Logic Challenge

Logic Challenge - Just for fun: Four participants in a chess tournament will be selected from a group of six players; Adams, Baker, Collins, Donaldson, Evans and Fitzgerald. The participants will be seeded in rank order from first through fourth with first considered the highest seed. The seeding of the tournament is to be made according to the following considerations:

+Collins cannot be seeded lower than Adams, Baker or Evans
+Baker cannot be seeded lower than either Adams or Evans
+Evans cannot be seeded lower than Adams
+If Donaldson participates in the tournament, then Evans must be the tournament’s second seed
+If Fitzgerald participates in the tournament, then Baker also participates with Fitzgerald seeded higher than Baker.

Which one of the following could be a complete and accurate list of the players participating in the tournament, and their seeds?
(a) first Collins; second Evans; third Fitzgerald; fourth Donaldson
(b) first Fitzgerald; second Baker; third Collins; fourth Adams
(c) first Collins; second Baker; third Evans; fourth Donaldson
(d) first Fitzgerald; second Evans; third Donaldson; fourth Baker
(e) first Collins; second Fitzgerald; third Baker; fourth Adams

Notes from around the shop: We have been donating lately to our local food bank and want to encourage everyone to do the same in your own area. News reports indicate that millions of families are in need this season and numerous local food banks are reporting acute shortages. Even a modest contribution will be greatly appreciated. You can find your nearest Feeding America (formerly called Second Harvest) food bank by visiting "feedingamerica.org"

Featured Product of the Month: Classic Collectors Combo - this is a striking combination product including handsome wooden pieces with fancy leather (not felt) pads, a new chessboard and underneath a storage box for keeping your new pieces safe when not in use. But then again, why would you ever want to put such a beautiful chess set away? See this gorgeous combo here

The correct answer to the Logic Challenge is (e)

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Happy Birthday Samuel Reshevsky

Current Events: The 2011 Women\'s World Championships are under way. Read more about the competition at http://www.wwcc2011tirana.com/
Also see more photos on the FIDE website.

Historic Note: This November marks the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky, famous chess player of the mid-twentieth century. Born in Poland in 1911, Reshevsky learned to play chess when he was four years old and was competing with accomplished players by the time he was eight (shown here at age of eight giving simultaneous exhibitions against several grand masters of France). He went on to win numerous chess matches, including eight US Chess Championships. He competed internationally as well, and although he was a recognized Grandmaster, he still "kept his day job" as an accountant. His later years were marked with a fierce rivalry with Bobby Fischer. Reshevsky died in New York in 1992. Wikipedia has an interesting page on him, or you can also read a quick summary of his life here.

Please celebrate by visit our shop at www.ChessRight.com today!

FIDE and the 2011 World Chess Cup
In September 2011, The World Chess Federation (FIDE) held their annual World Chess Cup competition in Russia. Peter Svidler won the first game of the final and then held draws in the remaining three games to defeat Alexander Grischuk and claim victory. Read more about it here.
Then, during October, the FIDE held their 82nd Congress in Poland. Read about it and check out the pictures

Chess in the Movies
There are numerous references to chess in movies, such as the scenes of “Wizards Chess” in the first Harry Potter movie. Here is an excerpt from a review of a black-and-white Russian movie from 1925 called “Chess Fever”:
“CHESS FEVER is a comedy about a man who, though soon to be married, already has a mistress – chess. His bride-to-be, knowing nothing of the game but seeing that his heart resides on the sixty-four squares of the chessboard, freaks out and storms onto the snow-covered streets in hysteria. The poor women – already over the edge – sees chess everywhere: on billboards, on the streets, and even played in an apothecary where she seeks poison so she can end the nightmare. What she doesn’t know is that a now famous tournament (Moscow 1925) is being held just blocks away. Suffice it to say that Capablanca (yes, the real Capablanca!) saves the day, and film footage of Marshall, Torre, Reti and other legends makes this a must own for any true fan of chess.” … check out this link to read more of this review

Something unique:
The world’s first competition specifically for disabled chess players is being held in Dresden, Germany. Find the link for details on our Playing Chess page or take this direct link.

Featured Product of the Month: Have you seen our vertical chess boards? Now you can combine your chess game with your wall art - and never give up your precious horizontal workspaces again. You can let everyone know about your interest in chess and perhaps you can even hook a new chess partner from some unexpected source. Don’t miss this unusual chess board

Keep playing chess!
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Chess Openings, and more

Chess Openings
Most chess games start with two players rather quickly executing some memorized moves. This is called the "Opening." For example, the most familiar chess opening is called the Ruy Lopez Opening, or the Spanish game.
But at some point, the pace of the game slows down as the players rely less on rote and more on considered reaction. The interaction of the pieces - called "the position" - requires analysis and thoughtful contemplation. This is the "middle game," the traditional image of players taking their time between moves, analyzing the situation, hoping for some insight and inspiration to turn the position into opportunity.
Trying a few new opening gambits will change the circumstances in the middle game. If you are looking to break out of the plateau where your chess game has stalled, the best prescription would be to try a few new openings. Here are some possibilities:

Traditional openings
Some unusual openings

Try something new and see where things lead. If the new opening doesn’t help your game, you can always go back to your favorite or try another.
National Chess Day
Mark your calendars and plan on having a little fun. National Chess Day is coming up, October 8th 2011. Email us and let us know what you are going to do to celebrate.
Chess Tournaments
Check out our "Playing Chess" page for a free game of chess against the computer, then find a chess tournament from around the world - many of these contests offer prizes, all offer an opportunity to meet new chess friends. Check back often for new postings.
Featured Product

Stallion Knight Chess Pieces - This is a top quality set for a remarkable price, making it our Pick of the Month. The king stands a bold 4 inches tall. Set comes with double queens, used for pawn promotions. The raised head of the knights, or 'laughing knight' style, gives this set its name. Pieces are padded with leather - not felt - which usually denotes more expensive sets.
Pair this up with your favorite chess board, or may we recommend? The 2.2 inch Rosewood / Maple board makes a perfect pair with this chess set. Order both together and use the coupon code “SeptSpecial” (no spaces) to receive $15 off your order.
Keep Playing Chess!

