina, Zack 1.0
19. Weber, Griffin 0.5
20. Bartz, Josh 0.0
ADULT DIVISION (6th Grade and Up):
1. Reese Sr., Greg 4.0
2. Seghers, Mark 3.0
3. Huang, Joe 2.0
4. Gorectke, Rob 2.0
5. Gorectke, Chase 2.0
6. Megal, Kurt 1.5
7. Grochowski, Glynis 1.0
8. Megal, Kim 0.5
Friday, July 20, 2007
Ruy Lopez/ Classical Defense: Mark Seghers vs. Rob Gorectke July 18
My son Reid always uses the Ruy Lopez on me, and it is torture! I thought, maybe I can make it work for once, for myself. Rob uses the Classical Defense. I'm interested in hearing Mr. Reese's reaction to 4.Qe2, which seemed to work out, but probably has some downsides. The last time I used the Ruy Lopez as white, Tushar used the Bird Defense, designed to create unusual positions for white.
My son Reid always uses the Ruy Lopez on me, and it is torture! I thought, maybe I can make it work for once, for myself. Rob uses the Classical Defense. I'm interested in hearing Mr. Reese's reaction to 4.Qe2, which seemed to work out, but probably has some downsides. The last time I used the Ruy Lopez as white, Tushar used the Bird Defense, designed to create unusual positions for white.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Great Chess Web Sites
I thought I would take a few minutes and provide you with a list of some really nice chess web sites. Click on the links below to check them out!
Chess Tactics Explained in English
Chess Corner Chess Tutorial
Thinking Machine 4: Play the Game
Chess: Basic Principles
ChessOps: Chess Openings
The Internet Chess Club
I hope you enjoy the above links.
- Mr. Seghers
Chess Tactics Explained in English
Chess Corner Chess Tutorial
Thinking Machine 4: Play the Game
Chess: Basic Principles
ChessOps: Chess Openings
The Internet Chess Club
I hope you enjoy the above links.
- Mr. Seghers
Monday, July 2, 2007
2007 Summer Chess Challenge!!
We thought it would be enjoyable to have a Summer chess event! This will be a four-round tournament with two separate groupings: K-5 (Kindergarten through entering 5th grade) and Adult (21 and over, mostly us parents!). Games will be G30.
Entry fee will be $5 per player. Proceeds will cover food, awards, and any remainder will go to Mill Valley's Scholastic Chess program. Offers to bring food or beverages are welcome! Please click here to see the "Evite" for this event. Let me know if I have your email incorrect, or if you were accidentally not included.
DATE: Saturday, July 28, 2007
- TIMES -
8:00-8:45AM - Registration
9AM - Game 1
10:30AM - Game 2
1:00 - Game 3
2:30 - Game 4
4:00 Awards and conclusion
DIRECTIONS: Take Racine Ave South from Hwy 43 to Tans Drive. West on Tans Drive to High Bluff Dr (2nd Left). Left on High Bluff, up hill then down again, property on bottom of hill on left. w207 s7004 High Bluff Drive- address on Tree. Park along side of long drive way or in the street.
Lunch (hotdogs and brats) will be served following Game 2. Between games, we will have paddleboat rides on the pond, and swimming in the pool. Parents MUST supervise their children while they are in the pool. Life vests required while in paddleboat or deep end of pool, unless parents give their OK to Mark or Sue Seghers. All children must have an assigned guardian at the event.
We hope you can make it! This should be a fun event to help bridge the gap between chess seasons. Please feel free to forward this invitation to other children who are K-5 and may wish to attend. There are space limitations, so RSVP is required!
If you would like to play, or have questions, please call Mark Seghers, or respond via email at the address shown on the right-hand side of this blog.
Entry fee will be $5 per player. Proceeds will cover food, awards, and any remainder will go to Mill Valley's Scholastic Chess program. Offers to bring food or beverages are welcome! Please click here to see the "Evite" for this event. Let me know if I have your email incorrect, or if you were accidentally not included.
