Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club

Free Everyman Chess Viewer

2011-12-02T23:05:00.001-05:00

Everyman Chess's Chess Viewer for iOS devices is free this month on the iTunes App Store. This application usually runs around $1.99 and allows you to purchase and view Everyman Chess titles, as well as allowing you to upload and view your own PGN files with commentary. Check it out!

St. Francis Winter Tournament

2011-11-26T17:44:00.001-05:00

A winter chess tournament will be held on February 25, 2011 at St. Francis of Assisi in St. Albans. The entry fee is $20 if registered by 2/22 and $25 on site. If there are enough players, there will be four rounds and the tournament will then qualify as a WVCA Grand Prix event. Time controls will be G/60. Play will begin at 10 AM. 70% of the entry fees will be paid in prize money (40%, 20%, 10%). Also on this day, the scholastic league individual championship will be held. The scholastic sections will start at 9 AM.

A entry form for the tournament can be found here.

WVCA Board of Directors Meeting

2011-10-28T21:23:00.002-04:00

A West Virginia Chess Association Board of Directors meeting is being planned for December. A tentative agenda includes moving the date of the Junior Championship so that juniors can play in both championship tournaments. Stay tuned for more details...

2012 USCF Due Changes

2011-09-29T21:38:00.002-04:00

The USCF Board of Delegates passed a number of motions in August of 2011 that will directly impact tournament directors, affiliates, and players starting in January of 2012, if not sooner.

Most dues rates were revised slightly. In addition, tournament memberships will be discontinued in January of 2012 and will be replaced with three month trial memberships. The USCF hopes to start offering these three month trial memberships in early October. Like tournament memberships, these trial memberships can only be sold by USCF affiliates at tournaments.

USCF Dues Rates as of 1/1/2012:

Membership Type	Details	1 Yr	2 Yr	3 Yr
Adult	12 issues of Chess Life	$46	$84	$122
Adult	No Magazine	$40	$72	$104
Senior (65 or older)	12 issues of Chess Life	$40	$72	$104
Young Adult (Under 25)	12 issues of Chess Life	$33	$61	$88
Young Adult (Under 25)	No Magazine	$26	$47	$67
Youth (Under 16)	6 issues of Chess Life	$28	$51	$73
Youth (Under 16)	No Magazine	$22	$40	$57
Scholastic (Under 13)	6 issues of Chess Life for Kids	$24	$43	$61
Scholastic (Under 13)	No Magazine	$17	$30	$42
Family Membership	Plan 1 - With Adults	$75
Family Membership	Plan 2 - No Adults	$47
Life Membership	12 issues of Chess Life annually	$1500
Senior Life Membership (65 or older)	12 issues of Chess Life annually	$750
Life Benefactor	12 issues of Chess Life annually	$3000

Three month trial memberships will be $15 for those over age 24, with three issues of Chess Life, $10 for those under age 25, with three issues of Chess Life, and $8 for those under age 13, with two issues of Chess Life for Kids.

2011 WV Championship Results

2011-09-06T18:53:00.004-04:00

The 2011 WV State Chess Championship was held on Labor Day weekend at the WVSSPA building in Charleston, WV. South Carolina resident Klaus Pohl won the tournament with an impressive 5.5 score. The championship title was shared by West Virginia residents David Saville and Ben Good. Several other players won class prizes. Here is a transcription of the final chart:

Klaus Pohl (2200) 5.5
Wayne Christensen (2096) 4
David Saville (2062) 4.5
Ben Good (2025) 4.5
Donald Griffth (2000) 4
James Walker (2000) 4
Sidhartha Parhi (1954) 4
Chris Que (1916) 3.5
Lewis Sanders (1900) 3
David Hines (1871) 3
Michael Richardson (1846) 3
Joseph Dixon (1828) 3
Gary Cummings (1796) 2.5
James Fuller (1765) 2.5
Michael Felton (1700) 3
Matthew Richardson (1584) 2.5
James Fields (1565) 2
Advait Patel (1559) 2.5
David Hundley (1279) 2.5
Sam Timmons (1063) 1
Charles McCallister (964) 1
Sam Walker-Matthews (504) 2
Dale Eggleton (Unr) 1.5

State Championships

2011-09-01T21:19:00.003-04:00

The West Virginia State Championship and the Ohio Chess Congress are both this weekend. Good luck to all the players!

Incentives for New Scholastic Players

2011-08-28T10:34:00.000-04:00

I would like to pass along the following message from Craig Timmons, which may be of interest to scholastic players interests in tournament chess:

We have a local chess enthusiast that has made and funded the following offers.

New, unrated players who participate in WVSCA tournaments will receive a complimentary copy of Chess Tactics Workbook, by Al Woolum, the most popular scholastic chess book in the United States. It retails for $16.95. In order to receive the book, you must be a new unrated player, join the USCF, pay the tournament entry fees, and play in ALL rounds of the tournament(for the League that means 9 rounds). You will receive your book when the tournament is over. This offer is good until we run out of books.

Funding for these books is provided by a local chess enthusiast.

Also this year, the winner of the K-12 section of the West Virginia Scholastic Championship will receive free tournament registration fees in the West Virginia State Championship or the West Virginia Junior Championship, whichever he/she prefers to play in. Both of those championships are held annually on Labor Day weekend. The goal of this sponsorship is to encourage and enable the state scholastic champion to continue his/her chess experience at the next level in West Virginia.

Funding for this is also provided by a local chess enthusiast.

Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament Results

2011-08-25T20:39:00.001-04:00

The 19th Annual Parkersburg Homecoming Chess Tournament was held on Sunday, August 21, 2011 at the Parkersburg Municipal Building at 2nd & Market Streets in Parkersburg, WV. Eighteen players competed for the title.

The position of Parkersurg Homecoming Champion went to Lewis Sanders of Charleston, WV. This was his first tournament championship. The position of second place in the rated section was tied between Benjamin Good of Stonewood, WV and Ted Belanoff of Woodside, CA.

