Links for GCAA Practice 9/23

Today was the first day of practice for GCAA and it went great! Awesome to see so many new faces.

For those of you who still need the registration forms and general info for GCAA...

GCAA Chess 2014-15 Information Sheet and Permission Slip

One of the first orders of business was to get back into the swing with chess notation. I've put together a sheet that summarizes modern chess notation.

Chess Notation Basics

There is perhaps no better foundation for chess study than the most famous game of them all, Morphy's Opera House Game. Every game has a story and this game's backstory is as dramatic as the sensational checkmate that ends it. Here it is with a few of the learning points from today.

Morphy’s Opera Game

1. e4 e5 

2. Nf3 d6

Philidor's Defense

3. d4 Bg4?

What is the goal of this old move? What are some other options?

4. dxe5 Bxf3

Why do some consider this move forced? What would happen with 4. ...dxe5?

5. Qxf3 dxe5 

6. Bc4 Nf6

7. Qb3 

What are the two threats that this move makes?

What are the possible defenses to these threats?

7. ...Qe7 

8. Nc3

Why didn't Morphy follow through on his threats?

8. ....c6

9. Bg5 b5?

And follows the famous ending sequence.

10. Nxb5! cxb5?

11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 

12. 0-0-0 Rd8 

13. Rxd7 Rxd7

14. Rd1 Qe6

15. Bxd7+ Nxd7

16. Qb8+! Nxb8 

17. Rd8#

We also went over checkmate patterns which comes with a worksheet.

Checkmate Patterns

Here is a link to the homework. Note - there are a few errors that some students have caught. Extra credit for finding them! I'll correct the sheet a bit later.

Homework Mate in One for Both / Identify Checkmate Pattern