"I never lose. I either win or I learn"
One's abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning.
"I never lose. I either win or I learn"
is attributed to be Nelson Mandela, who viewed failure and success as two sides of the same coin. Rather than seeing failure as a personal defeat, it is reframed as a learning opportunity, suggesting that even when one does not achieve the desired outcome, one is still able to gain knowledge and improve. This mindset indicates a positive attitude and a willingness to grow and improve through experience. By reframing failure as a learning opportunity, one is able to maintain a sense of control and positivity in the face of challenges. Additionally, the quote suggests a growth mindset, which is the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning.
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Chess 101
In chess, the touch-move rule is a rule that states that if a player intentionally touches one of their own pieces, they must move that piece if they can. The rule also applies to capturing an opponent's piece: if a player picks-up or touches an opponent's piece with their own piece, they must capture that piece if it is legal to do so. The touch-move rule is designed to prevent players from deliberately touching a piece and then retracting their move in order to gain an advantage. The rule is strictly enforced in tournament play, but it may not be enforced in casual games. A move is considered completed once you let go of the piece. Source: Wikipedia.
Importance of Touch-move rule when teaching kids chess
It is important to enforce the touch-move rule when teaching kids chess for several reasons:
The touch-move rule helps to promote fairness and honesty in the game. By requiring players to follow through with a move once a piece has been touched, the rule helps to prevent players from trying to gain an advantage by retracting their moves.
The touch-move rule helps to teach kids about the importance of following rules. In chess, as in life, it is important to follow rules and to be honest with others.
The touch-move rule helps to teach kids to think carefully before they act by making a move. Since they must follow through with a move once a piece has been touched, kids must think carefully before they touch a piece, which can help to improve their critical thinking skills and anticipate the consequences of their actions
The touch-move rule helps to prevent disruptions and delays during games. By preventing players from retracting their moves, the rule helps to keep the game moving smoothly and efficiently.
Overall, the touch-move rule is an important part of chess and is an important tool for teaching kids about fairness, honesty, and critical thinking.
Even Grandmasters fall fowl of the touch-move rule
To err is human… In the 7th round of the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 – Chennai, India, the US team seemed to be cruising to a win against Armenia until GM Sam Shankland, playing under time pressure, anticipated his opponents move and made his move before seeing where exactly his opponent had moved his piece! As a result he made an illegal move by moving into check and had to resign the game. What should have been a draw turned into a loss and the result meant that the match was a 2:2 draw as opposed to an expected 1.5 : 2.5 win for the US team. Arménio went on to win the Silver medal ahead of the US team that finished out of the medals in 5th place.
Comments by VlogToMe Jr. and replies below the video on YouTube are instructive.
“GM Sam Shankland had a drawish endgame against GM Robert Hovhannisyan on the fourth board… [Shankland] played an illegal move, therefore, he needed to follow the touch-move rule and play with the King. Unfortunately for Sam and the USA team, any legal move played with a King loses on [the] spot and Shankland resigned.” - Source Chessdom
Chess Trivia
Youngest player to defeat a Grandmaster: “On July 28, 2012, Awonder Liang, aged 9 years, 3 months, and 20 days, beat Grandmaster Larry Kaufman in the Washington International tournament.” Source: Wikipedia
Youngest Grandmaster: “The youngest player to be awarded the grandmaster title by FIDE is Abhimanyu Mishra. In 2021, he qualified for the title at the age of 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days.” Source: Wikipedia
Chess ‘Book Club’
Read sample here
Checkmate Patterns: Fool’s Mate
“Checkmate ends the game.” - GM Nigel, Short. Source: AZQuotes.com
Fool's Mate is called "fool's mate" because it is a very basic and unsophisticated attack, and any player who falls for it is considered a "fool."
Upcoming Chess Club Meets:
Manurewa Chess - Tamariki Chess Club
When: Sat. 14-Jan-23, 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Who: Manurewa Chess Juniors, Parents/Guardians
What: Chess Coaching, NZCF Testing & Certification, Mini-Blitz Chess Tournament 5|2, Various Chess Club activities & free play
How: Registration - Free - $10 donation/player recommended, No registration required, just turn-up
Where: Manurewa Library, 7 Hill Road, Manurewa, AucklandPapatoetoe Chess Club - Junior Club
Junior Club Coaching. Source: Papatoetoe Chess Club Wednesdays, 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm, Weekly from Feb-23, $50/year fees apply. Visitors welcome.
Venue: Papatoetoe Hunters Corner Bowling Club, 247 Great South Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland. Contacts hereManurewa Chess - Manurewa Library Chess Club
Thursdays, 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, Term 1 from 02-Feb-23, Weekly, Juniors U16s & Parent/Guardians, Free
Venue: Manurewa Library, 7 Hill Road, Manurewa, Auckland
Register hereManurewa Chess - Clendon Library Chess Club
Mondays, 3:45 pm to 5:15 pm, Term 1 from 13-Feb-23, Weekly, All ages, Free
Venue: Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre and Library, 17 Palmers Road, Clendon Park, Auckland 2103
Register here
Upcoming Training Events:
Chess Lab - 2023 Holiday Beginners Chess Class Jan-23
A complete introduction to chess. No previous chess knowledge required.
Topics: The Chessboard, The Starting position, The pieces (King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight & Pawn), Capture, Check, Castling, Checkmate, Stalemate, En Passant, Chess Etiquette, Value of the pieces, Defending, Winning material, Profitable exchange. NZCF Pawn Level Testing & Certification.
Mon. 23-Jan-22 to Sat. 28-Jan-23 (5 days), 9:30 am - 11:30 am,
Fees apply - $100.00/student (10 hours) or $25 per session pro-rata
Venue: Manurewa Library, 7 Hill Road, Manurewa, Auckland
Contact: info@chesslab.co.nz
Register hereThe Hilton Bennett Memorial Summer Camp 2023
Fri. 20th to Sun. 22-Jan-23. Online Camp. Essential Chess Knowledge presented by GM Dejan Bojkov and GM Ian Rogers. Entry fees apply. NZL FIDE-licensed Trainers, Adults & NZ Juniors with previous NZCF-Rated event participation. Online - Zoom.
Upcoming Tournaments
Manurewa Chess - Chess in the Southmall
Wed. 18-Jan-23, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Open (kids must be accompanied by an adult through-out event), Free, No registration required, just turn-up. Free play & possible Blitz tournament based on turnout.
Venue: Southmall, 185/201 Great South Road, Manurewa, Auckland 2102
Contact: info@manurewachess.orgManurewa Chess Junior Rapid Chess Tournament Jan-23
Sat. 28-Jan-23, 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, 6 Rounds, Swiss System, Time Control: Rapid 10|0 (10 min per player, no increment), Juniors - U16s. Free - $10/player donation recommended.Venue: Manurewa Library, 7 Hill Road, Manurewa, Auckland
Register here.Auckland Anniversary Weekend 2023 Chess Tournament
Sat. 28-Jan-23 to Mon. 30-Jan-23, 6 Rounds Swiss System, Time Control: Classical 90|30 (90 minutes each player plus 30 seconds increment per move), NZCF & FIDE rated, Open. Fees Apply - $60 per player
Venue: Auckland Chess Centre, 17 Cromwell Street, Mt. Eden, Auckland
Register here