Merry Christmas!

The holiday was certainly pleasant for all of us. The weather here was mild and sunny, not like the many travelers stranded in airports around the country.
At last, Paul got the chess set in the dramatic dragon box from www.ChessRight.com's home page and Santa. He is thrilled and has put it on a prominent display in our den.

"Merry Christmas to everyone from www.ChessRight.com and best wishes for a successful and prosperous New Year 2009!"

Chess Tournament

Chess Association for Arkansas Schools ("CAAS") is a state organization of parents and educators working to develop and improve chess play throughout the schools of Arkansas. The goals of this organization include (1) rewarding study and practice, (2) encouraging critical thinking, and (3) cultivating creative problem solving.


The CAAS held a chess tournament in November. The tournament organizer was Carm Proct of the Wilbur Mills Education CoOp (pictured at right). She has been organizing chess tournaments since 1999. Presently, the Wilbur Mills Education CoOp hosts two chess tournaments per year, with approximately 200 players between the fourth and sixth grades, and about 85 players at the junior high and senior high levels. Both individual and team play is encouraged at these tournaments.

Congratulations from all of us at www.ChessRight.com to Josh Elander of Searcy, AR for his first place win in the 11th - 12th Grade Division, and to the two eighth graders, Patrick McKenzie and Josh Lovitte, for their second and third place trophies in their division.

The senior high regionals will be held in February 2009, and the state finals will be in April. You can learn more about CAAS by visiting their website.

See our Squidoo lenses!

Check out all three lenses ...

Visit Online Shopping: chess-shop

Read this interesting essay on Chess Themes in Literature

Stop by ChessRight for more about the benefits of Playing Chess

and, if you hurry, there is still time to visit our main store at www.ChessRight.com for your Christmas shopping today

How to Play Chess: The Pieces

This video covers the basic moves of the various chess pieces. (for the Novice)

Learn Chess at 5min.com

Visit Chess Right Chess Store to get your chess set today, and play chess often!

Chess in the News

Here is an interesting annual event for chess players!

Princeton University students challenge prison inmates to chess matches:
Prison chess

Local chess tournament

The Ahlf Junior High School Chess Team took first place in the Chess Association for Arkansas Schools Regional Tournament on October 25th. Congratulations to the students and coach for that excellent achievement!

Finding Fun in Tough Economic Times

If the news media is to be believed (and that's a whole separate issue), many of us are feeling the economic pinch these days. Paying the mortgage and keeping gas in the tank are a couple of those "must-have" items in the family budget. Having fun is often one of the line items that gets cut in tough times. It may be good for the financial health, but it's depressing and not-so-good for the mental health.

But it doesn't have to be that way. It's not necessary that we should all sit on the edges of our cots and do nothing. That is not really a workable plan, not in the long term. What is necessary is that we should find ways to entertain ourselves for less, to enjoy ourselves in different ways than we have done before. In other words, we need to find fun and enjoyable ways to spend more time for less money.

Although this may seem counter-intuitive, consider this: Buy a new chess set from www.ChessRight.com and start playing chess regularly.

What's that you say? Chess sets are expensive! How can that be a great way to save money?

Think it through! There are many lovely chess sets at www.ChessRight.com for less than $100, or under $150. You don't have to buy a fancy, expensive set to start having fun. Once you have purchased the set of your choice, there is NO additional cash outlay to have months, even years of enjoyment. Challenge one of your neighbors to play chess with you -- you've always wanted to get one-up on your arrogant neighbor and here is a socially-acceptable way. Put up a notice on a bulletin board at the local grocery store, community center or library and meet someone new to challenge to a friendly (yes, let's keep it friendly) game of chess.

The point is that, once you have purchased the chess set of your choice, you don't have to spend any more money to enjoy hours and hours of fun, challenging family and friends, and keeping your mental health through these troubling times. So come on by www.ChessRight.com and buy the chess set that's just right for your game.