2014 Turkey Shoot Results

  

This is the third year that the BCSD has sponsored a turkey shoot the weekend before Thanksgiving and it becomes more successful each year.  This tournament included 19 competitors from Kindergarden to 12th grade and was a nice way to spend the weekend during transition from Fall to Ski Season! 

River Shepard finishes with a perfect tournament - 5.0!

Levi Catangcatang was the oldest student in the tournament (12th grade) and he thoroughly enjoyed every moment.  Levi is from Silver Creek High School and is our club Vice President. He exemplifies characteristics that we want all our teenagers to show.  He helps set up and tear down tournaments, and during the tournament he is my left hand, running back to my classroom to get things I forgot; helps players understand how they lost the game; analyzes games, ensures that tournament rules are followed, helps re-set clocks, and he shares his knowledge of openings with all the youngsters.  Levi scored 4 points and enjoyed staying on Board 1 the whole day while playing intense and interesting tactical games.  During the last round, River Shepard capitalized on a blunder by Levi and moved in to 1st place.  This is River's first time in first place.  

During Round 5, River Shepard plays Levi Catangcatang for the turkey!

As we approach the holiday season, I like to have prizes for contestants rather than trophies. It is a tradition that the winner takes home a turkey, and second place  earns stuffing, and third gets a yam.  River's family showed up for the awards ceremony and were surprised to learn that they don't have to go shopping for their turkey dinner!  I also include drawings which are the kids love because they all can go home with a prize, potentially, despite their placement.  Today, Levi Renner won a chess set and Bayro Llandoy won a cornish game hen (mini-turkey!).

The games today were G/30 d5, however,  as usual games were completed way before the official end time.  Round 1 was like a blitz round with the last game finishing up after 35 minutes.  So each round and occasionally during the round I kept reminding players to "keep playing slow. . .look for at least three candidate moves before you move . . .sit on your hands . . . which squares are being attacked?"  I consider tournaments, which draw kids that normally don't come to chess club to learn openings, strategy, and etiquette, an opportunity to spread the wealth of the game.  Chess clubbers and non-chess clubbers all benefit because  the non-chess clubbers will play better and challenge the experienced regular players more.  Also, it encourages the kids to not open up with trap-lines that they learned in chess club for quick victories.  

"BooYa!  Beat that move!"  says Asher Stouffer (white) against Carter Thompson who casually winked at me.  (Asher's pawn storm came a little too early!)

This tournament will be remembered as the big brother tournament.  Desmond (whom did not play) stayed and encouraged Darwin during his first game, but left before the round was over.  Stouffer's had four brothers at the tournament with two actually playing and the oldest hanging around to pat his bro's on the back after the games.  Thompson's came with their three boys and they also would congratulate and console one another after each round.  Quentin Van Law was always in proximity to his younger brother, Leam unless his game demanded more attention.  Chess is a great sport for families to participate in together.

Garrett gives Asher a hug of encouragement.

Quentin observes his little bro, Leam (black) play against Renner (white).

The next tournament is Thursday, Dec. 11, during chess club. The Christmas Blitzkrieg!  This will name our Blitz Champion.  Also, the following week is Santa's Bughouse.   During Winter Break, the Family & Friends Tournament is a relaxed way to enter the chess tournament life.  Hope to see you there!

Froilan loves playing chess and looking at chess problems.

Darwin always takes good chess pictures (although he didn't like his hair!).

Owen Stouffer. 

Offda, Quentin socks it to his opponent.

Leam Van Law.

One of the best Chess Pictures I have taken - the eagerness and enthusiasm for playing in a tournament is sweet! 

