Author: Dennis Mays

 

ChessGoals – National Master Matt Jensen’s Site Devoted to Helping Players Improve

In case you are not already aware, National Chess Master Matt Jensen has a terrific site: ChessGoals, which is devoted to helping players improve at chess: https://chessgoals.com. Among the great features of the site are experience-specific study plans and guides to online resources. My favorites are the chess stories of individuals describing how they improved at chess.

Contributor Jesse Buss has several recent articles on breaking down chess tactics problems, comparison of online chess sites, and a guide to free online chess resources.

I strongly encourage you to check out Matt’s site. Let me know what you think.

Reminder to Register for the Online Rochester Mini-Chess Camp for Youth and Adults, with Master Jovana Milosevic, August 1, 2020, 9 AM – Noon on Zoom and Lichess

First-Ever Online Rochester Chess Mini-Camp for Youth and Adults with WFM Jovana Milosevic
When: Saturday, August 1, 2020
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Zoom and Lichess.org

Participants will be divided in groups based on their chess playing experience. To get the most out of this camp, participants should know how the pieces move and the rules of chess.

This online event is filling up fast. To reserve your spot please register at the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSec9ELoulOyduSIQ4hBxiTUvbu92olLYNN1Wp5uBEwqZEt8Xw/viewform?usp=pp_url

About the lead instructor:

Jovana Milosevic is a Woman FIDE Master with two Woman International Master Norms. She has played competitively and studied chess for 14 years. Some of her greatest achievements include winning first place in Balkan Chess Championship and South Eastern Europe Chess Championship twice and second place in European Rapid Chess Championship. Also, she won first place in Serbia Youth Chess Championship and second place in Serbia Woman Chess Championship. Jovana is the 2019 Minnesota Woman Chess Champion. Note by the organizer: Jovana is an excellent chess coach. She breaks down complex material so that less experienced chess players can learn from her. She has conducted numerous chess classes with members of Rochester Chess. I can say from personal experience that Master Milosevic is a gifted teacher/coach.

Approximate Camp Schedule
8:45 – 9:00 AM Check in and join the Zoom meeting (a link will be sent to registrants prior to the meeting).

9:00 – 9:30 AM
Tactics!
9:30 – 10:30
• Advanced Participants: Master Milosevic will pair players for G/30 games with notation. Master Milosevic and experienced chess coach Rob Newshutz will help players analyze their games afterwards.
• Intermediate and Novice Participants: Opening principles and Opening tactics will be discussed.
10:30 – 11:15
Deep game analysis, further analysis of opening principles.
11:15– 12:00 PM
Endgames you must know for the advanced to intermediate group.

More tactics in the opening for the novice group.
Wrap-up

Tuition: $20 + $10 for additional family members. Payable on PayPal https://rochesterchess.com/?page_id=1264 on the donation page or by check sent in advance to Rochester Chess, 2202 Ponderosa Drive SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Contact Dennis Mays for information about scholarships: dennismays101@gmail.com

Registration by July 28: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSec9ELoulOyduSIQ4hBxiTUvbu92olLYNN1Wp5uBEwqZEt8Xw/viewform?usp=pp_url

Questions? dennismays101@gmail.com
Jovana is available for individual lessons: jovana51796@gmail.com

A Note from Board Member Paul Kinion

I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Rochester Chess got some good news this week. Travis Rutt, on behalf of Student Life, donated all of RCTC’s chess equipment (30 sets and clocks) to Rochester Chess. Most players who have participated in tournaments at RCTC have been satisfied with the pieces, boards and clocks provided at those events. They have now been gifted to Rochester Chess.
As a thank you, I donated money to the RCTC HIVE Supply Fund. This is a food shelf run by Travis for RCTC students who need help with food. The process was easy.

  1. Go to https://www.mightycause.com/donate/Rochester-Community-College-Foundation 
  2. Under designation select “HIVE Supply”
  3. Enter your credit card info and you’re done

All donations are welcome.

Paul