DATE: Saturday, July 28, 2007
- TIMES -
8:00-8:45AM - Registration
9AM - Game 1
10:30AM - Game 2
1:00 - Game 3
2:30 - Game 4
4:00 Awards and conclusion
DIRECTIONS: Take Racine Ave South from Hwy 43 to Tans Drive. West on Tans Drive to High Bluff Dr (2nd Left). Left on High Bluff, up hill then down again, property on bottom of hill on left. w207 s7004 High Bluff Drive- address on Tree. Park along side of long drive way or in the street.
Lunch (hotdogs and brats) will be served following Game 2. Between games, we will have paddleboat rides on the pond, and swimming in the pool. Parents MUST supervise their children while they are in the pool. Life vests required while in paddleboat or deep end of pool, unless parents give their OK to Mark or Sue Seghers. All children must have an assigned guardian at the event.
We hope you can make it! This should be a fun event to help bridge the gap between chess seasons. Please feel free to forward this invitation to other children who are K-5 and may wish to attend. There are space limitations, so RSVP is required!
If you would like to play, or have questions, please call Mark Seghers, or respond via email at the address shown on the right-hand side of this blog.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Seghers Chess Outing: July 28th
We are planning a Summer Chess Outing on July 28th- Mark your calendars!!!
Details will be posted here on the blog, and an email will also be sent out. The game will be held at the Seghers house.
Details will be posted here on the blog, and an email will also be sent out. The game will be held at the Seghers house.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Ashish (rating=2201) vs. Evan Seghers
Evan played our local Master last night, and it is a good game! Evan had him pretty even until late in the game.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
An Unusual Draw
Take a look at the end of this game.
As Mr. Reese explained to me, neither King could move past the "hidden line" between winning and losing. Look at the end of this game and see if you can figure out where that line is, and why both players agreed to a draw.
It is interesting to see a draw with so many pawns still on the board!
As Mr. Reese explained to me, neither King could move past the "hidden line" between winning and losing. Look at the end of this game and see if you can figure out where that line is, and why both players agreed to a draw.
It is interesting to see a draw with so many pawns still on the board!
Evan Destroys Dad
Not one of my best games... but a nice game by Evan, and an interesting checkmate while I had my eye on a poorly thought-out mate.
King's Gambit Demolished
Bobby Fisher used the King's Gambit many times during his illustrious career... however he would have not been happy with the ignorant post-gambit pawn moves of Mr. Seghers... ignoring 4. ...Be7 which set up the Bishop cannon deep into white's territory and spelling ultimate destruction. Only the first few moves are shown here. Mr. Seghers was able to hold off checkmate for 30 moves and force black to castle, but it was over after this exchange.
Mr. Feder, a 1500+ player, showed me how one mistake in the opening can lead to destruction.
Mr. Feder, a 1500+ player, showed me how one mistake in the opening can lead to destruction.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
ChessMaster Grandmaster Vs. Greg Jr.!
Coach Reese told me about a game in which young Gregory beat Chessmaster's GrandMaster (the top setting, a 2831 rating)...
It is a quick game, and a great attack by black.
It is a quick game, and a great attack by black.
Mark Seghers vs. Rick Markowski
After much anticipation, the big match between Mark Seghers and Rick Markowski finally took place. Here is the game log and my comments.
White Move #1: Interesting start for Mark. Not sure what he is doing here, but I gather he read another book on opening moves and figures he has me confused.
Black Move #1: Rick moves cautiously as I am not sure what he has up his sleeve.
White Move #2: Wow, what's this guy thinking? Was it the Chess for Dummies book he is reading? Mark is sitting smugly at this point with his arms folded and sipping a brewski.
Black Move #2: Of course I know what I want to do here, but I play to his ego and really act like I am flummoxed by Mark's last move. I feign that I am going to move my Knight, but then quickly grab my Queen and move to H4 with a triumphant "Check mate!". Mark did not say a word.
After the game, I calmly picked up the chess board and pieces from the floor after Mark threw them to the ground in disgust and stormed out of the room....
White Move #1: Interesting start for Mark. Not sure what he is doing here, but I gather he read another book on opening moves and figures he has me confused.
Black Move #1: Rick moves cautiously as I am not sure what he has up his sleeve.
White Move #2: Wow, what's this guy thinking? Was it the Chess for Dummies book he is reading? Mark is sitting smugly at this point with his arms folded and sipping a brewski.
