THOUGHTS OF A CHESS ADDICT

The SCF and other organisers do their best in providing ample opportunities for players to take part in competitions, as is their objective in creating a healthy chess scene. However this does not mean that the players themselves should try to play in every single tournament. Playing in a tournament should be viewed with achieving the following objectives. TESTING OUT IDEAS IN OPENINGS AND MIDDLEGAMES After drawing up lessons for losses in previous games, the player should review carefully the losses derived and determine their causes. Improvements should be made and digested, so as to avoid the same mistakes made when playing the next tournament. New ideas derived from the study of lost games should be tried out as well in the next tournament and the cycle of analysis and refinement continuously applied till the player is confortable in the positions appearing before him/her. Ultimately, the player should not be surprised by any opening novelty that has not been researched or played a

Each year the 3 chess queens of Hungary, namely the Polgar sisters, return to their native Budapest to hold a chess festival which aims to spark interest in chess amongst the young children. This year, Garry Kasparov joins them in their 7th edition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MzNe1f-5_o Something we can learn perhaps in organising chess events involving children?

The October SCF Ratings list may be the last SCF Ratings list published by the Federation in view of the intended move to the FIDE ratings list wef 2014. So in summary, I list the ratings changes from Jan 2013 till now for my active students who played this year. Congratulations to all who have made big strides in their ratings! Especially Royce, Zhong Kai and Shi Hao who have done well this year. My newer students are gradually improving, though with modest gains. Generally the ones with negative ratings require review of their lessons with me, plus lots more practice online to catch up.

The 2013 National Age Group takes on a new format - 9 rounds of grueling 3 hr games (1.5 hrs per side). Stamina counts for these games and fitness is of course very important. I have seen players leading up to Rd 6 in tournaments of this nature, only to falter at the last 3 rounds due to fatigue. Hence to my students : Know your limits and if you choose to sign up for this, prepare yourselves physically by exercising regularly after your exams. It will be necessary to put in at least 45 minutes of exercise a day to achieve good physical shape to stay alert for the whole 3 days. Kindly contact me of your decision so I can make the necessary training plans to support. Thanks.