The following players won class prizes in the rated section:

David Hines of Ridgeley, WV (U1900)
James C. Fields of Elkview, WV (U1700)

The first place award in the non-rated section went to Martin J. Sams of Parkersburg, WV, who competed in the Homecoming tournament for the first time.

A crosstable for the event can be found here.

If you've never been to a chess tournament before, the annual Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament is an excellent opportunity to learn what it's all about. There are two sections. The first, the Non-Rated section, is open to the general public and is geared towards casual chess players who do not have an official rating. The second, the Rated section, is geared towards experienced tournament players. To enter the Rated section, you must be a member of the United States Chess Federation. Memberships are available onsite for those who wish to purchase them.

Congratulations to the prize winners, and thanks to everyone who turned out to make this a great tournament! We hope to see you all next year! For pictures from the events, check out the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club's photo gallery.

Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament

2011-08-17T21:25:00.000-04:00

The 19th Annual Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament is only a few days away! We've received pre-registrations from the following players. but expect many more at the door:

David Saville (2063)
Grant Perks (1991)
David Hines (1871)
Markle Butcher (1840)
Dave Rutherford (1826)
Christopher Shen (1486)
Advait Patel (1345)

So far it is shaping up to be a strong tournament. If you've been sitting on the fence, I'd encourage you to stop by and take in the tournament and the Homecoming festival.

Charleston Chess Club Speed Tournament

2011-07-30T12:39:00.000-04:00

The Charleston Chess Club will hold a non-rated speed tournament at its usual meeting place (1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV) on August 2, 2011.

Registration: 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm
4 round Swiss System
Rounds: 6:25 pm; 6:50 pm; 7:15 pm; & 7:45 pm
Time Limit: 10 minutes per game for each side
Entry Fee: donation of $1 for “paid up members” and donation of $2 for others (Membership in the CCC may be paid at site, $10 per year for adults & $5 per year for under 18 years old)
Prizes: 1st Place = 75% of entries. (Remainder of donations goes to the club treasury for miscellaneous expenses)

Miscellaneous Rules, i.e. touch move, illegal move, etc. will be explained just prior to the start of round one.

2011 West Virginia State Championship & Junior Championship

2011-07-14T20:06:00.001-04:00

The 73rd West Virginia State Championship will be held September 3-5, 2011 at 1610 Washington St E Charleston, WV. As always, the format of this tournament will be 6 SS 35/90, SD/60. The entry fee will be $40 by August 29th or $50 at site. Prizes are $1000 based on 30 entries, and a trophy will go to the top West Virginia Chess Association member and resident. WVCA membership is required for in-state residents ($10). Other state memberships will be accepted for out-of-state residents.

Registration is Saturday 8:30 - 9:30 am. The annual WVCA business meeting will be held Saturday at 9:00 am. Rounds are Sat 10-4, Sun 9-3, and Mon 9-3. Send advance entries to Charleston Chess Club, c/o Marvin Barker, 806 Litz Drive, Charleston, WV 25311. Make checks payable to Charleston Chess Club. For more information, including an entry form, visit the WVCA tournament page here.

In addition, the West Virginia Junior State Championship will be held on Sunday, September 4th at the same site. The format of this tournament will be 4 SS G/75. The entry fee is $20 by August 29th or $30 at site. Prizes are $125 based on 10 entries. WVCA membership is required for in-state residents ($10). Other state memberships will be accepted for out-of-state residents. This is a scholastic tournament and only junior players may participate.

Registration is Sunday 8:30 - 9:00 am. Rounds are 9-11:30-2-5. Send advance entries to Charleston Chess Club, c/o Marvin Barker, 806 Litz Drive, Charleston, WV 25311. Make checks payable to Charleston Chess Club. For more information, including an entry form, visit the WVCA tournament page here.

Beckley Chess Club Open #4

2011-07-07T18:00:00.004-04:00

The Beckley Chess Club will be holding a chess tournament on July 23, 2011 in the Beckley Art Gallery located at 600 Johnstown Road in Beckely, WV. The entry fee is $20 and prizes will be based on the number of entries. The format of the tournament is 4 SS G/60. Registration is from 8 - 8:45 am. Rounds are at 9 am, 11:15 am, 2:15 pm, and 4:30 pm.

Charleston Chess Club Speed Tournament

2011-07-02T21:28:00.002-04:00

The Charleston Chess Club will hold a non-rated speed tournament at its usual meeting place (1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV) on July 5, 2011.

Registration: 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm
4 round Swiss System
Rounds: 6:25 pm; 6:50 pm; 7:15 pm; & 7:45 pm
Time Limit: 10 minutes per game for each side
Entry Fee: donation of $1 for “paid up members” and donation of $2 for others (Membership in the CCC may be paid at site, $10 per year for adults & $5 per year for under 18 years old)
Prizes: 1st Place = 75% of entries. (Remainder of donations goes to the club treasury for miscellaneous expenses)

Miscellaneous Rules, i.e. touch move, illegal move, etc. will be explained just prior to the start of round one.

2011 Homecoming Tournament

2011-05-28T20:46:00.000-04:00

The 19th Annual Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2011 at the Municipal Building, 2nd & Market Streets, Parkersburg, WV. The format will be four-round Swiss System G/60. Registration is from 9-9:45 and rounds will be at 10:00, 12:45, 3:00, and 5:15. There will be both rated and non-rated sections. The entry fee for the rated section is $15 postmarked by 8/17 or $20 at the site. The entry fee for the non-rated section is $10.

We had a great turnout last year, and we are hoping to do even better this year! Check out last year's cross-table at the USCF.

For an entry form and more information, visit the Parkersburg Homecoming Chess Tournament website.

Huntington YMCA Chess Club Open

2011-05-10T22:25:00.000-04:00

The Hungtington-YMCA Chess Club will be holding a tournament this Saturday, May 14th at the YMCA in Huntington, WV. The tournament is not USCF rated. For more information (including an entry form), check our the WVCA page here.

Fantasy Chess

2011-04-12T21:00:00.000-04:00

Fantasy Chess for the 2011 U.S. & U.S. Women's Championships is now underway! Go to the St.Louis Chess Club website to create your team for a chance to win great prizes including a one-hour lesson with GM Hikaru Nakamura! The first round starts on April 15th, so be sure to make your picks by then. Best of luck!

