Daily lift to Hastings Chess Congress

Hi All,
just thought i'd let it be known to anyone signed up for the Hastings Congress (or still to sign up!) that i will be driving to and from daily. So if you are interested in the congress, and want a lift please let me know, the more the better. Just contact me and we can arrange pick up and drop off points to convenience.
Terry
07949203591

London Classic continued.......

Yes, it was another brilliant event. Carl and I were there on Sunday - lots of people - you never know who you might meet! 

London Classic

Just thought I'd mention that I visited Olympia for this on Monday and it was great, for £15 it's a bargain.  Get to sit in an auditorium and watch some of the worlds best players then once your done trying to figure out what's going on in their games you can breeze along to the commentary room and listen to a several GMs trying to figure out what's going on!  When I was there, Vladimir Kramnik was sitting out and I had the chance to ask him a question from the audience about chess computers, he answered fully and eloquently. In fact I've had the chance to listen to 'Big Vlad' both times I've been to the Classic and on both occasions have been impressed by what he has to say and by his sense of humour, he seems like a really nice guy.

As I am at work in London today I may pop along if I finish early enough, though I expect it will be busier on a weekend.  If not I am considering going up on Monday for the last day.  If you can't make it, they've been having  a few problems with their internet connection but when accessible the coverage is great, you can see it by clicking the link on the London Classic web-site which goes to the livestream link.

A crucial win in a vital match in the league

Well done everyone Saturday afternoon.Great wins to Luke and Geoffrey. Also solid draws with black by John and Brian. I won the toss but that may have been my greatest contribution in this one.The war was won but my battle lost. Well done everyone. Keep it up!

Carlsen v Howell

Following on from the last post, this is the 'game of the day' from the first round of the London Chess Classic - the only game that didn't end in a draw. How many of us remember David Howell at our last venue, kneeling on the chair to reach the far side of the board and moving faster than the eye could see? Driving seasoned old hands to grumpy despair at congresses?



I might be tempted to go for a day - although Monday and Saturday are out.

London Classic 2011

Starts tomorrow (Sat 3rd), press conference in an hour followed by a game against Twitter followers, not sure how that's going to pan out! Anyway, this is an historic event with four of Englands strongest GMs taking part in a field containg (gulp) four 2800-rated players, thanks goodness Nakamura is there to dilute the talent ;-) He is 'only' currently rated 2758 !!
David Howell is studying at University and his chess seems to have been suffering, it's a shame Matthew Sadler can't sub in, but maybe that's harsh, I hope Howell proves me wrong.

The live event was brilliant the time I went in 2009 and the online coverage is great, possibly only bettered by the US Chess Championship in my opinion, but this year the London Classic has a different format with a nine players, one of whom sits out each round to join the commentary, so a new level of excellence  is to be expected.

I keep changing my mind, but at the moment I am planning to use an afternoon off on Monday to attend the event, and may well be attending next Saturday (10th) as I am in London for work anyway. I'm vaguely considering Sunday 11th and Monday 12th but I expect two days will be enough.  I should be at the BHCC playing a match tomorrow if anyone would like to discuss meeting up, or just e-mail or call me on the day if you have my details.

Twice-yearly grading

The ECF is changing to a twice-yearly grading system. The end of the current grading period will be the end of December for grades which will be published in late January. Grades will then be published every six months, the next period ending at the end of June for grades due at the end of July. So, a month to go to either qualify for - a total of nine graded games - or improve your grade for 2012. All new members acquiring a first-time grade will be added to the Members page of the website.

PS See the News page for a short report on the e2e4 Brighton Congress at the weekend.

Bobby Fischer documentary

On BBC4 (tv) this Wednesday (November 30) at 9.00pm is a documentary about Bobby Fischer.I am unsure if it is the one released in cinemas recently.

Bursting!

There's a slight chance that bridge may overflow next Thursday and require some upstairs space. There's also a fourth team home match against Horsham. It should be OK but be prepared if you're arranging to play a club tournament game. (Of which not a great many are being played at the moment, especially in view of the numbers attending! Both main rooms were being used for friendlies and analysis last night, as well as a first team match in the match room. Perhaps we're just having more fun!!)

e2e4 Brighton Congress 25th-27th November

Don't forget the e2e4 Brighton Congress at the Old Ship Hotel is on the weekend after next. A dozen members are already down to play.

mscl div3 / horsham 5 v. b+h tm4

hi all, carl here. team 4 played a match versus horsham 5 on monday. the result was a draw, 2.5 to 2.5. in grading terms this result may be seen as a little disapointing, but i have to say the horsham team played very well. nerves on both sides were jangling with the score on 2 wins each, the last board to come in being an agreed draw in a very double edged position. i'd like to thank aurthur, robin, kevin and bob for making the effort to play in an away match on a cold, wet and dark night. well done and big thanks.