Evolution of Chess Strategies - and other thoughts

EVOLUTION OF CHESS STRATEGIES
I have been in an interesting discussion recently about breaking the rules of chess play. No, we aren’t talking about the basic rules like how each piece moves. The discussion has been about rethinking those moves we learned by rote as chess novices. It all started over here at the Celebrate Chess blog. Please jump on over and add your comments.

SPRING CLEANING
Lots of tidying up around the chess shop lately. A large number of products have been withdrawn based on my most recent communications with my suppliers. The 2011 wall calendars are totally sold out (except the one I use here by my computer) and they have been withdrawn. I will be looking for a new premium item to offer in the shop on certain purchases. What would be good?

WHAT IS CHESS CAMP?
With summer just around the corner, the question of summer camp for the kids is coming up at kitchen tables all across the fruited plain. Some chess camps are day camps, others are sleep-over camps. I recommend that you should look for a chess camp that also offers some additional summer activities like swimming and tennis. To find more on chess camps, try www.uschess.org

FEATURED PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

A favorite chess set here is the "Dragon’s Castle Combo" chess set. This eye-catching combo includes a striking sculpture of a knight on horseback battling a dragon. Inside the statue’s base, which looks like a stone castle, is a chess board and decorative chess pieces depicting kings, queens and noble knights. As our Featured Product for May, this set is on a special price this month of $107.00 -- this price includes shipping anywhere in the United States.

Visit Chess Right Chess Shop to find a chess set just right for your game.

Competitiveness

Against the constant politically-correct drumbeat of cooperation and teamwork, competition (particularly in individual sports and competitive games) remains one way to move towards self-reliance, goal orientation and personal achievement.

But can competitiveness be overdone? I don't see why not .. everything else can!

Here are a few interesting thoughts about competitiveness.

Product Notifications for February 2011

COMING SOON: ChessRight is currently negotiating with the National Museum of Scotland to offer their authentic museum-quality reproduction of the Isle of Lewis Chessmen. Please watch for that new product in the upcoming weeks.
LAST CALL: The Chess-themed wall calendars for 2011 have been selling well, but their time is almost done. If you are interested in one of these calendars for your home or office, please place your order quickly. These calendars will be withdrawn soon.

See all the beautiful chess sets at www.ChessRight.com today.

HISTORIC CHESS PIECES UNEARTHED

Recent excavations at James Madison’s Virginia estate have unearthed fragments that are believed to be parts of the President's chess set.
The news story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_madison_s_chess_pawns
Although several of the founding fathers were very fond of chess, most famously Benjamin Franklin, few people in Colonial America played chess. It is therefore fairly likely that these chess pieces would have belonged to the fourth President, and not some other member of the household.
In connection with this archaeological find, ChessRight.com is offering a new poster of Chess in the Revolutionary Era (http://chessright.com/product_info.php?products_id=395). Although James Madison is not pictured, the historic detail of the poster (including the pre-Staunton style pieces) shows the game to be taking place in the Tea Room at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, around 1783. The Yahoo news story tells us that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, fellow Virginians, played chess often. Perhaps James was not in attendance on this particular day because he was busy writing the US Constitution (which would be adopted in 1787).

Be sure to visit www.ChessRight.com soon.

Knights Tour

KNIGHT'S TOUR
Q: Is it possible for a knight to tour an entire chessboard in such a way that it visits each square exactly once?
A: Visit http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/4287/title/A_Magic_Knights_Tour for the solution.

Please visit www.ChessRight.com today

Auld Lang Syne

New Year’s Resolutions: Many of us make them, many of us don’t. Whether you do or do not, the idea is to set a goal for yourself, something you want to improve in your life.
Personally, I find I spend a certain amount of time around the year end reflecting on my life, my friends and my intentions - where I am now and where I meant to be by this time - I think the requisite renditions of “Auld Lang Syne” help to set this reaction into motion. This is a bad practice because I already am prone to depression from the advancing dark days, when there’s not enough sunlight to keep up my spirits anyway. Then add to the darkness the “comparing mind” and my ruminating about the way things might have been, and it’s an annual recipe for disaster ... and a difficult frame of mind for playing chess. (See "Losing Sucks" - looks like I'm not the only one!)
For those of you who don’t know what “Auld Lang Syne” is actually about, I’ll sum up. The words are taken from a Scottish poem. (Easy tip: there is only one Scottish poet that most folks are expected to know - so remember the name *Robert Burns* and you have mastered the entire topic. See? I told you it was easy.) “Auld Lang Syne” means something like “Old Times’ Sake” or could be translated loosely as “Once Upon a Time.” The line “We’ll take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne” is trying to encourage us to look back upon our memories with kindness, letting our reminiscences mellow with age, that sort of thing.
If you are one of the people who make New Year’s Resolutions, statistics say that you are generally interested in losing body weight (or getting fit) and/or saving money. So basically, the idea is to reverse the momentum - we want more money and less weight, and not the other way around like we did last year. That’s my attempt at a joke, so let’s not take any personal offense if “we” doesn’t include you.
Tournaments: Visit our "Playing Chess" page for a calendar of tournaments worldwide.
Product of the Month: Speaking of calendars, it’s time to hang the new 2011 calendars. Chess Right Chess Shop has two different styles of Chess-Themed Calendars - which one will you choose? Why not buy both - one for your home and one for your office?