| Fall 2010 |
Lesson - TBD |
Upcoming Class Activity:
Group Chess Class is taking a break until Fall 2010 - exact schedule will be announced later.
Enjoy the summmer!
Location – Kumon Math, Issaquah Highlands, 1036 NE PARK DRIVE, ISSAQUAH, WA 98029 MAP
Congrats to all who played in the Elem & Middle School State Championships on 4/24/10!
Middle School Individual Results here
State Elementary Champs Results here
Last lesson class on 5/2 was on Tactics - how to find them and how to keep your position safe.
Anna showed how to take advantage of tactics when the position presents it and prevent them from happening to you.
Quad tournaments were held on 4/18; Matthew won a close section 1 with 2 points and Nicola and Ryan tied for first with 2 1/2 points each in a balanced section 2. Results and updated ratings are posted here.
Format of rated Quad tournaments:
Rated 'Quads' (4 players grouped according to rating, playing 1 game each vs. the others in the Quad). Grades K-12 & Adult. Chess-themed and other Prizes to winner of each Quad.
Please RSVP/register in advance by email/phone, check-in onsite by 5:45pm for Quads and make payment when you arrive. Most Quads will be over by 8:00pm; higher rated ones could last until 8:30 or 9:00pm.
Cost - $15 by cash or check
Back on 1/17 Bruce held Quad Tournaments...he enjoyed seeing everyone again for the first tme and quite awhile, and hopes to be back again to host when he's back in town on a Sunday night again. Section 1 was a 3-way tie between Dino, Wesley & Matthew; Section 2 was swept again by Adam, Section 3 saw Alex win all 3 games, and Tyler swept the 6-player Section 4 with Vivek & Rithvik tied for 2nd. All results are posted here.
--Bruce Kovalsky
A friend has created Chesstube, a free new chess site to record your games! Once they are recorded, you can send me (or anyone) a link that I can click and view the game, and add comments/go over with you later during class.
Click here to find out more and register:
QuickChezz - play a 5x5 online chess game for practice
5 year old teaches 2 year old Chess!
Neat Claymation Chess Game - reminds me of Battle Chess
See the Chess Sets and Chess Clocks for Sale!
We offer a Group Chess Class taught in a classroom setting in the Issaquah / Sammamish, WA area (east of Seattle). Our goal is to improve your chess playing skill through in-depth analysis and explanation of intermediate to advanced chess concepts. We vary the content among opening, middlegame and endgame topics.
Contact me if interested in attending classes or tournaments. We also teach private lessons, schedule permitting.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Target Student Audience: Older elementary, middle school, high school. Adults welcome.
Date: Typically Sunday nights, twice a month
See upcoming class schedule to the right --->
Time: 6:45pm to 8:15pm (Group Lessons)
(please arrive 5-10 minutes early)
Lesson Format: About 45 minutes lecture on a chess topic using a demo board, then 45 minutes of open play, optionally using a chess ladder, applying concepts learned. Equipment provided, handouts and snacks sometimes provided.
Tournament Format: Occasional NWSRS-rated tournaments (either Quads with 3 games vs. other players in a 4 player section, or Swiss paired events where players play others with same score). Tournaments are held Sunday afternoons or evenings with chess-themed prizes for the winners.
NEW Location: Kumon Math, Issaquah Highlands 1036 NE Park Dr, Issaquah WA 98029 MAP
Cost: $15 per person per group lesson class, cash or check.
Tournaments: Quads $15, Swiss $18 (summer)
NM Bruce Kovalsky
- Member of Washington State Team vs. BC, Canada Top 10 Player Border Match, 2004 & 2005 (scored 1 win and 1 draw)
- Nominated for a Sammi Award in the Learning Promotion Category, March 2007
- Board 2, US Amateur Team Champions, Quadrupled Pawns, 1984
- Board 4, Pan-Am Intercollegiate National Team Champions, U.C. Berkeley, 1981
- Numerous individual smaller tournament victories and high finishes
- Became USCF National Master in 1983
- Peak rating of USCF - 2278, FIDE - 2225
Involved in the following chess clubs:
- Assistant organizer Chicago chess meetup.com group
- Founder & Chess Club Teacher, Pine Lake MS, 2001-Present
- Founder & Chess Club Teacher, Sunny Hills Elementary, 1997-2005
- Chess Club Advisor, Pacific Cascade & Skyline HS, 2005-present
- Advisor to other local chess clubs
- Interviewed for Destination Issaquah newspaper article about area chess clubs in 2004
WGM Anna Gershnik
Guest Instructor Sep 2009-May 2010
- Competed in many international events, including five chess Olympiads
- Won the 1989 World Championships for Girls under 14
- Placed 3rd in the 1991 World Championships for Girls under 16
- Trained with many International Masters and Grandmasters
- Achieved the Women's Grandmaster title in 1994