Hazel's Jokes

Why did the knight decline the new year's vacation?
Answer: He didn't want to "trip" over the other pieces.
Knights are known for their jumps, and it's a wonder they never trip.

fyi, the lovely card displayed above can be found at Zazzle.com
http://www.zazzle.com/techatfirstsite_ii/cards

Tournament Update (Mainly Ontario)

Juniors

Canadian Chess Academy
- January 10 (free tournament)
- January 17 - March 7 (8 week program with lessons and tournaments)
- Bayview Golf and Country Club, 25 Fairway Heights Drive, Thornhill
- Jan. 10 --> 12 pm - 2:30 pm and 2:30 pm - 5 pm
- 8 week program --> 12 pm - 5 pm
- 8 week program $220, family discount and individual session pricing available
- http://www.chess.ca/chess_clubs.htm#ontoronto
- http://www.chess.ca/misc2009/ChessAcademy2010.pdf

Knights of Chess Sunday Rated Tournaments
- Every Sunday, starting January 10, 2010
- 5635 Yonge Street, Toronto
- 2:30 pm, tournament starts at 3 pm
- $15 per tournament, family discount available
- http://chess-math.org/pdf/childrens_sunday_instructional_chess_info.pdf

Oriole Chess Club Junior Tournaments
- January 10, February 7, February 21, March 7, March 21
- Oriole Community Centre, Toronto
- 12:45 pm, tournament starts at 1:15 pm
- $8 for members, $12 for non-members (per tournament)
- http://chess-math.org/pdf/oriole_winter_2010.pdf

Swansea Chess Club Saturday Rated Tournaments
- Every Saturday
- Swansea Town Hall Community Centre
- 12:30 pm, tournament 1 - 4 pm
- $15 per tournament, family discount available
- http://chess-math.org/chess/ontario.php?fonction=begin-ON-Toronto-SwanSea
- http://www.chessforchildren.ca/

OYCC/CYCC 2010: http://www.chessreg.ca/

CFC

Canadian Post-Secondary Chess Championship
- January 15 - 17, 2010
- Hart House, University of Toronto
- 6:30 pm Friday, 10 am & 3 pm Saturday & Sunday
- $120 per team
- http://hhchess.sa.utoronto.ca/cpscc
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2103

Ontario Recreational Chess Championship (Active Tournament)
- January 16, 2010
- Brampton Soccer Centre, Brampton
- 12:30 pm, tournament starts at 1 pm
- $20, must pre-register by January 11, 2010
- http://www.horizoncricketclub.com/horizon2/CHESS%20flyer%20ont%202010.htm

2010 RA Winter Open (CFC and FIDE rated)
- January 22 - 24, 2010
- RA Centre, Ottawa
- 7 pm Friday, 1 pm & 6 pm Saturday, 9 am & 2 pm Sunday
- free for IM and GM, amateur $50, eligible for cash prizes $75 (pay in December $60), RA members save $5
- January and on-site entries must be paid in cash
- looking for "floater players" who play and are rated for free in rounds where another player cannot otherwise be paired
- http://www.chess.ca/ontario.htm
- http://www.eoca.org/htm/tournaments_2009-2010.html

London January Open
- January 30, 2010
- Hillside Church, London
- 9:30 am, tournament starts with 10 am
- $20
- now a SWOCL Grand Prix event
- http://www.chess.ca/ontario.htm (check website for further monthly tournaments in London)

Guelph Winter Pro-Am
- February 6 - 7, 2010
- Guelph University Centre, Guelph
- 10 am, 1:30 pm, & 6 pm Saturday, 10 am & 2 pm Sunday
- $55 Pro section, $35 other sections (add $10 for all on-site entries)
- All equipment and snacks/refreshments provided
- Pro section plays for cash, other sections play for trophies
- http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2500

+ support the 2010 olympiad teams...
Victoria Active Fundraiser
- February 20, 2010
- Victoria Chess Club, Victoria, BC
- 9 am, tournament starts at 10 am
- $10 pre-register and pay before Feb. 15, $11 pre-register by Feb. 15, $13 at the door
- $10 donation option online (even if you don't attend the event)
- paypal online registration and payment available
- http://victoriachessclub.pbworks.com/Active-Fundraiser-For-the-2010-Olympiad

+ another post-secondary event....
2010 University Battle of Alberta Open
- January 16 - 17, 2010
- details online: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2459

+ 2010 Carnaval Chess Tournement in Quebec City (FQE)
- January 29 - 31, 2010
- details online: http://www.fqechecs.qc.ca/index.php?typ=actu&type=1&id=2686

