Musings on law, tech, chess & other topics by a geek

The brain is a muscle use it or loss it. Chess > music > crossword! I always knew chess was better then Scrabble :

A five year study with 488 participants showed that involvement in at least 11 mind exercising activities per week versus a control group that engaged in 4 or less activities per week, delayed by 1.3 years (Dr. Charles B. Hall, PhD, author of the study and Saul R. Korep Department of Neurology professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine). A further analysis demonstrated those that played only games reduced their risk by 75% and those that played musical instruments reduced theirs by 64%. Crossword puzzle enthusiasts get a 38% lowered risk.

Scientists are still at a loss to determine the actual cause of Alzheimer’s Disease but with nearly 100 million future Alzheimer’s victims in development, we best start writing prescriptions for chess sets for Christmas.”

From the June 19, 2003 New England Journal of Medicine:
“Use It or Lose It — Do Effortful Mental Activities Protect against Dementia?”
Joseph T. Coyle, M.D.

The full article is well worth reading at online chess: Does chess help Alzheimers

updated to correct spelling – i fail at scrabble/crosswords

White to move:
Spoiler after the cut: Read more

I just finished a longer game online, 3 days per move, the game took about 2 months to complete.  Near the end of the game I was ahead and got into a hurry and missed a big tactical shot that could have ended the game a lot sooner. For new student one of the earliest lessons I cover is what I call the tactical algorithm.  This is a short series of steps chess players, especially new chess players, should use before making any move. This helps improve ones tactics and sets up a habit that will come in useful later.

Here is the position where I missed a nice tactical shot. White to move:

The Algorithm I suggest in the simplest form is:

Look for targets (undefended or under defended pieces along with an exposed king)

1. Check the Checks +

2. Check the Captures

3. Check the FORCING MOVES (moves that threaten a mate or taking a piece)

If I had followed my own advice I would have found the best series of moves see if you can find what I missed

Spoiler after the cut: Read more

One of the best ways to improve your chess game is to look at your own games critically for areas where you could have played better. Earlier this week at SOHO Coffee Company, one of my favorite places to play chess in Seattle the owner has a chess board behind the counter, I failed to find a crushing move. Take a minute or two and see if you can find the best move with Black to move:

What would you play? (post your thoughts in the comments)

When I reached this position I knew there was a strong chance of a wining tactic. Black is only a pawn up but there are several factors that should point to a tactical win:

• Black pieces control the center of the board
• Several of those pieces threaten the white king
• Black controls a lot more squares then white
• Black’s pieces have a lot of coordination
• The white king is running low on safe squares
• The g2 pawn is pinned against the king leaving h3 weak
• The white kings pawn cover is weakened
• whites pieces lack coordination

In this Position I took two to three minutes to look for a knock out blow and could not fined one so I played my Queen to f6. My opponent then started exchanging attackers with Ra3 and the game continued in with an edge to black, but no easy win in sight.

SPOILER (make your comments or guesses before reading this):

Here is the algorithm I use to calculate moves in this type of situation.

• Check the checks
• Check the captures
• Check the forcing moves

I progress through this iteratively until I am out of tactical moves, then look for a way to improve my position strategical.

Here is what went through my mind I looked at:

1. …. Bxg2+ the rook on a2 can capture and the attack ends

1. … Rxh3 2. Qxh3 Attack is over, g2 has lots of defenders

1. …Qxg4 2. Bxg4 and the attack is slowing down

1. … Bf5?? 2. Bxf5 Now it is black that is losing

1. … Qd6 threatening the undefended bishop which allows for 2. Bf5 and white to starts exchanging attackers

I thought I had checked all best possible moves. but there was a human blind spot in my calculations. The move I misses was what FIDE Master Charles Hertan, a Massachusetts area chess coach and author of Forcing Chess Moves: The Key to Better Calculation, would call a FORCING MOVE that one needs COMPUTER EYES to notice. This move was:

1. … f5!! this leaves blacks queen undefended but threatens 2. … Rxh3 mate if white goes after the queen. To avoid mate white has to avoid the queen and sacrifice material to stay alive. This move would have ended the game in short order. My attachment to my queen did not allow me to even consider this move when I was making calculations.

Take away when calculating check ALL the forcing moves! As humans the only way we can over come our biases is to recognize them and the specifically work to change them. Knowing that I am overly attached to my queen the next time I am in a situation like this I will intentionally look for moves that might appear to give the queen away.

I hope this helps you improve your calculation skills! I also recommend Forcing Chess Moves: The Key to Better Calculation for advanced students(1400 to 2200 ELO) wanting to get better at tactics. For beginners I recommend Winning Chess Tactics by Grand Master Yasser Seirawan and for kids: Chess Tactics for Students by John Bain.

If interested in taking private chess lessons check out my chess page.

I am very excited to be bacteaching  chess.  I have missed chess a lot over the last few years while I was focusing on law school and a public interest fellowship in Washington DC, but now I am back in  Seattle playing actively and teaching.  The skills I learned playing and teaching chess were essential to my success in law school.  Chess teaches students how to plan, set goals, follow through and focus.

Teaching:

I offer Personal chess lessons for children or adults. Learn everything from the basics of the game to advanced competitive techniques for tournament play. Study plans focus on gaining a strong foundation of tactics, endgames, and learning how to master a skill.

I have high expectations for my students and parents. Learning chess for children should be a cooperative experience. Parents do not need to be avid chess players, but do need to be committed to helping their children learn on a daily basis. I teach not only the skills to learn chess, but also the skills to master any subject as part of chess, whether it be law, math or music, the same basic principles and work habits will benefit any life-long learner.

The first time you meet with me, I will do a half-hour introductory evaluation of your chess skills free of charge. Weekly 1:1 lessons are recommended for most students ranging between 1/2 hour to 1 hour per session. Students must be prepared to study daily including keeping a journal of work completed and questions for future lessons.

I am willing to travel to any location within 10 miles of Seattle or meet at a public place within the city.

Diverse people of all learning styles are welcome. Lessons are customized for each students learning style!

Rates:

1st 1/2 hour introductory half hour is free.
$35 per half hour single lessons
* 30 minute weekly chess lessons – $130.00/month
* 45 minute weekly chess lessons – $175.00/month
* 60 minute weekly chess lessons – $220.00/month

Perspective students may also want to check out the new student page to get an idea of how I teach.

Where I play:
I can be found playing at SOHO Coffee Company, Cherry Street Cafes or the Downtown Seattle Public Library. I am always up for a friendly game feel free to approach me if you see me at a coffee shop.

Bio:
I started playing chess in the early 1990′s and have been addicted ever since. I started by playing coffee house chess and moved on to tournament chess a short time later. In the late 1990′s I started teaching chess in the Portland Oregon / Vancouver Washington area at local elementary and middle schools along with private lessons. Most recently I taught two 8 week chess classes at the Perkins School in North Seattle. I have worked with students ages 4 on up. I also took private lessons from Senior Master Charles Schulien in the late 1990′s.

I hold a law degree from Seattle University class of 09 and degrees in Informatics and Political Science from University of Washington. I have extensive experience in teaching at all levels ranging from tutoring math and reading to elementary school student through the America Reads program to teaching Masters level classes at University of Washington’s Information School and continuing legal education seminars on copyright and patent law.