Results

Place	Name	Rate	Score	Solk	CumOp	Cum	MMed
1	Shepard, River (5)	982	5	17	54	15	14
2	Catangcatang, Levi (1)	1119	4	15	48	14	14
3	Barkholtz, Zane (3)	1001	4	12.5	43	12	11.5
4	Stouffer, Owen (17)	nnnn	3	16.5	46	10	14.5
5	Porth, Darwin (4)	985	3	15.5	54	10	14
6	Van Law, Quentin (6)	969	3	13	44	8	11.5
7	Thompson, Hunter (9)	883	3	13	37	12	12.5
8	Hall, Joe (12)	nnnn	3	11.5	36	8	11
9	Cross, Kaiden (7)	900	2.5	10	35	5	6
10	Renner, Levi (14)	nnnn	2.5	9	24	5	5
11	Lladoy, Bayro (13)	nnnn	2	13.5	41	8	9.5
12	Enriquez, Froilan (8)	900	2	11.5	36	6	8.5
13	Van Law, Leam (10)	817	2	6	18	2	3.5
14	Gaudreau, Spencer (2)	1035	2	1.5	5	3	0.5
15	Stouffer, Emmett (16)	nnnn	1.5	12.5	32	5	8.5
16	Thompson, Carter (18)	nnnn	1.5	10	26	5	7
17	Thompson, Porter (19)	nnnn	1	14	31	5	10
18	Grimes, Xavier (11)	nnnn	1	12	31	3	8
19	Stouffer, Asher (15)	nnnn	1	11	28	0	7.5

Crosstable

No.	Name	Rate	Pts	Rnd1	Rnd2	Rnd3	Rnd4	Rnd5
1	Shepard, River	982	5	W7	W8	W3	W4	W2
2	Catangcatang, Levi	1119	4	W17	W5	W4	W6	L1
3	Barkholtz, Zane	1001	4	W15	W19	L1	W14	W8
4	Porth, Darwin	985	3	W16	W14	L2	L1	W6
5	Van Law, Quentin	969	3	W10	L2	L6	W16	W14
6	Thompson, Hunter	883	3	W18	W9	W5	L2	L4
7	Hall, Joe		3	L1	W18	W19	L8	W12
8	Stouffer, Owen		3	W9	L1	W12	W7	L3
9	Cross, Kaiden	900	2.5	L8	L6	W17	D15	W16
10	Renner, Levi		2.5	L5	L12	W13	D17	W15
11	Gaudreau, Spencer	1035	2	-U-	-U-	-U-	W18	W19
12	Enriquez, Froilan	900	2	L14	W10	L8	W19	L7
13	Van Law, Leam	817	2	L19	L15	L10	-B-	W17
14	Lladoy, Bayro		2	W12	L4	W15	L3	L5
15	Stouffer, Emmett		1.5	L3	W13	L14	D9	L10
16	Thompson, Carter		1.5	L4	D17	W18	L5	L9
17	Grimes, Xavier		1	L2	D16	L9	D10	L13
18	Stouffer, Asher		1	L6	L7	L16	L11	-B-
19	Thompson, Porter		1	W13	L3	L7	L12	L11

Tournament Page Updated

Go here

Contest to play the World Champion!

Whoever PLAYS THE MOST CHESS GAMES (Fast Chess) at Chesskids.com!  It doesn't matter if you even win them all - just be the kid with the most chess games in one week (by Dec. 14).  You guys, someone in our valley can do this!  At least try to win a chance to play the World Champion Chess Player.  Here is the link:  http://www.chesskid.com/article/view/heres-a-chance-to-play-magnus-carlsen

​e-mail me if you are going to try and win this.  I will champion you and follow your progress!

Announcements

This Saturday, Nov. 22 is the 3rd annual Turkey Shoot Chess Tournament.  Great fun for the whole family to participate and learn more about the wonderful game of chess.  Please sign up using our online service (here). 

News:  The Little Black Dress Club granted the BCSD Chess Rage $3000 to assist in kids participation in chess programs and tournaments.  Tonight was the awards ceremony and Adam Porth, Lynnet Porth, Mike Glenn, and Deb Van Law were on hand at the Muleshoe Tavern to receive this prestigious award.  

In other news, Weiser High School and Silver Creek High School have been playing games with each other via video conference over the IEN at SCHS.  So far, Weiser 0 and SCHS 1.  Tomorrow will end the second game and it looks like Weiser HS will have the equalizer.

In International Chess, the World Championship matches between Magnus Carlsen (4.5) and Vishy Anand (3.5) continue in Sochi, Russia.

Chess Club meets tomorrow at SCHS, in Mr. Porth's room (SCHS behind the CC) for a change of venue from the usual Community Campus.  Giant Chess, Problems, and Instruction will be offered (and popcorn!).  Play the Game!