April Fools' Day Puzzle

2011-04-01T00:00:00.005-04:00

In honor of April Fools' Day, here's a fairy chess puzzle for you:

The upside-down queen is a grasshopper (G). The grasshopper moves along ranks, files, and diagonals, but only by hopping over another piece at any distance from the square immediately closest. If there is no piece to hop over, it cannot move. If the square beyond a piece is occupied by a piece of the opposite color, the grasshopper can capture that piece. The grasshopper may jump over pieces of either color; the piece being jumped over is unaffected.

Can you determine how White can mate the Black king?

Morgantown May Day Tournament

2011-03-30T18:33:00.001-04:00

The 2011 May Day Tournament will be held on May 7, 2011 at 100 Cobun Ave, Morgantown WV. The format is 4-SS, G/75. Registration starts at 9 AM and rounds start at 10 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM, and 7 PM. The entry fee is $25 postmarked by 4/25 or $35 onsite. An entry form can be found here.

Four members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club made the journey to Morgantown for the Spring Open to show our support for the Morgantown club, and we all had a great time.

Free Houdini Beats Commercial Rybka

2011-03-27T22:38:00.001-04:00

I posted this on the club's Facebook page a few weeks ago, but I thought I would put a link to it on the blog as well in case anyone had missed it. The free chess engine Houdini has beaten the commercial chess engine Rybka in a forty-game match recently. ChessVibes has the story here.

Three sample games from the match are included in the report, including one where Houdini dramatically sacrifices material to defeat Rybka. If you are looking for a strong, free chess engine for analysis, then you might want to give Houdini a try.

WV Action Championship 2011

2011-03-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

The 2011 WV Action Championship will be held April 9, 2011 in Bridgeport, WV. It will consist of seven rounds at G/30, and will affect both your quick and regular USCF ratings. Information and an entry found can be found at the WVSCA website here.

"Dangerous Weapons: Caro-Kann" Free Update

2011-03-27T22:19:00.003-04:00

Everyman Chess has released another free update, this time to their book "Dangerous Weapons: Caro-Kann". Follow this link to download a PGN file with five games annotated by Richard Palliser, or view them on the web using their online viewer. Even if you don't own the original book, these games should prove interesting.

Scholastic Chess League Results

2011-02-20T08:58:00.001-05:00

The results for the 2011 WV Scholastic Chess League have been posted to the www.wvsca.com site. Look under tournament results. The individual results have been submitted to the USCF and have been rated.

We have had several questions about tie breaks. I would like to recommend that you look under FAQ on the website as there is a good link to a how chess tournaments are run. I have looked around and found a couple of sites about tie breaks.

They are :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tie-breaking_in_Swiss-system_tournaments#Modified_Median
http://vtchess.info/Results/Tie_break_rules.htm

Next week is the league individual competion. We will have sections of K-3, K-5, K-8, K-12. As it stands right now, most sections will probably play 5 rounds. The K-12 will play 4 rounds. In K-8 section, we will use a slightly shorter time control in the first 2 rounds. Mr. Homer and I will evaluate this this week and let you know prior to Friday evening.

If you know of anyone wanting to play in the individual competition, please let me know. The cost is $10 for those players. If you played in the league there is no charge and you are automatically registered for this event.

Also, a special thanks to the Mr. John Roush, WV State Champion, who came and played two simuls yesterday. He went 30-0-1.

We had 103 players this year which is a huge success. I want to thank all those at the various schools who have helped organize and get players to the sight, etc.

The State Scholastic Championship is March 19, 2011 at WV State University. The information and registration for can be found at www.wvsca.com and look under upcoming events. You may register on-line.

Thanks we will see you on Saturday February 26, 2011 at St. Francis

Craig Timmons

USCF Voter Registration

2011-02-17T18:52:00.000-05:00

This year in order for members to vote, members MUST register, or their voice will be lost in the election. This new rule was approved at the 2010 Delegates meeting. No Vote, No Voice!

Normally there are over 35,000 voting members that would receive ballots. So far only 1216 people have registered to vote! Voters must be 16 years of age or older to register. Remember family memberships are entitled to vote for anyone that is 16 or older in that family membership!

To register to vote, members will need their USCF ID, Date of Birth, and their PIN number. Their PIN number can be found on their Chess Life mailing label or on their TLA Newsletter. Once this information is handy visit this website - https://secure2.uschess.org/voter-registration.php and they will be able to register to vote.

"Beating 1 e4 e5" Free Update

2011-01-26T21:16:00.002-05:00

Everyman Chess has released a free update to their book "Beating 1 e4 e5". The update includes five games featuring modern responses to the Italian Game and the Bishop's Opening. All of these games are annotated by John Emms. You can view the games and annotation here. The webpage includes a link to download the games in PGN format as well. Enjoy!

Club Meeting Cancelled

2011-01-26T12:40:00.001-05:00

Due to inclement weather, the library is closing early, so our regular club meeting will be cancelled tonight.

Meeting Tomorrow

2011-01-25T22:56:00.002-05:00

This is just a reminder that our next club meeting will be tomorrow, January 26th at the Vienna Public Library from 6-9 PM. I hope to see you there!

Endgame Puzzle

2011-01-23T20:02:00.002-05:00

Today's puzzle comes from the folks at ChessVideos.tv. It's White to move and win. How should White proceed? You can play out the endgame using this simulator.

MOVCC Now on Facebook

2011-01-15T11:26:00.001-05:00

The Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club is now on Facebook! I've created a new Facebook page for the club, replacing the old group that had not been used in some time. Posts from our blog will appear on this page, offering an alternative way to receive information about the club, as well as (hopefully) increasing our exposure.

Please become a fan us today!

34th Cardinal Open

2011-01-15T10:34:00.000-05:00

A number of our club members are planning to make the trip to Columbus this month to play in the 34th Cardinal Open. If you are interested in tagging along, please send me an e-mail or talk to one of the members at our next club meeting.

