metmike: Now that you know how the pieces move........let's understand how to play chess!

How To Play: Touch Moves | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPM8py0xHi8&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=43

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

      Check! | Chess Term | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6bqDvAZVTk&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=22

+++++++++++++++++++++++++  

Checkmate | Chess Terms | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HLek53lFBc&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=20

                         Learn How To Checkmate In Chess!    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svswkqslr9I&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IpK9VsORuI&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=59

+++++++++++++++

How to Play Your First Chess Moves: Part 1 | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7CT0kOm8Jk&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=14

++++++++++++++++++++

How to Play Your First Chess Moves: Part 2 | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mbJyj8zgvI&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=15

+++++++++++++++++++

How Do I Castle in Chess? | Castling | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dLZ5bv2tn8&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=31

+++++++++++

Castling | How to Play Chess

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcLYgXCkucc

++++++++++++=

How Do I Castle in Chess? | Castling | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2CBlNGLwUw

++++++++++++++++++++

What is En Passant? | Chess Terms | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-PAaAMmSA&list=PLUe4-TSKGmsBdmtUaKWhwcNRpsnCodBBo&index=27

Chess strategies:

After Castling in Chess | Back Rank Mates | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBXBE0F78xw

++++++++++++

5 Main Objectives of a chess game

https://chessfox.com/introduction-to-the-5-main-objectives-of-a-chess-game/

Chess Openings – Ultimate Guide to the Openings of Chess

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOGeEZ7iYSg

++++++++++++++++++++++

4 MOVE CHECK MATE VIDEOS....and more analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFQjoWaJtjk   14 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyLxWIbjXUU  3 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YezT87PSv6o  42 seconds

++++++++++++++++++

13 Chess Middle Game Strategic Goals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBZL_uUX-7E

++++++++++++

How to do a rook roller mate in chess! Chess Basics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ccnENhxBE

+++++++++++++++

How to Checkmate with Queen & King | Chess Basics for Beginners | Chess Endgame Strategy to WIN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbh2pRvM3aU

+++++++++++ 

Chess Endgames: Checkmating with a Rook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOGeEZ7iYSg

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Checkmating with a Lone Rook

http://www.chesscorner.com/tutorial/basic/r_k_mate/r_k_mate.htm

++++++++++++++++

King & Rook Checkmate

https://completechesseducation.com/lessons/king-rook-checkmate/

+++++++++++++++++++++++

6 checkmate patterns you MUST know

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBZLU1FXhcI&

+++++++++++++++++++

How To Spot Good And Bad Chess Pieces? Like This.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkX90kPV2PE

+++++++++++++++++++

The Pin | Tactics | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjpKC9SMvKs

+++++++++++++++++++++++

The Skewer | Tactics | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KlDixnZMhM

++++++++++++++++++++++

Chess Tactics | Double Attack! | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2CBlNGLwUw

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tactics | Discovered Attacks and Double Checks | ChessKid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpuK-ft7yPI

More experienced players. No matter how advanced you are, many of these videos will be of tremendous benefit to improving your game!

They are also great fun to watch if you love chess analysis with the chess coaches being some of the best on the internet.

*How To Solve Chess Puzzles | Improve Your Tactics & Visualization

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWzltpXk2mg

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

35 Vital Chess Principles | Opening, Middlegame, and Endgame Principles - Chess Strategy and Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXyJdetptXg

+++++++++++++++++

21 Positional Chess Concepts   -   Chess Strategies You NEED TO KNOW - Chess Principles and Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYtXMJjqfvw

++++++++++++++++++++++

8 Chess Concepts Every Chess Player Should Know - Chess Principles, Ideas, Strategies and Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRy8A3-1A9I

++++++++++++++++++++

Top 18 Attacking Principles/Concepts In Chess - How To Attack Correctly - How To Sacrifice Pieces!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7ALEPcUaSU

+++++++++++++++++++++++

The Top 23 Checkmate Patterns | Most Important Mating Patterns In Chess | Chess Tactics and Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo93mIhnDz4

+++++++++++++++++++

7 Most Successful Gambits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxYuTRG4RE

++++++++++++++++++++++

Top 7 Aggressive Chess Openings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib8XaRKCAfo

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Surprisingly Tricky, Extremely Fun - The Wasp Variation of the Elephant Gambit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlT3RjhuVHM   

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                            

A Brilliant Endgame Study

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNe4d47u1p4

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chess Masterclass: 5 Step Thinking Strategy | Best Tips, Tactics, Moves & Ideas for Beginners

