___

Updated 01/12/23

Swale Chess Club report—30^th November 2023

Firstly, welcome to Kristof Siklodi to our club.

And now last night's results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 11

The table, after 84 games, is:

Tom Fuller Cup

Well done to our team (Tyrone, Andrew, Conner, Tom) for an away win at Rainham 3–1, with wins for Tyrone, Andrew and Conner.

Sandwich FIDE RapidPlay—Saturday 16^th December 2023

Featured game of the week including mini-puzzle!

Contributed by Nick and Alin

Play this one through to the very last move for this week's mini-puzzle. Brief notes by C. Carette.

___

Updated 25/11/23

Swale win their first match of the season

It's time for celebration as Swale Chess Club have finally won a KCCA League match after two years of hurt.

Swale Intro team beat Weald of Kent 3–1 last night. Two great wins from our new members Rufws Jones and Jose Lago, and two draws from much-improved Mike Ingham and old campaigner Tyrone confirmed the win. Well played Swale Intro team.

Swale Chess Club report—23^rd November 2023

Last night's results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 10

The standings

Sandwich FIDE RapidPlay—Saturday 16^th December 2023

Record numbers at Swale Junior Chess Club!

Our junior chess club is thriving, and we are delighted to be seeing record numbers of junior chess players at Swale Junior Chess Club; check out our partnership with LearnChess Academy. If your child has an interest in chess, you need to click on this link: LearnChess Academy.

Mini-puzzle

From a recent Swale game. How did Black make the most of the dangerous pawn on b2? Black to move.

Mini-answer

___

Updated 17/11/23

Swale Chess Club report—17^th November 2023

We were pleased to welcome no fewer than three potential new members to the club last night—Andrew, Emma and Luke. They all demonstrated that they know one end of a chessboard from the other!

Another busy night with the results.

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 9

Therefore the standings after 70 games are:

Sandwich FIDE RapidPlay—Saturday 16^th December 2023

Featured game of the week

Contributed by Tom and Nick

An exciting game from last night, replete with tactics missed and found and some mind-blowing complications! Brief notes by N. O'Bodie.

Swale Chess Club Facebook page

Swale Chess Club Facebook page provides extra chess news. If you are not already a member, please sign up today.

___

Updated 11/11/23

Swale Chess Club report—9^th November 2023

Last night's results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 8

Therefore the table is:

Tom Fuller Cup

The Fuller team (Andrew, Conner, Tom and Jose) lost to Medway 0.5–3.5 with Conner getting the draw.

Around the World in 80 Games: A mathematician unlocks the secrets of the greatest games

By Marcus du Sautoy

Scam School—Always read the rubric!

___

Updated 04/11/23

Swale Chess Club report—2^nd November 2023

Last night's results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 7

The standings after 54 out of 253 games are:

Tom Fuller Cup

The Fuller team (Tyrone, Alin, Tom and Jose) lost 0.5–3.5 to Maidstone with Alin getting the draw.

Sandwich FIDE RapidPlay—Saturday 16^th December 2023

Mini-puzzle

White had the edge last night, and now made a series of steps towards victory—what was the first one? White to move.

Mini-answer

___

Updated 28/10/23

Swale Chess Club report—26^th October 2023

Welcome to our new colleague, Arnaud Wisman, who attended last night and joins the championship with the first game next week.

Last night's results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 6

The standings are:

En Passant Cup

In the En Passant, our team (Keith H, Rob, Stephen, Nick, Tyrone and Gary) was defeated by a strong Medway side 4.5–1.5—Rob, Tyrone and Gary getting the draws.

Featured game of the week

Contributed by Tyrone

Who needs dull error-free grandmaster chess games to analyse when exciting games are played every week in the Swale Championship (the best internal club championship played at club level in Kent).

Last night's Round 6 game brought together Rufus Edwards and Club Secretary Tyrone Jefferies, who were involved in a swashbuckling chess game complete with risk taking, giving in to temptation, and a demonstration of what one shouldn't be doing on the chess board.

Rules of thumb are:

1. When one is down the exchange, one does not trade another major piece. Tyrone did!
2. When one is down the exchange, one does not sacrifice material. Tyrone did!
3. If one is down the exchange, one does not trade queens. Tyrone did!
4. Theory dictates that rook, bishop, and knight should beat the bishop pair.

Fortunately Tyrone was able to trade his dark-square bishop for the rook, leaving Rufus with opposite-colour bishop and knight versus bishop in the end game.

Unfortunately by move 56 Rufus clearly had had enough of the struggle and offered Tyrone a draw which was gratefully accepted. However, if Rufus hadn't been so tired, had been a little braver, and played on a few moves more, the game was his for the taking. In the end Tyrone was lucky to share the point.