Tal Chess Puzzle

2010-12-20T22:35:00.001-05:00

Here's a chess puzzle from one of Tal's games. It is White to move. Can you find the mate in 4?

More Coupon Codes

2010-12-17T18:31:00.002-05:00

Here are a few more coupon codes:

ChessHouse.com

S2574 - 10% Off through 12/25
S2362 - $5 off $25+ through 12/31
S2393 - $10 off $60+ through 12/31
S2387 - $15 off $150+ through 12/31
S2408 - $30 off $250+ through 12/31

The House of Staunton

SANTA - 10% Off, Free UPS Ground Shipping on orders over $100

Holiday Coupon Codes

2010-12-14T08:40:00.003-05:00

A number of chess websites are offering special deals during the holiday season. If you are in the market for any chess-related items as a gift, you might want to check out these coupon codes:

The House of Staunton - SAC - 20% of all Studio Anne-Carlton chess sets from 12/11 to 12/24

USCF Sales - HOLIDAY - 10% off your order from 12/13 to 12/19

Wholesale Chess - HOLIDAY - 10% off your order from 12/14 to 12/16

I'll be posting more codes as I receive them. Happy holidays!

Tournament Update

2010-12-10T23:39:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, we were unable to secure a site for the tournament that was tentatively planned for this weekend. Oh well, maybe next time!

The next big tournament in our area is the Cardinal Open in Columbus, OH. A number of our club members are planning to attend. If anyone is interested in tagging along, please drop us an e-mail at movchessclub@gmail.com.

Charleston Chess Club Christmas Party

2010-11-30T08:40:00.003-05:00

The Charleston Chess Club will hold a "Chess" Christmas party from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at the WVSSPA Building; 1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV 25311.

We will have snacks (chips, cupcakes, etc.), drinks (coffee, soda), and probably fried chicken or pizza or somthing along those lines.

Of course, the main "event" will simply be the chance to play chess purely for the fun of it. No one need bring any food or drink. Just bring yourself and perhaps a chess set/clock.

I hope you can make it! Merry Christmas!

John Roush

Kings Island Open

2010-11-28T10:06:00.000-05:00

Two members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club recently traveled to Mason, OH to compete in the 19th Annual Kings Island Open. Both Reggie Best and Matt Richardson did well at the tournament, earning 3/5 in their respective sections.

WV State Championship Results

2010-09-07T08:02:00.000-04:00

John Roush is once again the WV State Chess Champion with an impressive 5.0 score after six rounds. David Saville and Sid Parhi tied for second place with 4.5 each. Congratulations also go out to Mike Richardson who won the U1900 prize with a 4.0 score and gained seventy rating points.

It was a very strong tournament this year, and the competition was fierce. See you all next year in Charleston!

Magnus Carlsen vs. The World

2010-09-03T21:00:00.001-04:00

Chess.com has partnered with G-Star Raw to present Magnus Carlsen vs. the World online Chess game on September 10th! Three grandmasters (Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hikaru Nakamura, and Judit Polgar) will recommend moves against Carlsen, but the move played will be determined by consensus vote from registered players. The game is only a week away, so head on over and register!

2010 Homecoming Results

2010-08-23T18:58:00.006-04:00

The 18th Annual Parkersburg Homecoming Chess Tournament was held on Sunday, August 22nd at the Municipal Building in Parkersburg, WV. Thirty-two players competed for the title.

The first place award in the rated section went to Benjamin Good of Stonewood, WV. Ben has been a West Virginia state chess champion for the past two years, but this marks his first victory at the Homecoming tournament.

The second place award in the rated section went to Thomas Magar of N. Versailles, PA. Tom has been a frequent supporter of the Homecoming Tournament and has won it several times in years past.

The following players won class prizes in the rated section:

Robert Canary of Mullens, WV (U2000)
Edward Garner of Pennsboro, WV (U2000)
Grant Perks of Columbus, OH (U2000)
Lewis Sanders of Charleston, WV (U2000)
Simbarashe Nkomo of Morgantown, WV (U1700)
Berty Ruan of Pittsburgh, PA (U1400)

The first place award in the non-rated section went to Jonathan Crooks of Parkersburg, WV, who competed in the Homecoming tournament for the first time.

The second place award in the non-rated section went to Kara Haskins of Export, PA, who was also a first-time competitor.

Congratulations to the prize winners, and thanks to everyone who turned out to make this a great tournament! We hope to see you all next year!

A crosstable for the event can be found here.

Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament

2010-08-15T08:41:00.001-04:00

The Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament is only one week away! We currently have 10-12 players who are planning to compete in the event, and we expect many more at the door. If you've been sitting on the fence, I'd encourage you to stop by and take in the tournament and the Homecoming festival.

USCF Dues Increase

2010-08-15T08:24:00.000-04:00

The USCF recently passed a motion to increase two and three year regular adult dues effective January 1, 2011. These rates should have been increased a year ago when the one year rate was increased from $29 to $34, but that was left out of the motion. Two year regular adult memberships will go from $52 to $63. Three year regular adult memberships will go from $74 to $91.

In both cases those are the rates for memberships submitted online. Memberships submitted by mail or phone are $7 higher.

Tournament Update

2010-08-12T19:17:00.000-04:00

Beckley Chess Club Open

The Beckley Chess Club Open will be held on Sunday, October 17th at the Pikeview Manor Apartments Community Center, 315 Manor Drive in Beckley, WV. The format is a 4-round Swiss System G/60. The entry fee for the tournament is $20 for adults and $10 for juniors. 40% of the entry fees will go to the winner and 40% of the entry fees will go to top player under 1600. There is a maximum of one prize per person. Registration is from 8:30-9:00. Rounds are at 9:00, 11:30, 2:00, and 4:15.

For more information, contact Mike Turner at turnermichaele@hotmail.com.

WVSCA Google Group

2010-07-29T21:34:00.001-04:00

Craig Timmons has created a Google Group for the WV Scholastic Chess Association. For those who would like to get announcements about scholastic chess in West Virginia, please feel free to sign up at http://groups.google.com/group/wvchess.

