BISD 1st Tournament by RATINGS

It was 8:30 as we walked in the Main door of
Dr. Juliet V. Garcia Middle School. We were
greeted by the Gator cheerleaders, one of them
step up to show us the map of the building and pointed
us in the right direction, Oziel Juarez and I were
going to the Porter Room....Porter would win the
OPEN that day. This Saturday, September 24, 2011
BISD Chess held its first Tournament by Ratings.
This was done so that on every round chess players
were play against stronger opponents. 
Of course all divisions  were playing in the same
level. However, in chess only rating matters, not size,
not age, only skill. Round one was about to get started.
Chief TD Victor Flores and his staff did a great job.
As the rounds were finished I noticed that this idea
was the right one to help our players become stronger.
Before players were winning against weaker players,
but on this day, there were some UPSETS. It seem some
players could not handle the competition. Royal Knights
as usual always come out on top and this tournament was
not be the exception. Their Rating jumped up and trophies
were won. Ozeil Juarez, Porter HS  2nd place Open
Dominic Beltran and Melissa Medina both from Stillman
MS took the 4th place K-12 U1300 team trophy...Dominic
won 1st place while Melissa took 10th and both earned
higher ratings.  In the K-12 U1000  section Rodolfo
Velasquez, Besteiro MS - 3rd place....Bradley McCaleb
from Weslaco took home the 5th place trophy, 
while Zachary P Sunderland from Idea College Preparatory
took 6th. All three reach new higher rating as well.
Lucio's MS Xavier Torres took 9th  with 3.5 points and also
increase his rating.  Good Job Royal Knights!!!
There were 342 chess players all looking for checkmate...
some won, some lost, and some created draws...
Royal Knights are WINNERS and LEADERS.

Chess @ Alejandra's Restaurant

It was 8:28 a.m. and the text when out:
"Chess @ Alejandra's"  this morning?
Luis Matus and Eliud Ramirez returned
the text....and we are meeting at 10:15a.m.
They have great food --> so I will probably
have MOLE for lunch (my favorite).
       so 1. e4!   your move. 

Chess Workshop Thursday

This Thursday, September 22,  I will give
a chess workshop at my house. The cost:
only $5 ( a one time low price).  A new
chess season is about to begin....
Is your chess game ready for battle?
call or text 561-1034 Ray Martinez

CHESS and BBQ !!!

I was working with one of my chess students
this afternoon, while I received a call about
a Chess Party....Hung up the phone and continued
to work on tactics with Melissa....Her game
is getting a lot stronger.....I am expecting
good results from her games...anyway, the
lesson ended and I went over to Ramiro's
for some Chess and chicken BBQ...
the food was good and the games were awesome.
The powerful "Torre Fuerte" chess team
was there - creating interesting positions
and working tactics and planning checkmates.
It was a great evening of chess....playing
chess under trees, enjoying the evening air.
we finished at night fall....Vive Torre Fuerte!!!
Vive Chess forever...

FRIDAYS: Chess @ the Mall

It was 5:00 p.m. as we entered Sunrise Mall.
We started to set the chess boards and began
to play Chess.  Matthew Cohen challenge
Oziel Juarez to a match (game 15) while I
played a few games with Harry. Then Luis
Matus and John Beaudry arrived on the scene.
Luis' game has really improved his game, his
tactics are stronger and he is beginning to see
things  and squares like a true chess player.
Jon Beaudry came in playing 1. b4! the Sokolsky
which he plays very well and a interesting
opening to learn. Every week we play different
openings to get into different tactical positions.
Paredes' little Sara Lin arrived with her parents
and little brother ate some a meal and then
started to play chess with me...She's a
pretty good chess player upon checkmate
we analyze for ideas to better play the middle
game.  Lesson: Outpost Square and how a
knight posted on the center gives opponents
a hard time. Once posted there a win is near.
Adolfo Balderas, Gus Falcon, and Christian
Muraira came in and some interesting matches
got started. This strong group of chess players
kept playing until 9:45 as Jon and Gus agreed
 to a DRAW...we walked out until next week