Summer Chess Fun

Summer time for 8 million kids in the United States includes a plethora of summer camps. Sun Valley, Idaho is no different but includes a rather unique one.  The Chess Rage Day Camp is a week long chess extravaganza that is designed to engage, encourage, and excite young chess players, mostly new to the game.  The camp is held every summer at the Community Campus, Hailey, Idaho and is open to players of all levels and skill in elementary or middle school.  Over the past few years the camp has increased from four campers to thirty-four campers!

Mr. Adam Porth,Silver Creek High School Science Teacher and Chess Coach, indicates that the purpose of the camp is several fold but the guiding concept is fun!  The week long camp is hosted by the Blaine County School District Chess Club and produces an affordable alternative ($125/week!) to the numerous athletic-oriented camps around the Wood River Valley.  But ‘no child is left behind’ as the camp accepts players, even if they can only pay a penny!  “It surprises many parents that we can provide chess lessons and activities for nearly five hours each day and keep the kids so engaged and craving more afterwards!” describes Coach Porth.

Counselors were players from the high school chess team (current Idaho State Champions) and attend either Silver Creek High School or Wood River High School.  “Teaching chess is a great way to expand your own abilities,”  says Coach Porth.  Camper-counselor ratios were 4 to 1.  The high school counselors become icons to the younger kids and this enhanced counselors’ self-esteem as they are the “experts” in the camper’s eyes.  “This camp makes the counselors feel like grandmasters,” says Porth.

A typical day included mate in 1, 2, 3 problems on large display boards (or chess mazes) as a warm up.  Players would then meet with a counselor and work to check off chess skills on a skill sheet (64 beginning skills).  During this hour, the counselors also taught openings, traps, and just played with their group.  We then came back together as a large group and I taught chess tactics and strategies using “think, pair, share” techniques.   Afterwards, a snack break commenced with fruit, cookies, and juices.  

After break, campers would play for an hour and the counselors got to “disappear” while I monitored all the games in my classroom.  After a catered lunch, we played Memory Boards where I would display a chess position for ten seconds on the promethean display board and then take it away.  Campers would then work with a partner to replicate the position.  Each counselor was in charge of a station in the afternoon and campers could roam between blitz, bughouse, giant chess, standard chess, chess problems, or snap-on electronics.

The week also included some other fun activities.  The Brooklyn Knights movie was shown one afternoon in the Community Campus Theater.  A simultaneous exhibition against the BCSD Chess Club Co-Champions was held with Dylan Porth and Tyler Avila each playing 14 campers.  Tyler lost one game and Dylan had one draw.  And, we even played Kickball chess (a fusion of cricket, baseball, bowling, and chess!).  With all this, we never got to do the watermelon hunt!

And what would a chess camp be without a chess tournament?  The Chess Rage Day Camp Open Chess Tournament was a cordial affair, as we stressed sportsmanship throughout the camp.  We also held the Counselors Tournament concurrently.  After the tournament, personalized awards for each camper were presented with proud parents observing.  

Winners included Spencer Gaudreau (5th grade, Alturas Elementary), Joe Hall (8th grade, Community School), and veteran Quentin Van Law (5th grade, Alturas Elementary).  Each had 4.0 points and won trophies.  Chess books donated by Norman Friedman, formerly Manhattan Chess Club and the Right Move Co-founder, were distributed to 4th and 5th place winners.  Ribbons were presented to 6th and 7th place.  In the Counselors tournament, Dylan Porth (9th grade, Wood River High School) won 1st and a book, Keegan Crowson (11th grade, Silver Creek High School) was 2nd place, and Andre Murphy was third place (11th grade, Wood River High School).

Each camper received a medal and a personalized certificate with a picture of themselves playing chess during the week, but there were other prizes, too.  Chess books from Norman Friedman and ribbons were for special prizes.  Spencer Gaudreau completed over 200 chess problems during the week, Devin Karst (8th grade, Wood River Middle School) scored the highest grades on the chess tests, and Joe Hall recorded the most games.  They each won a book.  As part of the camp, all players were provided a rollup chess board and carrier and a camp t-shirt.

It was a great week of mental exhaustion for the campers which had them crying for more by the end, however.  The key to hosting a successful camp is ‘keep ‘em hungry’ to play and always have more than you can possibly do. (See article in the Northwest Chess Magazine).