Tournament Update

2010-07-29T21:32:00.001-04:00

West Virginia State Championship and State Junior Championship

The 72nd Annual West Virginia State Championship will be held on Labor Day weekend at the Bridgeport Benedum Center, 164 W. Main Street in Bridgeport, WV. The format is a 6-round Swiss System 35/90, SD/60. The entry fee for the tournament is $40 if received by 8/28 or $50 on site. The annual WVCA business meeting will be held at 9 AM before the start of the tournament.

For more information, please visit the tournament page on the WVCA site. An entry form can be found here.

The West Virginia State Junior Championship will also be held in Bridgeport on September 5th at the same site. It is open to all USCF members under the age of 18. The format will be a 4-round Swiss System G/75. The entry fee will be $20 by 8/28 or $30 on site.

For more information, please visit the tournament page on the WVCA site. An entry form can be found here.

12th Mountaineer Open

The 12th Annual Mountaineer Open will be held on October 16, 2010 at the Morgantown Chess Club, 100 Cobun Avenue in Morgantown, WV. The format will be 4-round Swiss System G/75. There will be two sections: Open and Reserve (U1600). The entry fee will be $25 by 10/9 or $35 on-site.

For more information, please visit the tournament page at the Morgantown Chess Club site. An entry form can be found here.

St. Francis Fall Chess Tournament

The 5th Annual St. Francis Fall Chess Tournament will take place at St. Francis of Assisi in St. Albans, WV on October 30, 2010. There will be two themed Scholastic sections and one Open section.

There will be under 600 and 600+ Scholastic sections. Unrated middle or high school players should play in the 600+ section. Pre-registration for Scholastic is $5 or $10 on site. USCF memberships need to be valid through October 31, 2010. The under 600 section is G/30 and the over 600+ section is G/60. All players in the Scholastic section are required to use the Ruy Lopez opening.

The Open section is a WVCA Grand Prix event which will allow the participants to earn points towards the WVCA Grand Prix. In-state players must be members of the WVCA. The entry fees are $20 if paid by October 23, 2010 or $25 on-site. 70% of the registration fees collected will be paid in prizes (40%, 20%, 10%).

An entry form for the tournament can be found here.

Chess Puzzle

2010-05-23T00:00:00.003-04:00

Here's an interesting puzzle for you. It's White's move. Can you find the mate in four? Please note that Black still has castling privileges.

Additional Meeting Dates

2010-05-13T18:23:00.000-04:00

Due to popular demand, the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will now meet on both the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Vienna Public Library from 6-9 PM until the end of the year. The next meeting will be held on May 26th. I look forward to meeting you over the board twice as often!

Morgantown May Day Tournament

2010-05-05T19:26:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to MOVCC member Mike Price on his recent performance at the May Day Tournament in Morgantown, WV. Unleashing his new weapon, the Nimzowitsch Defence, Mike went on to defeat two 1700-rated players to secure a respectable 2.0 score for the day, increasing his rating by 146 points!

Here is a link to the cross-table for the event.

Homecoming Tournament

2010-04-23T20:51:00.003-04:00

The 18th Annual Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament will be held on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at the Municipal Building, 2nd & Market Streets, Parkersburg, WV. The format will be four-round Swiss System G/60. Registration is from 9-9:45 and rounds will be at 10:00, 12:45, 3:00, and 5:15. There will be both rated and non-rated sections. The entry fee for the rated section is $15 postmarked by 8/16 or $20 at the site. The entry fee for the non-rated section is $7.

We had a great turnout last year, and we are hoping to do even better this year! Check out last year's cross-table at the USCF.

For an entry form and more information, visit the Parkersburg Homecoming Chess Tournament website.

Saturday Chess

2010-04-23T20:50:00.000-04:00

The chess club will meet tomorrow, April 24th at Borders in Vienna from 1-4 PM for casual chess. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it this time. I hope you all have a good time!

This will probably be the last Saturday meeting at Borders until the fall. With the warm weather here to stay, we will organize some Saturday events in the Parkersburg and Williamstown city parks like we did last year. I'll keep you posted.

- Matt Richardson

Notre Dame Spring Tournament

2010-04-21T21:26:00.000-04:00

The Notre Dame Spring Tournament will be held on May 15, 2010 at the Notre Dame High School in Clarksburg, WV. There will be three sections: Elementary (4SS G/30), High School (4SS G/45), and Open (3-4SS G/60). The entry form can be downloaded here.

Club Meeting

2010-04-11T16:27:00.000-04:00

This is just a reminder that the next meeting of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will on this Wednesday, April 14th, at the Vienna Public Library at 6:00 PM. We will also be meeting on Saturday, April 24th at Borders in Vienna for casual play.

2010 WV Action Championship

2010-04-10T18:46:00.000-04:00

The 2010 West Virginia Action Championship is only one week away! I've received pre-registrations from the following players:

John Roush (2084)
Ben Good (2069)
Dave Hines (1981)
Markus Boettcher (1940)
Terry Wassell (1698)
Aaron Richardson (1674)
Daniel Brenneman (1437)
James Wassell (1166)
Richard Shaver (1075)
Simba Nkomo (Unr)

I'm also expecting 3-5 brand new players from the WVUP club in addition to a number of people registering the day of the event. So far it is shaping up to be a good tournament. I'd encourage anyone sitting on the fence to come out and give it a try!

Beckley Spring Open

2010-04-10T07:32:00.002-04:00

The Beckley Spring Open will be held on May 23, 2010, at the Pikeview Manor Apartments Community Center in Beckley, WV. The format of the tournament will be a 4-round Swiss System G/45. The entry fee is $15 for adults and $10 for juniors. For more information, contact Michael Turner, or visit the tournament posting on the WVCA website.

Chess Puzzle

2010-03-29T18:57:00.005-04:00

It's been a long time since I posted a chess puzzle. I ran across this interesting position today:

Obviously, White has multiple ways to mate; however, can you find the mate in 3? There are two ways to do it, depending on Black's move.

Interestingly, I plugged this position into Rybka 3 (1 CPU) and let it run for 15 minutes. The best it could find was mate in 4. The free RobboLito and Stockfish engines found the solution instantly, so you might want to consider these engines as an alternative for endgame analyses.