Mini-puzzle

Black had dominated this game last night and has just played the punchy sacrifice Nc6xpd4 in order to leave the poor white king out in the open. All the black pieces are ready to coordinate quickly once White takes back, except White has a get out of gaol card up his sleeve. White to move.

Mini-answer

___

Updated 20/10/23

Swale Chess Club report—19^th October 2023

Last night was busy and eventful. First, the results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 5

The evening was interrupted by a power failure while two games were ongoing. One resumed using the emergency lighting and mobile phones, and the other agreed a result.

The table, after 39 out of 231 games:

Tom Fuller Cup

The Fuller Team played on Wednesday away to Medway. Our team of Alin, Conner, Jose and Tom were defeated 0.5–3.5 with Tom getting the draw.

Mini-puzzle

Last night White had in effect been playing a piece up thanks to the black rook remaining on a8. Mate is coming by ganging up on the pinned knight, and White used the most psychologically convincing way to do this. White to move.

Mini-answer

___

Updated 13/10/23

Swale Chess Club report—12^th October 2023

We welcome Gary Clifford to the club championship. Last night's results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 4

Therefore the table is:

Tom Fuller Cup

The Fuller team drew 2–2 against Tunbridge Wells, with Andrew and Conner winning but defeats for Jose and Tom:

Featured game of the week

Some chess games don't need a lot of time, nor a lot of moves, as they are over before they've begun.

Take this little gem of a game played last night in the Swale Championship—only seventeen moves were made. As White dominates, Black's queen has a miserable existence, Black's uncastled king adds to the difficulties and Black's bishop and both rooks are stuck at home.

___

Back to Top

Updated 06/10/23

Swale Chess Club report—5^th October 2023

Some more tough chess last night and the results were:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 3

Therefore the table, after 23 games, is:

Featured game of the week—RIP George Hollands 1984–2023

It was sad to hear of the death of George Hollands, Kent chess player and friend of Swale Chess Club. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Contributed by Trefor Owens

George Hollands was not only a very good chess player but more importantly a really nice guy and always sporting; we often exchanged messages especially regarding his expertise on the French Defence.

Here is a game George played only last month. The game was played as a 3-minute blitz, so we shouldn't expect ‘perfect’ play from either player. It is an exciting game with a pretty finish. I have kept the notes brief but I think the game is a nice tribute to a true gentleman who will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

___

Updated 30/09/23

Swale Chess Club report—28^th September 2023

Last night's results:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 2

Individual Classic

Max Wood 1–0 Tom Creed

The table reads:

Featured game of the week

Enjoy this miniature treat from last night. Notes provided by Andrew.

___

Updated 23/09/23

Swale Chess Club report—21^st September 2023

Some good chess last night and the results were:

Swale Chess Club Championship—Round 1

The first table of the season, after 8 out of a scheduled 210 games:

Featured game of the week

From last night—notes provided by Tyrone.

Mini-puzzle

From last night's inaugural games. Andrew—as Black versus Kevin—found the best move here. Black to move.

Mini-answer

___

Updated 16/09/23

Swale Chess Club—14^th September

Many thanks to those who attended our start-of-season blitz friendly tournament; the two finalists won all of their games at the group stage, with Keith Nevols emerging as winner in the play-offs.

We welcomed Jose to his first meeting with us; thanks likewise to Abel for coming along.

The group tables were:

Play-offs

(Colours were drawn at random and were not recorded)

Keith Nevols 1–0 David Page
Martin Singer 1–0 Andrew Gillard
Vytautas Gedminas 1–0 Conner Maguire
Rufws Jones 1–0 Jose Lago
Max Wood 1–0 Mike Ingham
Tom Creed 1–0 Abel

Swale Chess Club Facebook page

Swale Chess Club Facebook page provides extra chess news. If you are not already a member, please sign up today.

___

Updated 09/09/23

60–30—A timely idea!

It was good to see everyone last night now that the club is back open after our summer break.

Club championship games this season will be “60–30”—that is, all moves will be played within 60 minutes on your clock and after each move 30 seconds will be added. All moves throughout the game must be recorded. The first games will take place on Thursday 21^st September.

The junior club starts next week.

On Thursday (14^th September) we will hold a friendly blitz tournament—depending on numbers there will be two groups, all-play-all, with the winners meeting in the final. All games will be 5 minutes for all your moves plus 5-second increments.

Mini-puzzle

Another dividend from the Thanet Congress.

White finished off this 20-move miniature with a double whammy. White to move; what were the two moves in question?

