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/
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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!

Top Ten

The chess player's top 10 ways to stay warm this winter:

1. Play chess! While skiers and snowboarders are out catching colds, chess players can enjoy the warmth of their local indoor chess club.

2. Play blitz/rapid. The fast pace sure generates some heat!

3. Play a super grandmaster. Trust me, you won't have time to think about the cold.

4. Remember to shake hands with your opponent. Perfect for melting the frost before an important match.

5. Travel to a tournament abroad, such as the 19th annual North American Open in Nevada (December 26 - 29) http://www.chesstour.com/nao09.htm

6. Make sure the organizer has turned on the heater (if possible). You may be fine at first, but nobody likes coughing five hours later.

7. Dress warmly. I know you want to wear your patriotic chess t-shirt, BUT please don't forget a sweater!

8. Don't stay in one spot the whole time. By moving around every so often, your body generates much needed heat. When not playing a game, also look for opportunities to get some exercise.

9. Eat properly. Hot foods and drinks are good choices to re-energize. Eat regularly to regulate your metabolism and keep warmer!

10. Enjoy yourself. You are much more likely to feel cold for extended periods of time when you get tired or bored. Have fun and time will just fly by!