Prepare to be on camera tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the day for Britain in a Day, a BBC 2 project to be screened pre-Olympics next summer. You can take your camera to the club tomorrow, record your day and then submit your video to britaininaday@youtube.com.

In addition, please give a warm welcome to Javier Douglas, BBC director/producer/cameraman, whom I have invited to visit the club tomorrow to do some of the filming himself. (I won't be there tomorrow as playing in Horsham.) He is local and also genuinely interested in chess, so with a bit of luck we may get some of the club included in the final documentary. He intends to arrive sometime after 3:00 pm and will be filming discreetly with your permission. If you see this before tomorrow afternoon please tell others to expect him when you arrive at the club. Thanks.

Extra space and phones

Excellent news regarding the new playing area.

Regarding phones, thanks for the clarification Sue. Perhaps it is worth sending Eastbourne a gentle note? Also, maybe team captains should make a clear announcement before the start of the game emphasising that 'silent' mode may not be good enough.

Bridge Club gives us new Match Room upstairs!

As the Blue Room downstairs is being used for bridge on Thursdays for the foreseeable future, the 'poker room' has now been dismantled and set up for chess (or bridge). As the Blue Room was never officially part of our agreement with the Bridge Club this is a fantastic addition to our space upstairs. The 'poker room' is the room to the right of the kitchen, although I think we should now designate it the Match Room as it is perfect for league matches: a perfect size and completely self-contained and quiet.

Also, an important reminder, if you are picked to play for the league please aim to get there by 7:15 if you possibly can. The whole team is responsible for setting up and clearing up, not just the captain. Remember we are already short of captains, so please try and do at least one or the other if you want to see us continue to play in the league. Thanks.

FIDE Article 12: The conduct of the players

12.3 b. Without the permission of the arbiter a player is forbidden to have a mobile phone or other electronic means of communication in the playing venue, unless they are completely switched off. If any such device produces a sound, the player shall lose the game. The opponent shall win. However, if the opponent cannot win the game by any series of legal moves, his score shall be a draw. ( E.I.01A. Laws of Chess)

This is always coming up - how many realise this is actually written into the laws of chess? Anyway, here it is for any future situations! Feel confident if you need to ask your opponent to turn it off. This is my understanding - without an arbiter actually present. Strictly speaking you could claim the game on the spot but, well, what do others think? The same situation might arise in an internal tournament game and not everyone knows the rule.

Mobile Phones and Chess

Question: Last night i was playing in a match against Eastbourne 2, my opponent during the game picked up his mobile phone are started typing a short text message, each time he pressed a key, there was an annoying peep which was irritating. He used his phone twice during the game to write 2 messages. Does anyone know what the rules are during a match and the use of mobile phones? is this behaviour allowed? Please Advise?

Many Thanks Michael

p.s. in the end i won my game.

Club Championship on Tournaments page

I have put the Club Championship knockout chart on the website in spite of the lack of any clarifying lines and brackets. I think it's fairly clear and means people can arrange their matches with time to spare, or play again if it's a draw. I'll update it once we have some winners. The whole thing depends on participants all sticking to the time schedule which is, apparently, both the virtue and the downfall of the knockout. I have followed a strict format so that the higher graded players emerge from each round to face each other, rather than meeting early on. Please prioritise this competition above the others to meet round deadlines.

Club Championship launched

The Club Championship knockout chart is now up at the club. Publishing it online is tricky without losing the formatting but I'll do something when I have more time. The preliminary round needs to be played before Christmas - this involves Charles v Marcus, Kevin v Jan, Andrew S. v Bob, Ian v Adrian and Callum v Sue. Please use the usual time controls, or adapt for 30 seconds per move added instead of QPF if you're using a digital clock, and toss for colours. People in the first round proper can go ahead as well if they're not dependent on a result from the prelim. - this 'first' round, which brings in everyone else, to be played by the end of January. Round deadlines must be strictly adhered to or knockouts will not depend on the results of games!

Grading Lists

A new development is that chess grades will now be published twice a year. At the end of February and the end of July.
All games played before 31st December can be entered for the spring grading list.
New players without a grade may wish to play nine games ( at the club or elsewhere ) and already graded players, to play more games so that an updated grade can be achieved by the spring.
This applies, both to long play and rapid play games..

Club Championship 2011-12

I have twenty-one entrants for the Club Championship Knockout Competition - see the list on the CC Tournament page on the website. This is a terrific response so thanks everyone for going for it - undaunted by the breadth of the competition. If I've missed anyone please let me know as soon as poss..