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y_jUGO5agg

+++++++++++++++++++++++

ALL Chess Tactics Explained |Chess Strategy, Moves, Ideas & Basics for Beginners| How to Play Chess

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4F77emUnqQ

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Traxler Counter Attack: Chess Opening Tricks to WIN Fast |Checkmate Moves, Strategy, Gambit & Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW81BAd2ins

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Fishing Pole Trap: Chess Opening TRICK to WIN Games Fast: Secret Checkmate Strategy, Moves & Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6bkHvDd79Y

++++++++++++++++++++++

Legal's Mate Trap: Chess Opening TRICK to Fool Your Opponent & Win Fast: Secret Moves & Strategy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEu3xT--f_k

++++++++++++++++++++

Chess Opening Tricks to WIN Fast: Englund Gambit Traps, Moves & Ideas | Best Checkmate Strategy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwwKqLd1OY

++++++++++++++++++++

Chess Opening TRICK to Fool Your Opponent: Tennison Gambit - Strategy & Moves to Trap Black Queen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZtVxicqkAs

+++++++++++++++++++

Two Knights Defense Traps: Chess Opening Tricks to Win Fast |Best Checkmate Moves, Strategy & Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v9KoTKAibA

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Poison Pawn Trap: Chess Opening TRICK to Win Fast: Secret Checkmate Moves, Strategy & Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UCUgfg2kdI

++++++++++++++++++++++

Elephant Trap: Chess Opening Tricks in the Queen’s Gambit Declined | Tricky Moves, Tactics & Ideas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OScG6p3buuo

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

How To Learn & Study Chess Openings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IegDENuxU4

+++++++++++++++++

Chess Visualizing: How To Remember Squares

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i9wcusTwSo

+++++++++++++

10 Chess Tips To CRUSH Everyone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGFl4GjVvrA

+++++++++++++++++++

7 MOST COMMON Chess Mistakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXrKRA_KZ5k

+++++++++++++++

EASY CHESS ENDGAMES: King & Pawns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCsc24k-Q8M

++++++++++++++++

EASY CHESS ENDGAMES: Queen vs. Pawn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q-TjB6YYRI

++++++++++++++++++

EASY CHESS ENDGAMES: Rook & Pawn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMZJ9P2Hnq0

++++++++++++                                      

Top Chess Principles to Play Smartly | Chess Basics, Tips, Strategy, Moves & Ideas to Gain Elo    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXVHBv9MS9M

CHESS PUZZLE PAGE:

Doing chess puzzles is excellent for rapidly increasing your skill at tactical vision and pattern recognition. It's  probably the best way for students to get better at chess outside of a private lesson with a chess coach. And it's fun!!!

However, playing games and understanding successful strategies(developing pieces) must accompany the puzzles. 

I put these links at the top because it appears to be the best source for UNLIMITED, FREE chess puzzles! Beginners (and others) can use the "get a hint" choice to help them.

Chess Puzzles from lichess.org:

https://lichess.org/training

Mate in 2:

https://lichess.org/training/mateIn2

Mate in 3:

https://lichess.org/training/mateIn3

Mate in 4:

https://lichess.org/training/mateIn4

Mate in 5:

https://lichess.org/training/mateIn5

++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

Chess puzzles for beginners:

        PlayBoardGameOnline.com      

https://www.playboardgameonline.com/chess-games/mate-in-one-move/

+++++++++++++++++++

Chess Puzzles from Chess.com:

https://www.chess.com/puzzles

++++++++++++++

Master Chess Tactics with Puzzles from Real Tournament Games  

https://chesspuzzle.net/    

+++++++++++++++

Chesskid:

https://www.chesskid.com/puzzles     

Previous chess thread:

                Chess videos/links 2023/24            

                            24 responses |       

                Started by metmike - Nov. 12, 2023, 10:29 p.m.           

 https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/100532/

Scholastic Chess of Indiana Individual Regional qualifier on January 10, 2026 at McCutchanville, IN.

I'm hosting this tournament for the Evansville Regional and got a question from a parent this morning who's 2nd grade son has never played in a chess tournament before and wondered how she could help him to be prepared.

I decided to pass on the answer to everybody at our schools using the link here.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

To the parent: When the list below is updated tonight, I should see him on it.

I'm so glad that you asked since there are probably other families doing a chess tournament for the first time just like you. I'm going to pass this explanation on to everybody at Scott, Oak Hill and McCutchanville.

