Little Heath, Brookmans Park and Potters Bar Chess Club

Some random thoughts and ideas!

17th September 2009

Hmmm. Didn't do very well with the blog last time around. Perhaps now that I am retired I will update it more frequently!

My main challenge is no longer my chess performance but rather introducing youngsters to the game. Sometimes we naively think we have to attract chess players to junior tournaments but in reality we have to create these players. I went to a school at the end of last term and found plenty of enthusiasm with the result that several played in a Stars Barred tournament last Sunday. I intend to develop these under the auspices of the HSCA.

8th October 2007

Three games and three wins so far this season which in terms of results is far better than last year. Tonight we played St Albans 6 who field a team of youngsters. I know them all well from the work with the HSCA. It's a bit unnerving to have to play a junior player as it can be a no-win situation as I am expected to win. Fortunately my game went well so I should have my reputation intact!

24th September 2007

The dawn of another season. Perhaps I'll keep up the blog! We will be fielding four teams, three in the Herts League and one in the Middlesex Formula League (U125). The latter league is played over four boards so should be easier to maintain than the eight board monsters in the main divisions. We've already had one opponent whingeing about travelling to Potters Bar. What is it with some people? Has it not dawned that we also have to travel from the northerly part of the odd-shaped county that is (or was) Middlesex. It's not cheap to travel into London by train for the evening and it is a late return journey.

There should be plenty of games available for our under 125s what with the Division 4 games and Herts under 125 matches etc. The First team will have plenty of challenges again in Division 2.

The Third team will start with some strength but will be on their own after Christmas. Encouragingly though there seems to be a good number of players available.

My plan to run in the Paris marathon were frustrated by the knee injury. I probably could have completed the course but the long term effects would not have been good and it was very hot. Still, I'm running again without any problems (apart from having one pace - 5 minutes per kilometre.

The junior club is short of numbers so we may have to reorganise. More on this later.

31st December 2006

Almost a new year so a new start to the blog! The Christmas Fun Tournament attracted 56 players which was a bit more than I expected but below the 'good years' by a long way. I think this just confirms that chess is in a bit of a dip at present. I don't have numbers to back up that theory (I have other things to do!). It's a shame because so many juniors love playing chess.

I have been keeping an eye on the Hastings Congress. The first day of coverage was a bit of a disaster - don't they test their links and DGT boards! It would be good if the organisers kept the waiting public informed when there are technical problems. I don't name people in the blog but I'm keeping an eye on some results for juniors who have been involved with the club and now playing at a high level.

The Christmas holidays have meant that I have been able to catch up on a few things including some reading. I saw a review of 'Mastering the Chess Openings' by John Watson and bought the book. Watson tries to explain what is happening in various e4 openings (d4 to follow in February 2007) the idea being that you don't need to know reams of theory but rather the common ideas. I have loads of books but very few that are really worthwhile. This looks good!

The focus for 2007 at least up until mid-April will be on running as much as chess - provided my knee heals quicker than it is a present. I hope to be running my first marathon in Paris. It struck me the other day that a good game of chess lasts about the same time as a marathon. I'm aiming for around 3 hours 45 minutes.