Fincher To Make 'Sacrifice'

2010-03-20T19:52:00.004-04:00

Director David Fincher has been selected to direct "Pawn Sacrifice", a biopic on American chess icon Bobby Fischer. For more information, check out this link.

Saturday Chess

2010-03-13T10:02:00.003-05:00

The Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will meet on Saturday, March 20th at Borders book store in Vienna, WV for a few friendly games of chess. The meeting will last from 1-4 PM. Feel free to stop by!

Chess Club Meeting

2010-03-07T08:42:00.001-05:00

This is just a reminder that the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will be meeting this Wednesday, March 10th at the Vienna Public Library from 6-9 PM. Hope to see you there!

Saturday Chess Meeting

2010-02-23T18:28:00.001-05:00

The Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will be meeting this Saturday, February 27th at Borders in Vienna from 1-4 PM for a few casual games of chess. If you have never been to the club before, this is an excellent opportunity to see what it's all about.

Unorthodox Openings

2010-02-21T20:57:00.004-05:00

I ran across this interesting link the other day. It leads to an archive of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter. Check it out!

WVU-P Chess Tournament

2010-02-20T13:41:00.003-05:00

The first annual WVU-P Chess Tournament was held this morning at the WVUP campus. The competition was fierce at this non-rated, five round tournament. Taking first place with 4.5 points was Craig Rabatin. Taking second place with 4 points was Joe Mundy. Thanks to everyone who came out to this event!

Tournament Update

2010-02-12T20:47:00.009-05:00

The Morgantown Chess Club will be holding the 2010 Morgantown Spring Open on March 6, 2010. The 2010 May Day Tournament will be held on May 1, 2010. For more details, visit their website.

Also, the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will be hosting the 2010 West Virginia Action Championship this year on April 17, 2010 at the Judge Black Annex on Market Street in Parkersburg. The format will be 7SS G/30. The entry fee is $25 by 4/10 or $35 on site. The entry form can be downloaded here. Please send entries to Matt Richardson, 1225 20th St., Parkersburg, WV 26101. Come join us for the fastest seven rounds of the year!

Chess Documentary

2010-01-31T21:13:00.005-05:00

I ran across the following teaser video for a documentary being filmed about the chess team of Brooklyns's Intermediate School 318. This inner-city school has one of the strongest scholastic chess teams in the nation. It looks like a very interesting film.

CHESS MOVIE (working title) from Rescued Media on Vimeo.

WVU-P Tournament

2010-01-12T20:57:00.003-05:00

The WVU-P chess club will be holding a non-rated tournament on Saturday, February 20th. Registration begins at 8:00 AM. Rounds start at 9:00 AM and last until noon. Exact format will be determined based on the number of entries. If you can, I'd encourage to pay a visit to support this local club.

Chess at Borders

2010-01-10T13:04:00.003-05:00

The Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club is planning to get together at Borders on Saturday, January 23rd from 1:00 to 4:30 for some friendly games of chess. Please stop by for a game and a cup of coffee!

Magnus Carlsen Interview

2009-12-31T11:45:00.002-05:00

I hope that everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Time magazine has posted an interview with Magnus Carlsen on their website. Check it out here.

Also, I have reserved the Vienna Public Library again for 2010 on the second Wednesday of every month from 6-9 PM. I realize that this time may not work for everyone. I'd like to organize other monthly meetings so that everyone can participate. Please let me know what days/times would be best for you by leaving a comment here on the website. Thanks!

Kanawha Valley Scholastic Chess League

2009-12-19T16:26:00.003-05:00

From Craig Timmons:

We are pleased to announce the beginning of the Kanawha Valley Scholastic Chess League for 2010. The WVSCA will manage the chess league. The United States Chess Federation (USCF) will rate the games. The matches will be at Saint Francis Elementary School in the Parish Center in St. Albans, WV. The team match dates are scheduled for:

Saturday Jan 23, 2010
Saturday Jan 30, 2010

Each day we will play three rounds with team-modified Swiss pairings (team members will not be paired with each other). The individual League Scholastic Chess Championship will be February 27, 2010 and is open to all scholastic league members without entry fee and all other scholastic players with valid and current United States Chess Federation (USCF) memberships for $10. Memberships should be valid through February 28, 2009 or later.

If your school has a chess club that would like to enter a team or teams or if you would like to form a chess team for this league, please use the enclosed sign-up sheet. Please return the enclosed form and payment by check, payable to WVSCA before January 15, 2010 to:

Craig Timmons
811 Hughes Drive
St. Albans, WV 25177

The flyer and entry form for this event can be found here.

WV State Scholastic Chess Championship

2009-12-19T16:21:00.006-05:00

The 42nd Annual WVSCA State Scholastic Chess Championship will be held at WV State University in Institute, WV on March 6, 2010. Information about this event can be found on the WVSCA website. The entry form can also be found here.

Charleston Chess Club Christmas Party

2009-12-18T18:32:00.001-05:00

The Charleston Chess Club's Christmas party scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled due to the upcoming snow storm. They are looking to reschedule for later in the month.

Charleston Chess Club Christmas Party

2009-12-10T21:34:00.002-05:00

From John Roush:

The Charleston Chess Club will be holding a Christmas get-together from 11 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at the WVSSPA Building (1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV 25311), which is where the chess club meets on Tuesdays. We plan to play chess and snack on various items (fried chicken, cupcakes, chips, etc.).

I encourage all who can make it to come. We usually have a good time!

Chess Training Session

2009-12-10T21:27:00.003-05:00

From Craig Timmons:

John Homer will be holding a chess training session at Bible Center Church across from Ashton Place in Charleston, WV. It will begin at 10:00 and end around noon, Saturday, December 12, 2009.

The training session is oriented towards players new to chess. Mr. Homer will be going over chess rules for tournament play (i.e touch move, time, equipment, pairings, etc.). He will also discuss how to improve your level of play in chess.

Mr. Homer has been a United States Chess Federation Senior Tournament Director for several years. He has worked at state and national tournaments and played in numerous tournaments. We are fortunate to have his expertise to help the youth learn this great game.