Black Move #2: Of course I know what I want to do here, but I play to his ego and really act like I am flummoxed by Mark's last move. I feign that I am going to move my Knight, but then quickly grab my Queen and move to H4 with a triumphant "Check mate!". Mark did not say a word.
After the game, I calmly picked up the chess board and pieces from the floor after Mark threw them to the ground in disgust and stormed out of the room....
Want to Post New Articles?
Anybody can post comments to existing articles. If you would like to be an AUTHOR on this site and post your own articles, games, or whatever, just email me and I will add you to the list of authors.
- Mark Seghers (email address is my last name @ gmail.com) - dont put your email address in an actual post, or the spammers will get you! :)
- Mark Seghers (email address is my last name @ gmail.com) - dont put your email address in an actual post, or the spammers will get you! :)
Send me your chess games!
Email me your games!
As Mr. Markowski noted last night at the boys' baseball game, Mr. Seghers has too much time on his hands these few weeks!
Take advantage of this! It won't last long, sadly...! Send me via email
the notation from a great game your child may have had recently. Use the chess notation example here on this blog. I will convert it and place it on the site so other children can "play" that game right here on our blog!
- Co-coach Mark
As Mr. Markowski noted last night at the boys' baseball game, Mr. Seghers has too much time on his hands these few weeks!
Take advantage of this! It won't last long, sadly...! Send me via email
the notation from a great game your child may have had recently. Use the chess notation example here on this blog. I will convert it and place it on the site so other children can "play" that game right here on our blog!- Co-coach Mark
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Reid vs. Coach Reese!
Last Wednesday, at the USCF Chess Club at the Eagles Club in Waukesha, Reid Seghers had the unlucky draw of playing Coach Reese himself!
"I should have known never to play with my food... I will never underestimate our kids again!" said Coach Reese after the game.
"I should have known never to play with my food... I will never underestimate our kids again!" said Coach Reese after the game.
Enter your own Chess Games!
Here is how to enter your own chess games!
1) ENTER YOUR GAME MOVES!
You must first type your moves in "PGN" notation. An example game is below:
[Event "Reid Seghers Vs. Coach Reese"]
[Site "Waukesha, WI"]
[Date "2007.06.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Seghers, Reid"]
[Black "Reese, Gregory Sr."]
[Result "0-1"]
1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 d4 3. Nb5 a6 4. Na3 e5 5. b3 Bb4 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Bc4 Nf6 8. h3
Bh5 9. 0-0 b5 10. Be2 Nxe4 11. Nxe5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Qh4 13. g3 Nxg3 14. Ng6+ Qe4
15. Qxe4+ Nxe4 16. Nxh8 Kf8 17. Re1 Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bxd2 19. Re2 Bc3 20. Rd1 Nc6
21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. Rd3 Re8 23. Rf3+ Kg6 24. Rxe8 Nb4 25. Re6+ Kh5 26. Rg3 g6
27. Re7 h6 28. Rg7 g5 29. Kf1 d3 30. cxd3 Bxg7 31. Nb1 Nxa2 32. Ke2 Nc1+ 33.
Kf3 Nxb3 34. h4 Nd4+ 35. Ke4 C5 36. hxg5 hxg5 37. Kd5 Nf5 38. Rf3 Kg4 39. Ke4 Nd4
40. Rg3+ Kh4 41. Kd5 Ne2 42. Re3 Nf4+ 43. Kxc5 Nh3 44. d4 Nxf2 45. d5 g4 46. d6 g3
47. d7 Bf6 48. Re6 Bg5 49. Kc6 g2 50. Re1 Kh3 51. Kc7 Kh2 52. d8=Q Bxd8 53. Kxd8
g1=Q 54. Rxg1 Kxg1 55. Kc7 Nd3 56. Kb6 b4 57. Kxa6 b3 58. Ka5 b2 59. Ka4 Kf2
60. Ka3 Ke2 61. Ka2 Kd1 62. Ka3 Kc2 63. Ka2 Nc1+ 64. Ka3 Kxb1 65. Ka4 Ka2 66.
Ka5 b1=Q 67. Ka4 Nd3 68. Ka5 Qb7 69. Ka4 Qb4++ 0-1
2) NOW, CREATE YOUR GAME DIAGRAM!