Results in December across Canada - congrats to all participants

National Capital Open (December 4 - 6, 2009)
Top section winner: IM Artiom Samsonkin
U2000 winner: Laurent Allard
U1600 winner: Kevin Wan
More results and crosstables: http://www.eoca.org/htm/tournaments_2009-2010.html
Games available for download: http://www.mediafire.com/?w0iijyn2zwm

2009 Winter Super Challenge (December 5, 2009)
Open winner: IM Nikolay Noritsyn and NM Arthur Calugar
U1600 winner: Yutong Luo
U1200 winner: Keith Tang
U1000 winner: Richard Guo
U800 winner: Kevin Ku
U600 winner: Kevin Lu
Youngest boy: Edward Li
Youngest girl: Miriam Tam
More results and crosstables: http://chesstournamentintoronto.webs.com/

William F. Darch Memorial VI (December 5, 2009)
Winner: Jaime Solis
More results: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2435

Victoria City Junior Championships (December 6, 2009)
Grade 8 to 12 winner: Josh Wild
Grade 4 to 7 winner: Jason Cao
Grade K to 3 winner: Matthew Geng
More results: http://victoriajuniorchess.pbworks.com/

Edmonton International & Chess Festival (December 17 - 21, 2009)
Winner: GM Josh Friedel
More results and crosstable: http://www.albertachess.org/EICF2009/EICF_Standings.html

Hart House Holiday Open (December 18 - 20, 2009)
Open winner: IM Nikolay Noritsyn
U2100 winner: Geordie Derraugh
U1800 winner: Jim Zhao
U1500 winner: Adrian Botescu
Team competition winners: YoYos and ARBYS
More results and crosstables: http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2505
Photos: http://www.kris-egis.com/egisphoto/thumbnails.php?album=20

Further tournament notes:

Scarborough Chess Club is moving as of January 7, 2010 to:
Birkdale Community Centre, 1299 Ellesmere Road, Scarborough
More information: http://www.scarboroughchessclub.ca/

Space available for 24 players at Strategy Games Toronto
701 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto
Contact: bevand@chess-math.org

Don't see your tournament listed? Send me an email: chezzstar@gmail.com

Top Ten

Top 10 new year resolutions (for chess players)
1. Play in 'x' number of tournaments in 'x' number of locations
2. Raise rating by 'x' number of points (or improve one class)
3. Obtain a certain norm or title
4. Win a particular tournament
5. Finish 'xth' place (or better) in a particular tournament (or win 'x' number of games)
6. Qualify for a particular tournament
7. Learn a new opening
8. Meet a chess idol
9. Start a chess blog :)
10. Avoid traffic ;)

Feel free to add more via the comment link below...

Cool Chess Sets

Great blog. See for yourself: http://somethinamazing.blogspot.com/2009/06/12-awesome-chess-sets.html

Camels learn the truth about chess...

Part 1: The camels discover the game of "chess".

Part 2: Oscar discusses a "problem" with his opponent.

*******************************************************************************

Part 3:

*******************************************************************************

Oscar sighed. "Hasn't anyone explained this to you? There's only one problem with this game..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"A problem? What ever could it be?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Something you'll eventually find out. It's a fantastic game, yet..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oscar paused for a second before continuing,"...there's more strategy to it than what you see on the board."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His opponent seemed confused.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You see, when I was a young lad, chess was a royal game. It was played in lavish palaces, decorated in the finest gold, silver, and white diamonds. People came from all over the world to see the matches, and those who performed well lived in luxury."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oscar's opponent's eyes began to dazzle. He could see the brightness of the light gleaming on his pieces. For a moment, even his small rickety stool began to feel like a throne. "Amazing! But tell me, Oscar, why do we live in rags?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Haven't you ever heard of the expression 'it's too good to be true'? Well, that's exactly what happened. As more and more money was piled into the game, people became increasingly greedy...and that was just the start of the downfall"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Please tell me more."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Look closer at what I have in my hand."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"A small bag?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Not just any small bag. This kind of bag was once used to hold just about anything a person in the desert needed. It could hold water better than a metal container. It could hold salt and spices...money and valuables. It could even be used as a lucky charm. Deserters would carry hundreds of these little pouches everywhere they would go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And how does this relate to chess?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well, one of the most common uses for these bags was as a weight. Each time a heavy load needed to be tied down, several little bags were filled with sand to keep the load in place. They became known as 'sand bags'."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I still don't see where this is going."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hang on. I'm getting there. Though that was the most common use, chess players found another solution. By then, chess tournaments had become so large, expensive, and potentially rewarding that players would go to any extent to get an unfair advantage."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How would they do that?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"In smaller tournaments, players knew each other fairly well. They would talk between games, and figure out each other's style of play. Some even became friends. Using this knowledge, some players would fill sand bags with specific game information. This included who had the most potential in larger tournaments, and who was just in it for fun. These information collectors would pay the tournament coordinator (who they often knew very well) to organize the playing schedule based on a calculated mapping scheme. This way, the less serious players would play against the rising stars, who were instructed to lose on purpose."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I think I see how this works."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"When a larger tournament was held, the stars were placed in groups much lower than their skill level. They would go on to win much larger prizes for their particular region. Meanwhile, the less serious players would be satisfied with their winnings in smaller tournaments, and could tolerate many larger tournament losses. While some were suspicious, no one was able to find any evidence of foul play as the information was hidden in the thousands of sand bags that circulated daily. This became known as 'sandbagging'"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Then wouldn't the process of fortune continue forever?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Eventually, sandbagging became so widespread that tournament groups became a mess. Coordinators began to argue with sandbaggers. Younger stars became discouraged with losing all the time in the more frequent smaller tournaments, especially if they couldn't really afford to attend all the larger events. The list goes on, but one thing's for sure...no one could stand the chaos stemming from the basic drive for money. Eventually, the royal game itself became an insignificant piece that would slowly fade away..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...to be continued!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: This isn't really how 'sandbagging' works. According to Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sand%20bagging), sandbagging means "to deliberately perform at a lower level than you are capable of".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In chess, this can easily become an issue, since players are grouped based on rating. Ratings can be somewhat manipulated in a variety of ways. I have included a variety of links that discuss the issue of sandbagging:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://boylston-chess-club.blogspot.com/2009/06/chess-and-sandbagging.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://sandbaggersanonymous.blogspot.com/2006/12/what-is-sandbagging.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://blueeyedrook.blogspot.com/2006/05/goofy-chess-terms.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/scholastic08.pdf (page 12 -16)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://blog.chess.com/backrow1720/anti-sandbagging-or-the-louisville-summer-open

World Youth Revision

U10 Open
*Previously, the crosstable was incomplete

Dezheng Kong 6.5/11 --> 36th place/148
Biggest upsets: Beat Nikita Klepikov (1871 RUS) who finished 70th place, and Leonid Sawlin (1865 GER) who finished 54th place.

William Graif 5.5/11 --> 75th place/148
Biggest upset: Drew Evgeny Shtembuliak (2017 UKR) who finished 25th place.

U16 Open and Girls
*Sorry, rankings are still missing from the official site.

Happy Holidays!

Hazel's Holiday Jokes!

Which game was most popular at the Christmas tournament?

Answer: Rudolph's! People had "red" about it from all over!

Last Minute Gift Guide Part 2

An opponent anywhere, anytime (and at 64 levels)

Mephisto Junior Master Chess Computer $69.99

F. G. Bradley's

http://www.fgbradleys.com/fgb-cart/Product.asp?pid=2332&cat=89

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Who came up with this cute edition?

Super Mario Brothers Chess Set $54.99

F. G. Bradley's

http://www.fgbradleys.com/fgb-cart/Product.asp?pid=4765&cat=86

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Three in one -- cool colours!

Triple play 3-in-one game $31.50

UMBRA

http://www.umbra.com/ustore/product/460523/c824/triple_play_3_in_one_game.html

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Great gift for the kids

Playmate chess set $31.50

UMBRA

http://www.umbra.com/ustore/product/460540/c068/playmate_chess_set.html

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Can you score a hole in one?

Golf Chess $39.95

Strategy Games

http://chesstalk.com/boutique/store/listeparsouscat.php?langue=EN&code=AM&souscode=FTY

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Simply adorable!

Peanuts Chess in a Tin $74.95

Strategy Games

http://chesstalk.com/boutique/store/listeparsouscat.php?langue=EN&code=AM&souscode=FTY

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Combining the hit movie and a classic game of chess

Transformers Chess Set $39.95 US

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-41088-Transformers-Chess-Set/dp/B000M5NIRU

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Tutorial, scoring, and 3-D game boards
Brain Games: Chess (software) $23.28
Office Depot
http://www.officedepot.ca/a/products/554115/Brain-Games-Chess/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Involves children by portraying chess in a variety of backgrounds
Cyber Chess (software) $12.99
Office Depot
http://www.officedepot.ca/a/products/603883/Cyber-Chess/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A bargain for all players!
Chessmaster 10 (software) $9.99
Future Shop
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=ENG&sku_id=0665000FS10106117&catid=11125