2014 Wood River Weekend Progressive Results

The Wood River Weekend Progressive commenced on National Chess Day, Oct. 11 and was a pleasant event for beginners and veterans alike.  This is the fifth year of the event with the Idaho Chess Association (ICA) participating in Co-sponsorship (except in 2011 &  2013).  Results from previous years include:  

2014  Jeff Roland (Open) & Dylan Porth (Reserve)

2013  Jarod Buus (Open) & Quentin Van Law (Reserve) (called National Chess Day)

2012  Caleb Kircher & Dan Sawyer (Open) & Jacob Nathan (Reserve)

2011  Adam Porth (Open)  & Desmond Porth (Reserve)

2010  Jeff Baggett (Open) & Nick Bruck (Reserve)

2009  Jeff Roland (Open) & Nick Bruck (Reserve)

This year, Jeff Roland was able to capture his second event title with Dylan Porth entering the fray in the reserve (scholastic) section.  The National Chess Day event has evolved into a challenging tournament with games getting progressively longer (G/30  -  G/90) as the rounds continue.  Endurance is a must!  I wonder what a reversed progressive would be like?

Wood River Weekend Progressive was held in the Community Campus of Hailey.

The BCSD Chess Rage strives to provide a variety of tournament types including Blitz, Bughouse, Chess960, opening theme tournaments, using swiss pairing and round-robins.  Progressive tournaments are not very common.  Education and experience is the primary goal of the club’s tournaments.

Ten of the twenty players were from the Boise area and the rest were from the Wood River Valley.  The rated event is attractive to out-of-towners because of the Trailing of the Sheep festival provides players, friends, and family with an extravaganza of Basque and Peruvian sheep-herder culture and history.  There is sheep shearing and sheep dog demonstrations, music, dancing, and the running of the sheep through downtown Ketchum.  Food is exceptional with lamb-meat pizzas and mutton burritos.

The tournament began with players squaring off in a G/30 round.  After the games were all finished, Jarod Buus commented that the scholastic players in the open section should have been encouraged to “win some money and play in the reserve section.”  Meaning, the high school players in the BCSD Chess Rage were very competitive and stretched the abilities of the veteran players.  It is tough to be a Class B or C player and lose or draw to a Class E or F player that are clearly underrated.

The largest upset occurred between Wesley Brimstein(846) and Cory Longhurst (1483).  After missing a mate in one opportunity, Wesley persevered and finally won with seconds on the clock.  With time controls becoming increasingly longer by ½ hour intervals, virtually no-one flagged during the tournament.  

In the reserve section, the games seemingly looked like a blitz tournament with scholastic players reacting with immediate moves.  Dylan Porth (9th grade), however, worked patiently with first time player, Abby Davis (1st grade) and helped her learn about openings and checkmates during and after the game.  In a surprise, Journey Iverson fell prey to Dennis Delaney in a variation of Scholar’s Mate.  Even veteran players are caught off-guard by this sneaky opening where the queen and bishop (or the knight) work together to target black’s f7 square.

Darwin Porth gets some immersive  perspective.

The scholastic Reserve section finished early and games were paused in the Open section to clap and applaud the 11 scholastic players which won $50, $33, and $16 respectively for 1st - 3rd place.  Dylan Porth (1st place), 3-way tie for 2nd place with Dennis Delaney, River Shepard, and Darwin Porth sharing the cash awards.  Players were also awarded plaques, ribbons, and medals for their 7 hour efforts.

Jeff Roland (left) plays the English against Jarod Buus (right)

When the Open section re-commenced, Jeff Roland was unstoppable and scored a perfect tournament (4.0 points).  Players from Boise rallied the Wood River hosts and also took 2nd place (Jarod Buus 3.0 points) and 3rd place (Cory Longhurst 2.5 points).   Cash prizes were $75, $50, and $35.  It wasn’t a piece of the million-dollar tournament also being played in Las Vegas that weekend, but it certainly made for a great weekend in Wood River!

Journey Iverson

The BCSD Chess Rage wishes to thank the ICA and Jeff Roland for bringing a rated tournament to our area.

Dennis Delaney

Jarod Buus

Desmond Porth

Andre Murphy

Million Dollar Chess Tournament

Watch it live (here)