Halloween Prep in Eight Easy Steps!

ARE YOU READY FOR HALLOWEEN...

..."CHECKMATE" STYLE????

STEP 1: WARM UP YOUR BRAIN.

Halloween arcade games http://halloweenarcade.com/

(yes, in this game, I was the witch...can't you tell by my gleaming smile?)

STEP 2: PRACTICE CHESS AGAINST A COMPUTER.

Halloween chess game http://www.gamesforwork.com/games/play-11305-Halloween_Chess-Flash_Game

(you have to be patient, it takes a minute or two to load)

Such an adorable set, but 100% fearless! How many times do you get to play Halloween chess against the Sicilian?

Strange - I seem to see things better with the Halloween set...guess that's a sign I'm out of practice. It helps that my "opponent" likes moving the "witch" (queen) out early.

STEP 3: LEARN A NEW OPENING.

The Halloween Gambit...scary...

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 wowwwww

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roz1YeJjvUY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Knights_Game,_Halloween_Gambit

http://www.chessville.com/uco/Halloween_Gambit/Part_1.htm

"Austrian Jakob Steffen, played the gambit with his crafty clone "Brause" in thousands of chess games on the ICC-server between 1993 and 1998. He achieved a performance of over 70 %."

http://www.chessexchange.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2904

STEP 4: REFUEL.

Impressive! Now who wants the purple hand (I still have my doubts of its edibility)?

http://worldsbestcookingmenu.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-chess-cake.html

STEP 5: CHOOSE YOUR SET.

Wooden halloween pieces. Amazing! After seeing these, I don't think I'll ever carve wood again.

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1359/cat/external.php

STEP 6: CHOOSE YOUR OPPONENT.

A pawn dressed up as a knight - priceless!

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/fun-with-chess/early-halloween-drawing-i-made-for-chesscom?lc=1

STEP 7: REALIZE YOU CAN'T ORGANIZE A GAME AGAINST A PAWN ON A FANCY WOODEN SET AND DECIDE TO RESORT BACK TO TOURNAMENTS.

How about Chess 'n Math's Halloween Tournament (tomorrow)? - sounds like fun!

http://members4.boardhost.com/chess-math/msg/1286430732.html

...to celebrate, I even designed a witching/wizarding hat for Kiril!

STEP 8: PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK AND ENJOY THE SATISFACTION OF FIGURING OUT WHY CHESS PLAYERS SPEND THEIR WEEKENDS IN TOURNAMENTS ...WHAT A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY :)

NOW THAT'S HOW WE "CHECKMATE"!

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BONUS STEP:

TRICK OR TREAT UNDER ONE CONDITION...YOU MUST SAVE SOME FOR ME! AFTERALL, ADVICE DOESN'T COME CHEAP.

p.s. I like caramels and chocolates :)

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Also see my costume idea posts:

http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2010/09/best-dressed.html

http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-costumes-anyone.html

World Youth!

The classic joke...

"What's black and white and red all over?"

No, it's not a newspaper or a skunk in a blender (http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/168440 ...that's just weird)...

It's chess + our Canadian team!!!

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Follow the World Youth Chess Championships: http://wycc2010.chessdom.com/

Interesting historical lists: http://wycc2010.chessdom.com/history-of-the-world-youth-championships/

Canadian results: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr39336.aspx?art=25&fedb=CAN&lan=1&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000

Canadian blog: http://wycc2010.blogspot.com/

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More blog content coming soon (midterm, then a bit of a break)...