Challenges

I have had several requests to take our lessons online while things are temporairily side tracked. If these seem to be helpful, we may continue them beyond the return to normalcy. Please give me feedback and let me know what you think.
- Murrel

To keep your chess sharp, you should . . .yuh

• Join Chess Magnet School. All my students who have completed the Chess Magnet School program have become strong players. Use deep23 as your coaches code & I can follow how you are doing and even go over puzzles with you that have given you trouble. Congratulations to Neetika, James, Shaurya, Siri, Hariom, Shrika & Varun who are keeping their Chess Magnet School pursuits going during the break!
• Spend at least 3 hours a week doing chess puzzles. If you don't take part in Chess Magnet School, use the problems on ChessKids.com or those at PeoriaChess.com/Puzzles.
  NOTE: Chess Magnet School puzzles are sequenced for learning. Most puzzles you find wild in the netscape are randomized for difficulty and theme and work better for building chess vision for known tactics than for learning new tactics or strategy. Your chess puzzle strategy should be to see how quickly you can solve a puzzle, not how hard of a puzzle you can take. If you can solve easy puzzles quickly, then is the time to look for harder puzzles.
• Work through the Chess Challenges below. They are focused on the end game, but your endgame knowledge raises your entire game.
• If you prefer, work on an Opening that you will actually use. Remember that openings can only give you an even place to start. You need to know where to put your pieces, any special traps from that opening and a general outline for strategy. Seek understanding, not rote memorization.
• Participate in online our meetings. Times and dates will be announced. We are working on setting up a distance online learning system, currently working installing new software to allow this to happen. Stay tuned.

About those challenges . . .

Each Challenge will consist of a video and a post video Quiz. Videos will be offered in a proper learning sequence and are necessary if you want to become a stronger player (over 1600) and win more games or a earn a spot on your school's team for next year's IESA or IHSA tournament.

We are working on setting up a distance online learning system where we can meet over the Internet. This will allow us to continue one on one lessons as well as group lessons on specific topics. We will update you as we go along.

Many of you may already know many things in these videos, However, since the information is crucial and many more lessons depend on previous ones, it will be a helpful review of the basic King & Pawn endings.

If you think you know how to queen a pawn in a King & Pawn ending, take the test. This is essential knowledge. If you don't answer all of them correctly, then please see the video. Remember beginners work until they can get it right, strong players work until they can't get it wrong.

Once you have displayed your mastery with the Quiz, move on to the next Challenge.

Challenge #1 - King & Pawn vs King Video - Quiz

This video covers opposition, distant opposition, outflanking and others issues.

Challenge #2 - The Lucena & Philidor Positions Video - Quiz

This video covers Rook & Pawn vs Rook, queening the pawn, third rank defense, and others issues.

Challenge #3 - Safe Squares & Vancura Position
Safe Squares Video - Vancura Video - Quiz

These videos cover Rook & Rook Pawn vs Rook with the Rook trapped in front. Please view both videos.

Challenge #4 - Long Side, Short Side
Video - Quiz

Your King has his back to the wall and and your opponent is threatening mate. You can escape, but which way should you go?

Challenge #5 - Putting it all together
Video - Quiz

This video shows positions from an actual game where many of the above endgame themes appeared. Watch the video and see if you would have played correctly. Quiz to follow soon.