Chess Club

End of the Year (05/03/10)

I'm very sorry that I cannot be there today. I love a good party, but this is always my least favorite chess club. It's my least favorite because it means another school year has ended and it'll be 3-4 months before we get to see each other again. And even in 3-4 month, there'll be students who don't return and have gone on to other schools.

This year we also lose a coach who is going to a new school. I would like to thank David for the many years of service being Lineweaver's coach. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to fit chess into a college schedule and David did it wonderfully. He was here every week and on Saturday when he could. He was that coach at tournaments that I could not be. David, the kids will miss you the most, but they will not be the only ones.

I would also like to thank Mrs. Scott, Ms. Spohn, and Mr. Olbin for there support of the Lineweaver Chess Program. Thank you for encouraging the kids, for recognizing their achievements to the rest of the school, and for helping us by providing rooms to play, a tournament to host, and the occasion talking to the students. :)

A BIG thank you goes to the parents who do the real work for the chess program. I would like to especially thank Juniko for taking on the task of organizing the club, keeping me in line, and bringing snacks every week. Without the parents, this club would not be the same.

And to the students: Thank you. Thank you for another year of sharing with me a game I truly love. Thank you for your enjoyment of the game. We are 1 team and we all share a part of that team. Every club player helps make our tournament players better. Every tournament player helps to earn our awards. And just as it flows up, it also flows down. Our top players help make our other players become stronger. Our tournament players teach the club players how to be better. We are 1 team and we ALL share a part of that team. When you eventually leave Lineweaver I hope that you'll still enjoy playing chess. Even if you never play in a tournament I hope you still occasionally sit down and play a game with a family member, a friend, or an old coach. :)

Have a great summer everyone! Don't take a summer off from chess! Just take a summer off from me. I still expect all of you (even those going to new schools) to set aside from time each week to play and practice. And next school year we'll continue with being one of best chess programs a coach could ever hope to be a part of.

Coach Kiki

Club News (09/21/09)
Club has started off strong. The kids are doing a great job of staying on task, and getting to their seats quickly after snack. We still have to work on keeping quiet during the lessons, but it's still most quiet and attentive.

Registration forms for the fall semester are due Monday, September 21.

Student Officer Elections will be on Monday, September 28.

In class we have started splitting up into 2 groups.

Our younger, beginner players ("Pawns") have been learning and reviewing how the pieces move. So far we have had lessons on how to set up the board, and how the king, pawns, rooks, and bishops move. They have also learned how to play "A Pawn Game" that only uses Kings and Pawns. Only 2 more pieces to go and they'll be able to play a complete game!

Our advanced group ("Knights" and "Rooks") are learning how to "talk chess". We've reviewed how to take notation of a chess game and how to identify specific squares and moves on the chessboard. We'll build on this skill during future lessons so that everyone will better understand what I mean when I say "Knight to c6."

David Hao is back as our other coach here at Lineweaver. He wasn't here for the Orientation Class, so if you see him, be sure to tell him "Hi!". As always, chess club would not be possible if it wasn't for the parents. Thank you to all the parents that volunteer your time and energy to making Linewever Chess one of the best programs in the State!

Thank you also to Ms. Spohn and Mr. Olbin for being our sponsors and letting us hold chess club in their classrooms.

Tucson Scholastic Warm-up (09/19/09)
We had 10 players participate in the event with 160+ players from all over the city and even one from New Mexico. Players were separated into groups of 12-16 players by rating. They played 4 rounds and trophies were given to the top 4 players in each group.

Group A
Ethan - 3 points (3rd Place)
Sreekar - 2 points (4th Place)

Group B
Xiexin - 4 points (1st Place)

Group D
Thor - 1 point

Group F
Calista - 1.5 points

Group G
Rudy - 2 points

Group H
Maya - 1.5 points
Frances - 1 point

Group I
Soloman - 3 points (Medal)
Luke - 1 points

Rookery Chess

Helping others learn and improve in the game of chess.