Daily Chess Musings
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Chris Torres is a nationally renowned scholastic chess coach working in the San Francisco Bay Area. His classes have attracted players of strengths ranging from rank beginners to world champions. All those who want to learn chess are welcome here.
Daily Chess Musings
6d ago
The Ponziani Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3) exists just off the beaten path of the more popular Italian Game. Instead of playing 3. Bc4 and then 4. c3 (such as in the Italian Game), the Ponziani player makes an immediate grab for central space by playing 3. c3 with the idea ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
1w ago
Sometimes I can almost hear C-3PO telling me that the odds of winning a chess game against a second year player when starting down ten points in material is approximately 3,720 to 1. Winning against all odds is a common theme in Star Wars and my chess classes. Playing against students with a handicap makes ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
2w ago
The CalChess Super States (a.k.a. the CalChess Scholastic State Championship) is the annual chess tournament where a large number of Northern California’s youth chess players compete for the title of State Champion. As a chess coach, I have been attending this Northern California tournament every year for well over a quarter century. My commitment to ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
1M ago
Imagine how awesome it would be to have your favorite high school math teacher become the World Chess Champion! The girls attending a Dutch Lyceum in 1935 had this happen when Machgielis “Max” Euwe defeated Alexander Alekhine in their World Championship Match. After winning the title, Max Euwe returned to the all girls Lyceum in ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
1M ago
Today’s winning chess move involves a way to collect your opponent’s queen on just the fifth move! Unfortunately, you are not likely to find an opponent falling for this famous trap in the Damiano Variation of Petrov’s Defense. Still, as the great California chess ambassador George Koltanowski shows us, it’s an opening trap worth knowing ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
1M ago
Many NorCal chess players recognize the name “Falconer” in reference to an annual award given to the highest rated youth chess player in Northern California. Established in 1999, the Falconer Award has been given to such notable players as GM Vinay Bhat and GM Sam Shankland. However, Neil Falconer was also a really good chess ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
1M ago
For anyone who doubts that chess can be art, I present Josef Halumbirek’s 1st Prize winning composition for the Neue Leipziger Zeitung in 1933. It’s a mate in 5 and I betcha can’t solve this chess puzzle! My other chess musings on Josef Halumbirek ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
1M ago
Chess journalist Julius du Mont (12/15/1881 – 4/7/1956) wrote of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) that it “is unsound, but has the saving grace of leading to a lively game and is therefore suitable for an occasional friendly game.” Du Mont was the Editor of British Chess Magazine and authored ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
1M ago
My fascination with Josef Holumbirek’s chess puzzles lead me to a splendid little chess game he played using the white pieces and the Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3). For many in Northern California, the Danish Gambit brings to mind its greatest advocate, Richard Shorman. Richard taught hundreds of children about this swashbuckling opening ..read more
Daily Chess Musings
2M ago
It came as a tremendous shock. On February 14th, I was checking notifications on my phone and read that my student had passed away. I was stunned. Months earlier, I had the great pleasure of playing blitz chess with him in the backyard. Later that evening he would leave for his freshman year in college ..read more