Mini-answer

___

Back to Top

Updated 02/09/23

Swale Chess Club—start of season 2023–24

The club will open at 7.45pm on Thursday 7^th September 2023. The first week will be just grab a board and play someone.
Thursday 14^th September 2023: We will hold an informal blitz contest—whoever turns up will be divided into groups.

Junior club—Attention all parents!

The junior club will open at 6.15pm on Thursday 14^th September 2023. Exciting new developments for junior chess players at Swale Junior Chess Club; check out our partnership with LearnChess Academy. If your child has an interest in chess, you need to click on this link: LearnChess Academy.

Mini-puzzle

Contributed by Trefor Owens, Club Champion

Based on a position from the Thanet Open. I walked past the board with Black (George Hollands, friend of Swale Chess Club) to play. His queen and bishop are forked by the knight and his king is stuck in the centre with Bb3 maybe coming next. How does Black manage to survive? Black to move.

Mini-answer

___

Updated 25/08/23

64

Marvellous to see that the Swale Chess Club Facebook page has now reached and surpassed the magic chess number of 64 members! If you are not already a member, please sign up today.

Can we get to 100? For the mathematically inclined, the gap between those numbers, 100 − 64, is the difference of two squares: 100 − 64 = 10² − 8² = (10 + 8) × (10 − 8) = 18 × 2 = 36, which happens to equal another square, 6².

Endgames win points

Article contributed by Trefor Owens, Swale Chess Club Champion and winner last week of the Challengers section at the Thanet Chess Congress.

When I was younger I never studied endgames; instead I wanted to be a Morphy a Tal or a Polgar but eventually I grew old and realised that if I improved my endgame I would win more games. Not every victory can be achieved by a brilliant combination.

I have just competed in the Thanet Congress and won my group with 3 wins and 2 draws from my 5 games. Interestingly all 3 wins were achieved in the endgame.

Here are 3 positions. See if you can find the plan/ideas to secure victory.

If you are not sure about the solutions, practise against a friend or a computer from the position—or come and join Swale Chess Club!

I am White and to move. This game started life as a King's Gambit and all of the action has taken place on the kingside. What is the easiest route to a win?

Mini-answer

1. Rxf6 Rxf6 2. Rxf6 Qxf6 3. Qxf6+ Kxf6 4. Kd2 and the king and pawn ending is easy.

I am White again. My passed pawns are extremely strong but how do I get them moving and prevent perpetual checks?

Mini-answer

My plan is to march my king to shelter on the a-file starting with 1. Kf2.

Here I am Black and to move. My opponent had offered a draw “as all opposite-coloured bishop endings are drawn”. He was leading the competition half a point ahead of me; what winning plan had I seen?

Mini-answer

1. …Ke4 2. Bg3 Be6 3. Be5 g5 4. Bg3 gxh4 5. Bxh4 Kf3 6. Kd2 Kg2 7. Ke3 Kh3 8. Bf6 h4
and White can only stop the pawns by sacrificing his bishop.

The 1^st East Kent Junior Chess Congress, Barham, Canterbury, Kent: Saturday 21^st October 2023

Attention all parents!

Organised by our friends at Sandwich Chess Club.

___

Updated 20/08/23

51^st Thanet Chess Congress—August 18^th–20^th 2023, Sandwich

Final rankings after Round 5

Congratulations to Swale members Trefor Owens for winning the Challengers section and Rob Woolacott for coming second equal in the Intermediate section.

Swale players are highlighted in green.

Rankings after Round 4

Swale players are highlighted in green.

Rankings after Round 3

Swale players are highlighted in green.

Rankings after Round 2

Swale players are highlighted in green.

Rankings after Round 1

Swale players are highlighted in green.

___

Updated 11/08/23

Swale Chess Club will be open again on Thursday 7^th September 2023.

In the meantime no fewer than seven of our members will be taking a trip to Thanet next weekend:

51^st Thanet Chess Congress—August 18^th–20^th 2023, Sandwich

Watch this space to see how we get on!

Challenge accepted: I trained like a chess grandmaster

Swale Chess Club Facebook page

Swale Chess Club Facebook page provides extra chess news. If you are not already a member, please sign up today.

___

Back to Top

Updated 05/08/23

Swale Chess Club will be open again on Thursday 7^th September 2023.

51^st Thanet Chess Congress—August 18^th–20^th 2023, Sandwich

Knight's tour magic act: Reveen the Impossiblist!

We conclude our knight's tour series with a dramatic finale.

Swale Chess Club Facebook page

Swale Chess Club Facebook page provides extra chess news. If you are not already a member, please sign up today.

___

Back to Top