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The broader version of chessmaster, with input from Josh Waitzkin
Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition (The Art of Learning Chess) (software) $41.96
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Chessmaster-Grandmaster-Art-Learning-Chess/dp/B000SL4ANE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1261309453&sr=1-1
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Fantastic software for children
Various editions, most around $29.99
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_i_1?rh=i%3Asoftware%2Ck%3ALearn+to+play+chess&keywords=Learn+to+play+chess&ie=UTF8&qid=1261310269
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As cheap as it gets
FRITZ CHESS - GRANDMASTER CHALLENGE III (software) $6.56
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/FRITZ-CHESS-GRANDMASTER-CHALLENGE-III/dp/B001KJAE1K/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&gid=1261310196&sr=1-12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fun western and pirate themes
Lego Chess (software) $34.04
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Lego-Chess/dp/B000F6LZ94/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF&s=videogames&qid=1261310415&sr=1-24
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Kids love folding their very own pieces!
Paper Chess (softcover) $15.68
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Paper-Chess-Create-Detachable-Punch-out/dp/0762437448/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261309679&sr=8-1
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Amusing magnets
Mini Magnetic Games: Chess (Hardcover) $8.50
Amazon.ca OR Chapters.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Mini-Magnetic-Games-Contains-Pieces/dp/0764161237/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=126130975&sr=8-1 OR
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Mini-Magnetic-Games-Chess-Contains-John-Tremaine-Tony-Potter/9780764161230-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527chess%2527
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On special -- what a deal!
How Life Imitates Chess: Making The Right Moves - From The Board To The Boardroom (softcover) $5.99
Chapters.ca
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/How-Life-Imitates-Chess-Making-KASPAROV-GARRY/9781596913875-item.html?ref=Books%3a+Search+Top+Sellers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Similar to my first chess book. Good for children who are new to the game.
Starting Chess (softcover) $5.50
Chapters.ca
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Starting-Chess-H-Castor/9780794501150-item.html?ref=Search+Home%3a+%2527chess%2527
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A nice read for business-savvy adults
Three Moves Ahead: What Chess Can Teach You About Business (hardcover) $17.81
Chapters.ca
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Three-Moves-Ahead-What-Chess-Bob-Rice/9780470178218-item.html?ref=Search+Home%3a+%2527chess%2527
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Revisit 150 years of chess play from 1798 to 1938
500 Master Games of Chess (softcover) $16.93
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/500-Master-Games-Chess-Mont/dp/0486232085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261309886&sr=1-1
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Large variety of posters
AllPosters.com
http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?startat=%2Fgallery.asp&CID=E798FA3497FA41E1808EB75BAA91AD77&txtSearch=Chess&imageField2.x=4&imageField2.y=14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New art print
Sandro Del Prete (Folded Chess) Art Poster Print - 24" X 36" $6.99
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Sandro-Prete-Folded-Chess-Poster/dp/B00306PCA4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1261310613&sr=1-4
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Cute print -- who said only humans can play chess?
It's A Cat and Mouse Game Art Print - 16" X 20" $4.99
Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Mouse-Print-POSTER-kitten-chess/dp/B002ULOO0E/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1261310613&sr=1-15
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NOTE: Items listed may not arrive before Christmas depending on availability. Shipping charges may apply. See websites for details. In some cases, items may be available in-store.

Last Minute Gift Guide Part 1

I was looking around online and found some great gift ideas to share!

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Bring it anywhere!

Chess Game in a Tin $7.99

F. G. Bradley's

http://www.fgbradleys.com/fgb-cart/Product.asp?pid=1999&cat=82

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Perfect for the aspiring student
I Beat My Dad At Chess Leather Bookmark $2.00

Strategy Games

http://www.chesstalk.com/boutique/store/listeparsouscat.php?langue=EN&code=AM&souscode=ACC

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For those special memories

Chess Picture Frame $19.95

Strategy Games

http://www.chesstalk.com/boutique/store/listeparsouscat.php?langue=EN&code=AM&souscode=ACC

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Make your holiday dinner special

Napkin Holder Chess $14.95

Strategy Games

http://www.chesstalk.com/boutique/store/listeparsouscat.php?langue=EN&code=AM&souscode=ACC

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The shirt says it all

I Love Chess t-shirt $21.80

Zazzle

http://www.zazzle.com/i_love_chess_t_shirt-235288388638701369

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For the tournament player

Saitek Game Clock III $59.95

Strategy Games
http://chesstalk.com/boutique/store/listeparsouscat.php?langue=EN&code=AM&souscode=CLK

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For the tournament player

Saitek Game Clock for Scholastic Chess $39.95

Strategy Games
http://chesstalk.com/boutique/store/listeparsouscat.php?langue=EN&code=AM&souscode=CLK

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For the tournament player and collectible (signed by Susan Polgar)!

