- - - Northwest Washington Scholastic Chess Ememo #148, October 21, 2007 - - -

Contents:
1. Oct. 29: Autumn Grand Prix Kickoff, Bellingham *ENTER IN ADVANCE*
2. Nov. 5: NWL Speed Bughouse Blast
3. Yes you can: Start a Chess Club at Your Child's School
4. US Chess League: Seattle in 2nd
5. Chess Calendar -- Updated

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1.
NEXT MONDAY, OCTOBER 29
AUTUMN GRAND PRIX KICKOFF
AT SEHOME HIGH CAFETERIA, BELLINGHAM
ENTER IN ADVANCE
Student chessplayers from 4th*-12th grades of all abilities are invited to attend the NWL Autumn Grand Prix 2007, being held on three Monday evenings this Fall. The Kickoff is coming quick, on Monday, October 29 at the Sehome H.S. cafeteria.
Check-in (for advance entries) and registration (for on-site entries) for the tourney is between 6:00 and 6:10 pm.

Grand Prix Format: - In addition to medals for section winners each evening, the three players who accumulate the most points overall in all three Autumn Grand Prix tourneys will be declared 2007 Prix Champions, and will receive special awards. The Grand Prix formula rewards players who are improving, so don't think you need to be an expert or have a high rating to win the Prix.

At each Grand Prix tourney, players are placed in different playing groups of approximately equal playing ability based on the latest NWSRS ratings. If you are unrated, you're put in a beginning playing section appropriate to your age. All players rated 900 or higher will play in 4-player "Quad" sections, two games, each player getting 45 minutes on the chess clock. The remainder (most) will play in 8-player "Octagonal" sections, three games, with 30 minutes per player (so 60 minutes total) for each game.

All players are required to record their moves and chess clocks will be used. If you're not used to writing down moves, or using a chess clock, don't worry. Instruction will be available on site, and you'll be in a section with fellow rookies.

TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE:
If you think you might attend, do email your entry in advance (by 8pm the eve before the tourney) to ChessEntry@verizon.net. Advance entries pay $2 at the door. On-site entries $4. Email Name, School, Grade, and name of tourney you are entering (Kickoff).

Entry fees cover administrative costs, rating fees, scoresheets and awards. The tourneys are sponsored by the Northwest High School Chess League. Players who complete the evening event will gain a state level rating, or handicap, as computed by the Washington High School Chess Assocation.

USCF and WHSCA tournament rules are in effect, i.e. if you touch a piece, you must move it. Bring a pen or pencil, since you must write down your moves (well, at least until either player has five minutes or less remaining on their clock. At that point both players may quit recording moves.) Scoresheets provided, but bring a chess clock if you have one! It's a no elimination tournament, each player plays two or three games depending on your section, and thus games will be done by 9:45pm each evening (usually earlier).
*So you're younger than 4th grade, and you're dying to play? Well... okay, if you don't mind older competition and can write down your moves.

Registration: 6:00 - 6:10pm
Registration/Check-in closes at 6:10pm
Clocks Start 6:40 or ASAP
Estimated time of conclusion: 9:30pm (final round begins around 8:40)
WSRS rated
Entry fee $2 for entries emailed in advance, $4 on site
Email entries to ChessEntry@verizon.net. For further information contact NWL directors Randy Kaech kaech@verizon.net or Randy Walther RandyWalther@msn.com. Website: http://mysite.verizon.net/kaech/pre07.html .


2.
SPEED BUGHOUSE BLAST
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5
AT MOUNT BAKER HIGH SCHOOL, DEMING
What: A relaxed, crazy, fun evening of speed chess, with some Bughouse mixed in to keep it lively.
Where: Mount Baker High School cafeteria, Deming. (Cafeteria doors are just behind the flagpole.)
When: Monday evening, November 5, 2007. Site opens at 6:00pm, organized chaos begins at 6:30.
Who: Aimed for 3rd -12th graders, but we're not checking ID.
Why: Because there's more than one way to have fun with this ancient game.
How: See Speed Bughouse site: http://mysite.verizon.net/kaech/speed07.html .
Cost: Free. (But bring any chess clock you can!)
Prizes: Hey, we said free. Guaranteed fun, prizes not guaranteed.
Directions: See Speed Bughouse site: http://mysite.verizon.net/kaech/speed07.html .


3.
HEY PARENTS-
YOU CAN'T PLAY CHESS?
NO PROBLEM
START A CHESS CLUB AT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL
Yes, you can do it, it's great for kids, and you don't even have to know how to play chess. In its simplest form, it's as easy as providing a safe place for kids to play. One dad's story is at http://www.chessmaniac.com/2006/02/taking-chess-to-children.php . And here's a little encouragement (with humor) from an Illinois teacher, 'Starting a Scholastic Chess Club', at http://www.rockfordchess.org/clubs/starting.htm . For another perspective, how about 'How a Parent Who Barely Played Chess Did It', at http://www.okschess.org/starting/index.htm .
If you're a high school student (or parent) with no club at your school, you can make it happen. Gather four chessplaying friends from your school, start playing, and consider entering the Northwest High School Chess League. Information at http://mysite.verizon.net/kaech/nwleague.html or contact the league director at kaech@verizon.net .


4.
US CHESS LEAGUE APPROACHES PLAYOFFS
SEATTLE SLUGGERS 2nd
IN WESTERN DIVISION
With two weeks remaining in the U.S. Chess League regular season, our Seattle Sluggers are holding on to second place in the West. They have to make it past the San Francisco Mechanics (this Monday) and the Miami Sharks to make the playoffs. Go Sluggers!
USCL website - replay the games: http://www.uschessleague.com/games1.html
Seattle Sluggers Blog: http://seattlesluggers.blogspot.com/
Watch games live at Internet Chess Club: http://www.chessclub.com/


5.
SCHOLASTIC CHESS CALENDAR
2007-2008 UPDATED
Details for events below at http://mysite.verizon.net/kaech/
Oct 29 NWL Autumn Grand Prix Kickoff, Sehome HS, Bellingham
Nov 5 Speed Bughouse Blast, Mount Baker HS, Deming
Nov 19 NWL Autumn Grand Prix 2, Mount Vernon HS
Nov 26 NWL Autumn Grand Prix 3, Lynden Christian
Dec 3 NWL High School Chess Meet 1, Burlington-Edison HS
Dec 8 HS and JH Mini Team Championships, at Mountlake Terrace HS
Dec 15 Skagit Chessfest, K-12, Sedro-Woolley
Dec 17 NWL High School Chess Meet 2, Sedro-Woolley HS
Jan 7 NWL High School Chess Meet 3, Lynden HS
Jan 12 Whatcom County Championships, Lynden
Jan 14 NWL High School Chess Meet 4, Ferndale HS
Feb 2 Chess Jam 2008, K-12, Ferndale
Feb 8-9 HS State Team Championships, at Issaquah HS
Mar 1 JH/MS State Team Championships, Islander MS (Mercer Island)
Mar 8 F.E.S.T. Ferndale Elementary Spring Tournament, K-6, Ferndale
Apr 26 2008 State Elementary Chess Championships, Redmond

For scholastic tournament information beyond NW Washington, consult the two authoritative sources:
WHSCA (and OSCF) Scholastic Calendar: http://www.whsca.org/calendar.html
Northwest Chess Magazine: http://www.nwchess.com/calendar/index.htm#Scholastic%20Events
They both announce scholastic events throughout Washington and Oregon.
And for all the scholastic tourneys just across the border:
BC Junior Chess Calendar http://www.bjdy.com/juniorchess/events.html

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