Game Changer

Recently I wrote a five-part series on the Delancey UK Schools' Chess Challenge blog all about Game Changer, the fabulous new book by GM Matthew Sadler and WIM Natasha Regan.

An index to the series can be found here.

International Chess Challenge: Play Intensifies

Time for an update on our International Chess Challenge.

Following on from the positions when we last saw them, we now have the additional moves...

Yarm Senior School's King's Gambit against Hutt International Boy's School has given rise to early adventures on both sides.

Yarm Senior School v Hutt International Boys' School

5 ...h5

To protect the g4-pawn from the knight's attack.

6 Bc4 Nh6

Knights don't normally feel so comfortable on the side of the board but Black had to protect the f7-square. Black is hoping to stabilise the defence and then chase away the attacking white pieces.

7 d4 Qf6

8 Nc3 Bd6

Allowing the other white knight to leap into the centre to attack the black queen.

9 Nd5 Qg7

Yarm have now played 10 Bxf4

White's rainbow of bishops and knights looks great and the black pieces have been forced to take up unorthodox positions. If Black can survive the early pressure then it may be possible to drive away the attackers. On the other hand, if White can keep the initiative going then it could turn into a very powerful attack.

Meanwhile, in the match between Park End Primary and Hutt International Boy's School, with sides are content to develop quietly and keep everything safe during the opening phase of the game.

Park End Primary v Hutt International Boys' School

2 Nf3 Nc6

Both sides have developed their knights to central squares, from which they can control more space than if they had gone to the side of the board.

3 Bh3

Park End have developed their bishop and they preparing to castle.

Hutt International now developed their own bishop to a central square.

3 ...Bd6

Both sides seem to be limbering up to castle, to make sure their respective kings are safe before the middlegame action begins.

Tune in next week for another update.

'You Sold Me Illusions For a Sack Full of Checks...'

'You sold me illusions for a sack full of checks...'

The archive has recently revealed a number of old photographs, including this one, taken at one of my first press photo-shoots.

This was in 1988, back when it all started. 

'Sacrificing' any thoughts of the standard '2.4' normality, I endeavoured to carve out my own unique path.

Back then, I had youth on my side - but now all I have is a promising future behind me.

'Regrets? I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention.'

Marathon Memories

Back in time, to 1994...

...and the second of my 24-hour chess marathons received coverage in my Herald and Post chess column.

I am sure I have some photographs in the archive and I will revisit this topic again soon.

New CSC Teesside Chess Library

We are delighted to announce that our sixth CSC chess library is now up and running.

The details can be found here.

CSC Tutor Sean Cassidy, who has already made the Stockton Central Library sessions such a terrific success, is in charge at Ingleby Barwick Library too.

The sessions are on Sunday afternoons, 1.00 - 3.00 p.m. and are suitable for all ages and abilities, from complete novices to Grandmasters and from juniors to Grandmas.

''How The Little Dreams We Dream, Are All We Can Really Do...''

The release this week of Patty Griffin's new (self-titled) album put me in a reflective mood.

Her unique music always evokes many memories. Some bad, some good; smiles and tears.

One song from a previous album always brings back strong memories of my many years working on the Stockton-on-Tees Summer School for the Gifted and Talented. Originally I was brought into the team merely to add a little chess to proceedings and I felt like an imposter in the midst of so many genuinely talented people. However, I was pleased to be able to return every year, with my own character and capacity growing all of the time. I will always be thankful to the people who trusted me to grow into the role, especially during the years when others had shown a distinct lack of faith in anything I had to offer on both professional and personal levels.

Ultimately, I became the only ever-present over the course of the years the Summer Schools were active and I learned such a lot from all of the remarkable teachers, TAs and children with whom I worked.

The chess was a memorable part of the events, of course, but amid the ocean of other excellent activities and outings on offer, I can tell you the time when everyone was universally at their happiest was when we made and flew simple kites on the Sunday afternoon.

It was only a few years later that I discovered this remarkable song by Patty Griffin, which somehow encapsulates the experience of those summer days when, just for a couple of hours, the biggest problem anyone - child or adult - had to worry about was a nothing more than a tangled string.

''The Sunday after there was laughter in the air
Everybody had a kite
They were flying everywhere
And all the trouble went away
And it wasn't just a dream
All the trouble went away
And it wasn't just a dream...''

''How the little dreams we dream
Are all we can really do...''

Book Presentation

News has reached me from of my best and most loyal friends, Nevil Chan.

Nevil has helped me in so many ways over the years and it is always a great pleasure to work with him. 

Nevil's news featured the presentation of a book that looks a shade on the familiar side.

''Attached photo presenting Karen Giles a rare antiquarian book at the Brent Schools' Chess League prize-giving after final rounds last Thursday. Karen is headteacher at Barham Primary who have hosted the league match meets since inception in 2013-14. www.bscl.org.uk.

The school was instrumental in helping to forge the link between Chess in Schools and Communities and Barclaycard when they offered to open up especially during one half-term to host an Internet match against German pupils. David Chan, the then CEO of Barclaycard Europe, attended this inaugural event and the rest is history.''

Indeed, we enjoyed three fine years with the Barclaycard volunteers before the project came to an unfortunate end.