As a 2nd grader, he'll be playing students in 2nd and 3rd grade. The students with a rating below have been in US Chess Federation, rated events in the past. This tournament on Saturday is a qualifier to play in such a tournament at the championships in Indianapolis. It's there when their games will be used by the USCF to determine a rating. I'll know how many students will qualify in this division later this week.  Caleb Reis and Logan Matheson on the list below from McCutchanville have competed in several tournaments and are excellent chess players. 

In this division, students with a 250+ rating are pretty decent compared to those lower or unrated. However, the higher rated students all started somewhere with their first tournament and only got better each time. It's an awesome experience that maximizes growth as a chess player and as a young person competing in the sport for the brain. Meeting students from other schools while practicing good sportsmanship and having fun at the same time. 

Here's one of the coolest things about chess tournaments.

Nobody is eliminated and after each round, students will play other students with a similar record. With only 10 in this division(see update below), we might only need 3 rounds to get an undefeated person. When there's an odd number, somebody(with a low rating/losses sits out-different person each round).

In round 3(which will likely be the last round) with such a small number signed up, the 2-0's play each other and possibly a 1-1. If there's an odd number of 2-0s. 

They will likely be the highest rated players above. 

The 0-2's also play each other and possibly somebody at 1-1. They will likely be the unrated and low rated players. With the weakest(strongest) players playing each other as the tournament progresses, it gives the weaker players a better and better chance to win, while making it tougher and tougher for the better players who need the challenge. 

Regardless of their records, its a super experience to do something that only a tiny % of students will be doing this Saturday to challenge themselves.

Next Monday, Mrs. Scarlett will recognize ALL of them at school with announcements, then we will also recognize them at chess practice next Tuesday. 

The best part of all is that after it's over, Brendan will have experienced a chess tournament and learned some new things. We will be having a bigger chess tournament at NJH on March 7th that will have more unrated players, some that have never played in a tournament before. I award the top 60% of finishers with trophies there..............then its over. That tournament is not rated. 

The regional qualifier tournament this Saturday has no trophies. It's a playoff to qualify for  the SCI Championships in Indianapolis(where they will get trophies). If they qualify, then they must become US Chess Federation members. The 3rd and Under division can purchase a Junior Tournament Player membership for free. They get everything that a full membership gets except no newsletter. The USCF will track all their rated chess games with the same #, even if they move to another state for the rest of their lives. 

They will get a rating that's updated after every rated tournament they play in. More on that to our SCI Championships qualifiers next week.

What can you do to prepare him for his first tournament?

You know him better than anybody. If he's nervous, reassure him that everybody else is just as nervous.  Make sure that he knows how proud you are of him and that his chess coach, teachers and principle are all proud of him for challenging himself to do this. He should just do his best and have fun playing chess in a special tournament that not too many of his classmates are playing in. This makes him extra special!

Have fun playing chess with him at home and use these links to do chess puzzles or play/learn chess online if that's something thats appealing to you guys. There are tons of other places to play chess online that I don't know about but you might find yourself. 

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/116355/

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/116355/#116457

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

https://scichessin.org/26SCIInd.html

https://scichessin.org/26SCIIndEntriesResults.html

There are 90 students signed up so far in the Evansville Regional.

https://scichessin.org/26SCIIndEva.html

++++++++++++++

The division illustrated earlier has added 4 more students.

Here is the update list(thru 1-5-26) in order of rating. The older divisions get more players and may need to play more rounds to determine a clear winner.  This division below, with more players may play as many as 4 rounds.

There are 5 students below that have never played in a US Chess Federation rated tournament. This is NOT a rated tournament......YET.  Students that do well in this regional qualifier will earn their way to play in the Scholastic Chess of Indiana Championships in Indianapolis on February 7, 2026. THAT is a USCF rated tournament. See the explanation above for what happens after that.

Continued below:

Here's the next division up with grades 4 and 5 listed by USCF rating. 

With 29 students, theoretically, this division will need 5 rounds to determine a clear winner. 

The way that works for 32 players, pretending the world is perfect and there are no 1/2 point draws/ties  (there will be draws) is:

Round 1 = 32 players undefeated 

Round 2 =16 players undefeated

Round 3 = 8 players undefeated

Round 4 = 4 players undefeated 

Round 5 = 2 players undefeated, the winner finishes in 1st place.

However draws(tie's will often change that). In that case, the Tournament Director can use tie breaker formulas on their computer, which are ALWAYS used in non regional qualifier tournaments to break ties between players that have the same score.