Using the notation style shown above (and using zero instead of the letter O for castling), type your game (or example or lesson) out on the computer. Then, go to the Chess Publisher web site and paste your game into the window. Then, click on the "Generate Diagram --->" button. You will see the diagram for your game. Highlight the text below the diagram (in the box "Highlight and copy this text") and click on Edit / Copy to copy that to memory.
3) FINALLY, PASTE THE DIAGRAM LINK INTO YOUR BLOG ENTRY!
Now, go to this blog and you can paste your text into your own blog article or into a response from someone else's article! Your game diagram will show.
This method should work very well to help Mill Valley parents and kids enter their games for all to enjoy!!!!
- Mark Seghers
1) ENTER YOUR GAME MOVES!
You must first type your moves in "PGN" notation. An example game is below:
[Event "Reid Seghers Vs. Coach Reese"]
[Site "Waukesha, WI"]
[Date "2007.06.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Seghers, Reid"]
[Black "Reese, Gregory Sr."]
[Result "0-1"]
1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 d4 3. Nb5 a6 4. Na3 e5 5. b3 Bb4 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Bc4 Nf6 8. h3
Bh5 9. 0-0 b5 10. Be2 Nxe4 11. Nxe5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Qh4 13. g3 Nxg3 14. Ng6+ Qe4
15. Qxe4+ Nxe4 16. Nxh8 Kf8 17. Re1 Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bxd2 19. Re2 Bc3 20. Rd1 Nc6
21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. Rd3 Re8 23. Rf3+ Kg6 24. Rxe8 Nb4 25. Re6+ Kh5 26. Rg3 g6
27. Re7 h6 28. Rg7 g5 29. Kf1 d3 30. cxd3 Bxg7 31. Nb1 Nxa2 32. Ke2 Nc1+ 33.
Kf3 Nxb3 34. h4 Nd4+ 35. Ke4 C5 36. hxg5 hxg5 37. Kd5 Nf5 38. Rf3 Kg4 39. Ke4 Nd4
40. Rg3+ Kh4 41. Kd5 Ne2 42. Re3 Nf4+ 43. Kxc5 Nh3 44. d4 Nxf2 45. d5 g4 46. d6 g3
47. d7 Bf6 48. Re6 Bg5 49. Kc6 g2 50. Re1 Kh3 51. Kc7 Kh2 52. d8=Q Bxd8 53. Kxd8
g1=Q 54. Rxg1 Kxg1 55. Kc7 Nd3 56. Kb6 b4 57. Kxa6 b3 58. Ka5 b2 59. Ka4 Kf2
60. Ka3 Ke2 61. Ka2 Kd1 62. Ka3 Kc2 63. Ka2 Nc1+ 64. Ka3 Kxb1 65. Ka4 Ka2 66.
Ka5 b1=Q 67. Ka4 Nd3 68. Ka5 Qb7 69. Ka4 Qb4++ 0-1
2) NOW, CREATE YOUR GAME DIAGRAM!
Using the notation style shown above (and using zero instead of the letter O for castling), type your game (or example or lesson) out on the computer. Then, go to the Chess Publisher web site and paste your game into the window. Then, click on the "Generate Diagram --->" button. You will see the diagram for your game. Highlight the text below the diagram (in the box "Highlight and copy this text") and click on Edit / Copy to copy that to memory.
3) FINALLY, PASTE THE DIAGRAM LINK INTO YOUR BLOG ENTRY!
Now, go to this blog and you can paste your text into your own blog article or into a response from someone else's article! Your game diagram will show.
This method should work very well to help Mill Valley parents and kids enter their games for all to enjoy!!!!
- Mark Seghers
Monday, June 11, 2007
Welcome to the Mill Valley Chess Blog Site!
National Chess Champions!Hello, and welcome to the Mill Valley Chess Site!
Mill Valley is a K-4 grade school in Muskego, WI. Mill Valley has a great chess team, with over 80 kids (a full 25% of the school) on the team! In the recent National tournament in Nashville TN, our K-3 Unrated team took first place! The picture above shows the kids from Mill Valley who went to this tournament, and in front of them are the trophies from just this one event!
This blog will document our outstanding 2007 season, and keep interested parties up to date on Mill Valley Chess!
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