Well, we had a great showing last night. In attendance were Kelly, Jeshua, Leo, Doug, Alex, Marshall, and Andy. There were a few upsets and a few games that appeared to be going well for one side, only to face a sudden flip of fortune. Perhaps the lesson for the evening was this: stay vigilant even when you’re ahead!!
Toward the end of the night when we started to run out of time, we brought out the clock. I played a 20 minute game with Doug and then Andy play a 3 minute game with Doug. After that Kelly and Andy played a few 3 minute games. It was a sight to behold and the action never waned!
Come join us if you have the time. We cater to all levels of skill. If you’ve never moved a chess piece in your life, we’d love to have you! You don’t even need to bring a board or pieces — just bring your brain and a willingness to have fun and learn.
Also, we have a few of our younger competitors going to this tournament in Mankato:
Spring Chess Tournament
Saturday, March 27
Check in begins at 7:30 a.m.
Tournament instructions at 8:30, First round at 9 a.m.
Mankato West High School
1351 South Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN 56001
Parking is available in front of the auditorium.
All chess abilities are welcome. All students grades K-12 are invited to attend this exciting event.
All players are guaranteed to play at least three games of chess. Everyone’s a winner!
Awards will be given for first, second, third and fourth place players in each division.
Please bring your own chess board with standard recognizable pieces and a chess clock if you have one.
A pizza slice and beverage will be provided for players. Additional concessions will be available for purchase.
Come to chess club tonight! It’s cold and snowy and there’s nothing better than hunkering down for a brain busting game filled with perilous tactics and baffling, overwrought strategies. Maybe I’m really only speaking for myself. Ha!
If you or someone you know has an interest in chess, come join us! Some weeks we have more people than others, but we’re always in need of new players.
Well, we had our third chess club meeting of the season. This time one of our seasoned veterans, Marshall, played a newer member, Colton. Watch the action unfold!
We had our second chess club of the season on Thursday night. Two new faces joined us…friends of an 8th grader who came to chess club last year.
I had yet another battle over the board with Kelly. As usual, I put up a good fight, but slipped up a bit near the beginning of the middle game. He gave me an opportunity later when he dropped a bishop and we then had even material. We slowly moved into the endgame and I couldn’t materialize on his slip up. Yet another game lost to Mr. C. It was quite fun nonetheless.
The Albert Lea Chess Club is back for fall! Our first meeting of the year is Thursday, September 10 @ 6pm. We’ll meet for the usual time: 6pm to 8pm. If you have any questions, give me a call (373-1289) or shoot me an email through our website contact form.
I’ve seen a few new faces at our regular Thurs. Albert Lea Chess Club meetings. A few kids from the neighborhood, too. On the whole, I think playing once a week with a real person on a real chess board (as opposed to a computer) is helping everyone to be come better chess players. And the big thing is, we’re all having fun.
Some time down the road we’ll have a “challenge” system that will set up equally matched opponents against each other. We’re still just working out the details, and thinking about how to set up a “challenge board” of sorts.
And to the women in the kitchen who continue to bring us treats every week, THANK YOU! I know everyone in our club really appreciates it.
The Albert Lea Chess Club is back after the holiday break. Last night several of us even stayed until 8:30pm to watch Doug and Marc battle it out. I’m sure they enjoyed having several of us hovering around their table watching their every move.