If you have time on Saturday, please stop by. This is a great opportunity to help both parents and players learn about chess and develop their skills.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T08:37:00.002-05:00

On behalf of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club, I'd like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving today! I hope you all enjoy your time with your friends and family.

Chess Puzzle

2009-11-21T20:33:00.002-05:00

It's been a long time since I posted a chess puzzle. This one is very easy, but I decided to post it anyway since it's such a cool position. Black has just played Qe8+. What is White's best move?

Saturday Meeting

2009-11-20T21:35:00.001-05:00

We will be holding a chess club meeting tomorrow, November 21, at Borders in Vienna. We will start playing at 2:00 PM. Please feel free to stop by for a friendly game and a cup of joe.

New Chess.com Group

2009-11-19T21:41:00.000-05:00

I have created a group on Chess.com for players who are or formerly have been active in competitive chess in West Virginia. If you play on Chess.com and are interested in joining, please visit the group page here.

My hope is that we will soon be able to setup Vote Chess and Team Chess matches against other groups.

WVU Russian Club Charity Chess Tournament

2009-11-19T21:38:00.002-05:00

From David Iorio:

Congratulations to Ben Good who won the 2009 WVU Russian Club Charity Chess Tournament! A modest turnout of eighteen players delivered exciting games at the adopted G/15 time control. These included sudden death between Terry Wassell Sr. (0.5) and Caleb Aites (1.5) and a finely played rook and pawn ending by Dave Bruner, who visited from Elkins, against Lawrence Iorio.

Ben (WV Co-Champion) earned his place at the podium by taking out in succession Bill Austin (Morgantown Champion), Lawrence Iorio, Shih-Houng Young, and myself. Feeling that Ben's 270 rating point advantage was not enough, I (black) uncorked an opening "novelty" in the Vienna sacrificing a knight for pawn and phantom attack. It was a charity chess event! Ben reacted incredulously before calmly accepting the piece. Though the game later proved interesting, Ben's advantage was never in jeopardy as he proceeded to apply pressure on the kingside. White's threat of tripling rooks plus queen on the open f-file translated to a king and pawn ending where black was unable to avoid zugzwang.

The WVU Russian Club graciously hosted and provided a comfortable playing site. It was an excellent opportunity for Phil DiSalvo to promote the WVU Chess Club and the MCC was well-represented with seven participants. This was the tournament's third edition and they intend to keep it as an annual event. Thanks to everyone who helped make this a successful fundraiser for a great cause!

Chess Coupons

2009-11-18T22:30:00.002-05:00

I've received several coupon codes for chess sites over the past couple weeks. I thought I would pass them along in case anyone was in the market for chess gear:

Chess House: CH10OFF - $10 off $50 or more
USCF Sales: NOVEMBER - 10% off
Wholesale Chess: SAVENOW - 10% off

These coupons are good for the next several days, although there may be better deals after Thanksgiving.

Club Meetings

2009-11-16T19:40:00.000-05:00

This is just a reminder that the monthly meeting of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will be this Wednesday at 6:00 PM at the Vienna Public Library. Also, we are tentatively planning a meeting this Saturday at Borders. I will post the times once this has been confirmed.

Northern WV Individual Scholastic Championship

2009-11-15T10:39:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Jackson Morris, who won three out of four games yesterday at the 6th Northern WV Individual Scholastic Championship and took home a trophy!

WVU Chess Club

2009-11-10T18:38:00.007-05:00

From David Iorio:

Yesterday's inaugural meeting of the WVU Chess Club was a resounding success! Fifteen players advanced pieces across the checkered tables amidst the bustle of the Mountainlair. With a handful of onlookers and a mingling fast food aroma in the background, it was an enjoyable evening of chess. Hats off to Phil DiSalvo for a great start and thanks to the Morgantown Chess Club for lending sets. The club will continue meeting in the food court at 6:00 p.m. on Mondays. Stop by for a game and don't forget about the WVU Russian Club Charity Tournament on November 18. I will deliver to them an entry list on the registration deadline of November 16.

Spring Tournament

2009-11-05T22:08:00.004-05:00

The Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club is tentatively planning a Spring Tournament for April 2010. I have recently received my club director certification from the USCF, and I am looking forward to directing a tournament. I will post more information as details are finalized.

Club Meeting This Month

2009-11-01T08:17:00.001-05:00

This is just a reminder that the club meeting this month will be held on November 18th. The second Wednesday was not available this month due to a scheduling conflict.

Ripley Chess Club

2009-11-01T08:06:00.001-05:00

The Ripley Chess Club will be meeting this Tuesday, November 3rd, at the community center in Gay, WV from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Chess Club Meeting

2009-10-11T20:41:00.000-04:00

The regular meeting of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club will be this Wednesday at the Vienna Public Library. Hope to see you there!

Mountaineer Open

2009-10-11T20:39:00.002-04:00

Four members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club made the journey to Morgantown yesterday for the 11th Annual Mountaineer Open. It was a tough tournament, and none of us were very happy with our performances, but Mike Price and Matt Richardson took away the U1400 and U1200 class prizes.

WVU-P Chess Club

2009-10-06T20:54:00.002-04:00

The WVU-P Chess Club will meet tomorrow in the WVUP student lounge at 4:00 PM.

Karpov-Kasparov Match in the WSJ

2009-09-27T11:00:00.004-04:00

The Wall Street Journal printed an article yesterday about the recent match between Karpov and Kasparov. It's an interesting read, although their research is questionable. They credit Mikhail Botvinnik with leading the transition from the Romantic style of Anderssen and Morphy to the Classical style based on positional strength. They totally ignore Steinitz's work decades before. Oh well, that's journalism for you.

Article on Bobby Fischer

2009-09-23T21:36:00.005-04:00

The Los Angeles Times posted an article earlier this week on the enigmatic chess genius Bobby Fischer. The article seeks to explore some of his bizarre behavior by examining the identity of his biological father, who was not Gerhardt Fischer, but rather a man named Paul Felix Nemenyi. It's an interesting read.