Those tie breaker formulas vary but are based on the performance/strength of the players each student played that day.  

For instance, if you're tied at 3-2 with 8 other students at the end of a big tournament, which happens all the time. The computer will add up the scores of all your opponents that day and compare them with the other 8 students scores that you are tied with to break all the ties. Even after doing this, there can still be ties. Then, the computer will look at the scores of your opponents opponents. In huge tournaments, additional tie break programs need to be applied. 

Bottom line is that even though players can get paired against some especially tough opponents that hurt that days wins and losses performance, in the event of ties, those tough opponents give you HUGE tie breaker points to finish ABOVE others with the same score as you.  

Also, that additional challenge against the toughest players provides more learning opportunities from observing better players. Incorporating their tricks into your chess repertoire  and especially helping to eliminate costly mistakes. 

We jumped up to 98 students signed up on Tuesday night in the Scholastic Chess of Indiana Individual Regional qualifier for Evansville. 

The previous posts were about the JUNIOR VARSITY division.

Scholastic Chess of Indiana also has a CHAMPIONSHIP division in this same tournament. 

The cutoff between these 2 divisions is dependent on a rating threshold which varies by division. The championship division with its high rated players have qualified themselves in, up to dozens of previous tournaments over the course of years of competing in USCF rated tournaments. 

They do not have a regional qualifier and go to the State Championships automatically by virtue of their high rating, where they will play the other high rated players in their division. 

These are the students playing tomorrow in Evansville. Everybody should be checked in at the side entrance by 8:30am.

https://scichessin.org/26SCIIndEva.html

We had a record 715 students signed up in the state of Indiana for this tournament. 

With the same number of spots available in the Championships each year, that means a lower % will qualify so this will be the toughest year to qualify. 

Evansville:

HSJV - 12 qualify out of of 20 entrants (~61%)

MSJV - 9 qualify out of 27 entrants (~34%)

ESJV - 11 qualify out of 31 entrants (~37%)

3U - 9 qualify out of 16 entrants (~54%)

1U - 2 qualify out of 4 entrants (~50%)

These were the final results of our tournament:

https://scichessin.org/26SCIIndEvFinal.html

We had 42 students from the 5 schools that I coach chess at:

North High School =6

North Junior High =7

McCutchanville Elementary =17

Scott Elementary =8

Oak Hill Elementary =4

We also had dozens of wonderful parents pitching in to help me to run this awesome, Scholastic Chess of Indiana tournament. We had the best TD in the state doing the pairings and tallying the results on his computer,  Joe Riegsecker!

Parents/grand parents setting up and taking down the tables, chairs and chess boards.

Running the concession stand. Checking in students. 

Giving up their Saturday to support their children and our chess program.

I was especially proud of the students that were brave enough to compete in the "Sport for the Brain" against most of the best chess players in Southern Indiana. Some of them in their first chess tournament.

It was the toughest ever to qualify for the state championships because of the record number competing in the state of Indiana and only limited spots. However, it was a challenge that will hopefully pay dividends to their personal growth that they can continue to build on.

They met new people from different schools and spent the day competing in person against real human beings and not an electronic screen. Using their brains to the max! Thinking under pressure. Taking chances. Learning consequences for mistakes and learning lessons which is how we get better. Thinking contemplatively, instead of acting impulsively.  Practicing good sportsmanship. Learning to be graceful losers which means ALWAYS acknowledging and congratulating the winner, no matter how tough the loss. Always appreciating the many things that were learned in the losses to superior opponents and knowing it made them better chess players. Respecting the opponents. 

It was also a tough day for those that just barely missed qualifying. Some of our best chess players with high expectations fell just short. 

Only 34% of the students in grades 6-8 could qualify! We had several outstanding chess players in that division that just missed out that I personally know deserved it. 

I was the proudest chess coach anywhere yesterday of all of our students for the stellar way that they represented themselves, their families and their schools. That's what matter's the most. 

 However, it's still painful to see the disappointment in young people that you care about that went into an event with high expectations and not all of them were met. Elated for the qualifiers though.

++++++++==

One element that has been unique to our tournament at McCutchanville is that we play in the gym and pull out the bleachers to allow parents to spectate.

I forgot to mention the most important element to what makes chess tournaments so appealing. Having fun doing something that's good for you!!!

It would be like eating junk food and chocolate chip cookies..........and getting healthy from it!