Saitek Competition Game Timer Autographed $34.95 US

Polgar Chess

http://polgarchess.com/products/clocks.php

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A basic set for new players

Game, Board Classic Chess $4.99

Home Hardware

http://www.homehardware.ca/Products/index/show/product/I7237000/name/game_board_classic_chess ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cool design!

Mephisto Travel Hand Held Chess Computer $59.99

F. G. Bradley's

http://www.fgbradleys.com/fgb-cart/Product.asp?pid=2331&cat=89

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New colours

Polgar Olympic Chess Set $19.95 US

Polgar chess

http://polgarchess.com/products/plasticsets.php

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Real jade

Handmade Green & Black Chinese Jade Chess $72.12

Sam's Club

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=435411

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Looks great!

Marble and Fossil Chess Set $99.99

Costco.ca

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10315946&search=chess&topnav=&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode%20matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=chess&Ntt=chess&No=0&Nty=1&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial

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Three in one

Pavilion - Chess/Checkers/Chinese Checkers $11.97

Toys R Us

http://www.toysrus.ca/search/index.jsp?f=Taxonomy%2FTRUSCA%2F2510384&kw=chess&x=48&y=2

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Other Items (will add more later)....see part 2 above

Hazel's Jokes!

Studying hasn't stopped my creative juices! A special joke for all of you who have kept up with my blog...

Why shouldn't you order a chess set for Christmas?

Answer: By the time it arrives, it'll be in pieces!

(implies a broken set, but we all know chess sets are meant to be in pieces)

Note: You can find the chess set pictured above at:

http://www.christmasfungames.com/?PID=37 $29.95

Revisiting the Camels...

Last week: The camels discover the game of "chess".

This week:

The camels approached the two men, who seemed to be concentrating quite intensely on a small board containing little "statues". Some were short, and some were tall. Some were round, and some had sharp creases. Some even looked like the camels themselves!

As the camels neared, one of the men picked up a "statue" and moved it to another location on the board, all the while exclaiming "Check!". The camels were confused. They didn't know what this meant. The game seemed very peculiar, yet intriguing.

The other man made a move. He seemed concerned as he picked up a "statue" resembling a pharaoh. He didn't move it a long distance. The man looked around the board, left, right, then left again. He placed down his pharaoh and looked to his opponent. The camels knew the end must be near.

Without hesitation, the opponent, who the camels called "Oscar"(due to his scruffy long beard and his serious, almost menacing, facial expression) grabbed a tall "statue" and moved it right adjacent to the pharaoh. He yelled out "Checkmate!".

Grieved, the other man once again looked left, right, and then to Oscar. He slowly put out his hand and Oscar shook it. The two smiled, and set up the board to play again.

Just as the camels were about to approach even closer, the two men started a discussion.

"You know, I don't know why chess isn't popular anymore. It used to be so well-known", said the one man

Oscar sighed. "Hasn't anyone explained this to you? There's only one problem with this game..."

"A problem? Whatever could it be?"

"Something you'll eventually find out. It's a fantastic game, yet..."

...to be continued!!!

What do you think will happen next? Feel free to comment below!

"Cool" Chess Variant

Ice Age Chess

In this game, empty squares (those not occupied by pieces) are filled with ice cubes. These ice cubes block the path of pieces until they are captured. However, every 20 moves, a new Ice Age refills empty squares with a whole new set of ice cubes! If the ice cubes completely surround a piece at this time, it is "frozen" and removed from the board (and replaced by none other than another ice cube). If a king is either frozen or checkmated, the game ends. If both kings freeze, it is a draw. This game brings a completely different way to strategize and emphasizes the value of time. Have fun!

http://www.chessvariants.org/boardrules.dir/iceage.html

Play it online: http://play.chessvariants.org/erf/IceAgeCh.html

Chess in the snow!

This week's theme is...Snow (and ice)!!!!

To start off, here are some cool pictures I found online. Amazing!

Playing chess anywhere...any season

His opponent must be a rock-solid player!

Beautiful sculptures

I hope my opponent won't mind if I take a bite...

Ice is nice

And of course...get ready to count down!