Homecoming Thanks

2009-09-20T20:05:00.004-04:00

The Marietta Register has published a thank you letter from the Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club to our sponsors for the Homecoming tournament. Once again, we'd like to thank our sponsors who made our tournament such a success!

Chess in the Park Update

2009-09-20T08:11:00.004-04:00

We had a great time in the park last night. Six players were able to make it, including Ben Good who made the trip all the way from Clarksburg. We played a lot of blitz, as well as a few longer games. I've added some photos from the event to our club meetings gallery. Let's plan to do this again soon!

Chess in the Park

2009-09-18T20:23:00.004-04:00

Greetings everyone! Some of us will be gathering tomorrow, September 19th, at 5:00 PM in the Williamstown City Park to play some chess. Feel free to stop by and play a few games.

CATTA Weekly Blitz Tournament

2009-09-14T23:31:00.004-04:00

CATTA & the Ohio University Chess Club will be holding a weekly G/5 blitz tournament following their regular club meeting. The entry fee is $5, and participants must be members of the USCF. The number of rounds will depend on the number of contestants, and the tournament will be rated. A cash prize will be awarded to the first place winner. For more information, visit the OU Chess Club website.

Club Meeting

2009-09-07T22:20:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to remind everyone that our monthly club meeting will be held this Wednesday at 6 PM at the Vienna Public Library. I hope to see you there!

West Virginia State Chess Championship

2009-09-07T22:02:00.006-04:00

The 71st Annual West Virginia State Chess Championship was held this past weekend at the Benedum Civic Center in Bridgeport, WV. Twenty-eight players competed in this six-round event. The winners were as follows:

Championship: Benjamin Good & John Roush tied with 5 points each.
Under 1900: Sid Parhi won first prize with 4.5 points. Michael Felton took second with 4 points.
Under 1600: Terry Wassell won first prize with 4.5 points. Benjamin Cowley took second with 4 points.
Under 1300: Matt Richardson and Lewis Sanders tied with 3 points each.
Junior: Christopher, Joseph and Robert Greer tied with 1.5 points each.

The cross table for this event has been posted at the USCF website.

Ripley Chess Club Meeting

2009-08-28T07:47:00.004-04:00

The Ripley Chess Club had their first meeting last night, with a lot of interest from the scholastic chess community. Check out their blog for pictures from the event.

Homecoming Tournament Cross Table

2009-08-25T22:29:00.001-04:00

The cross table for the Homecoming Tournament has been posted on the USCF website.

USCF Adult Membership Dues Change

2009-08-24T21:10:00.002-04:00

The USCF announced today that the regular adult membership rate will increase from $29 to $34 effective December 1, 2009.

Homecoming Tournament Winners

2009-08-24T17:37:00.003-04:00

The 17th Annual Parkersburg Homecoming Chess Tournament was held on Sunday, August 23rd at the Parkersburg Municipal Building. The Tournament consisted of two sections and 40 participants from West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Homecoming has become the final tune-up for players who will be participating in the WV and OH State Championships, both held on Labor Day Weekend.

The Nationally Rated Section had the following winners:

First Place - Thomas Magar, North Versailles, PA & David Hines, Ridgeley, WV

Both players finished the 4 rounds with 3 wins and 1 draw. Thomas Magar was awarded the Championship Trophy based on tie break formulas.

The following players won prizes for finishing first in their respective rating classes:

Sidhartha Parhi, Morgantown, WV
Terry Wassell, Morgantown, WV
Berty Ruan, Pittsburgh, PA

The Non-Rated Section had the following winners:

First Place - Jeff Johnson, Mineral Wells, WV
Jeff finished the 3 rounds with 3 wins and was awarded the 1st Place Trophy.

Second Place - Connor Hall, Mineral Wells, WV
Connor finished the 3 rounds with 2 wins and was awarded the 2nd Place Trophy

Sponsors of the Chess Tournament:

City of Parkersburg
Emerson Bowling Lanes Trophy Shop
Mid-Ohio Valley Chess Club
Panera Bread

Pictures from the event can be found in our photo gallery. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event such a success!

Chess Club Websites

2009-08-21T21:15:00.002-04:00

I've added the Ripley Chess Club and Ohio University Chess Club websites to our links. Check them out when you get a chance!

The Newspaper, Chess, and H. G. Wells

2009-08-20T17:38:00.007-04:00

The Parkersburg News & Sentinel has printed an article on the upcoming Homecoming Tournament. Check it out for my weak attempt to explain the allure of chess. Perhaps I should have referred the reporter to H. G. Wells' essay on the subject, which begins like so:

The passion for playing chess is one of the most unaccountable in the world. It slaps the theory of natural selection in the face. It is the most absorbing of occupations, the least satisfying of desires, an aimless excrescence upon life. It annihilates a man.

-- H.G. Wells, "Concerning Chess" 1898

The essay ends "And yet I have played many games."

Homecoming Tournament Players

2009-08-17T20:00:00.007-04:00

The following players have tentatively scheduled to play in the Parkersburg Homecoming Tournament.

Thomas P. Magar 2200
Benjamin Good 2067
David Hines 1975
Markus Boettcher 1931
Jeff Hohn 1843
Mike Richardson 1785
Dave Rutherford 1774
Ack Morgan 1734
Aaron Richardson 1662
Reggie Best 1655
Terry Wassell 1579
Jordan Whistler 1579/5
James C. Fields 1539
Robert L. Greer 1246
Lunaris Ruan 1223
James T. Wassell 1197
Berty Ruan 1172
Matt Richardson 1167
Victoria Zhang 1042
Hao-Yu Li 979
Charles McCallister 943
Robert V. Greer 717
Brandon Baylor Unr
Jeffrey Fields Unr

Of these players, 18 have already registered. This is shaping up to be one of our best-attended tournaments ever! If you haven't made up your mind about the tournament yet, I would encourage you to come take part in this event.

New Chess Club in Ripley

2009-08-11T19:41:00.001-04:00

The Ripley Chess Club will have its first meeting Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the Jackson County Public Library located at 208 North Church Street Ripley, WV from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Inquiries should be directed to charles669@hughes.net.