WELCOME to the BOX HILL CHESS CLUB
The
Box Hill Chess Club is the largest suburban chess club in Victoria and
counts amongst its membership of 160 some of the best known players in
Victoria, such as GM Darryl Johansen, and the 2006 Victorian Junior champion
Chris Wallis
Some of the top Victorian Juniors such as under 16 Australian girls
champion Sally Yu, under 16 Australian junior champion Zhigen Lin are part of the large group of junior players
at the club.
The club meets at the
Emulation Hall, 3 Rochester Road, Canterbury every Tuesday and Friday night and rated
tournaments are organised on both nights throughout the year.
The
club actively supports the development of junior chess through its junior
organization Canterbury Junior Chess Club inc. New members and visitors are
welcome at the club and membership and tournament fees are kept at a
reasonable level.
The
clubs premises are spacious and well lit.
Tea,
coffee and light refreshments at moderate prices are available on Friday
nights.
Marcus
Rayne's bookstall operates at the club on Tuesday and Friday nights.
The
club is affiliated with Chess Victoria and co-operates with that
organisation in the operation of the Eastern Zone Winter Interclub
competition and in 2005 was awarded Victorian Open Championship and the
Victorian Junior Championships
The
club maintains extensive
programmes for the Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday tournaments and members and
visitors are welcome in all our events.
Further
information can be obtained
from any of the sources set out below.
Postal
address:
6 Andrew Street Forest Hill
3131
Club
telephone: 0409
259 490 Tuesday and Friday evenings.
Club
captain:
Gerrit Hartland tel. 9878 3163 E-mail.
gerrit.hartland@bigpond.com
Webmaster:
Shaun Fielder
Treasurer:
Trevor Stanning tel. 9898 7547 E-mail:
trevors@bluep.com
Fees
Newcomers often like to "try" the Club for a few weeks, and
for this reason the Club does not ask for a visitor's fee for the first
week. Subsequent to this, you may be asked for a visitors fee per night, or
you may want to apply through the Club Treasurer for membership status. If
you apply for membership part-way through our financial year then your
subscription may be reduced pro-rata.
Individual
events held at the Club are also subject to an entry fee which includes a
Chess Victoria registration fee if they are rated.
YOUR FIRST FEW NIGHTS AT BOX
HILL CHESS CLUB
It will not
always be possible for you to enter straight into a tournament on your first
night at the club as a tournament may be well on the way] but the organizers
try and make sure that newcomers are made to feel welcome and are matched to
play club member or visitors of comparable strength. Visitors and new
members are encouraged.
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CHESS
Advice for beginners.
You
know the way the pieces move, you know the rules and sometimes you beat your
friends, but you don't always know why and how things happen.
You
are about to join the Box Hill Chess Club and you know you will need to get
better quickly. So what to do? Here are some suggestions.
·
Buy a chess guide. 'Chess Made Easy' by Purdy & Koshnitsky at $
4.95 is by far the best as it
provides a wealth of information and down to earth advice. A must.
·
Participate in as many of the club competitions as you can and ask
your opponent to go over the game with you afterwards; win, lose or draw.
·
Study the games in Chris Depasquale's weekly chess column in the
Saturday Extra section of Saturday's "Age” and Gary Wastell's weekly
chess column in the Entertainment section of the Sunday Herald-Sun".
Borrow chess books from your local library.
·
Check
out and consider the coaching options available at the club or join the
coaching group which meets on Tuesdays and Sunday morning.
Persevere.
It may be quite a while before you win your first competition game but it
will be a great feeling when you do because you are then a competitive chess
player, with an understanding of the game and a say in what is going on the
board. That is the true test of your improvement; when you no longer react
to what your opponent dictates but when you have a say in the shape of the
game. You will of course still lose many a game! We all do. Come and join.
THE
MECHANICS OF CHESS
Introduction
To
participate in and enjoy the activities of the chess club and the wider
field of organized chess you need to became familiar with the mechanics of
the competitive game.
Administration
of tournaments
All
competition games in the club are played under the control of an
arbiter (usually the club captain) who selects opponents and generally sees
that the rules of the games are adhered to. Players in tournaments keep a
score of their game and use chess clocks to ensure that time controls are
kept. Types of tournaments, playing dates and times are always set prior to
the start of the tournament and players who enter are expected to be
available at the times on the dates set. The arbiter or director of play is
the person in charge of the tournament. He checks the time
controls, makes the draw for the tournament, ensures that players
abide by the laws of chess and the rules of the competition. Players are
also expected to abide by the laws of chess and the tournament rules.
New players unsure of any of these should always seek information
from the arbiter as he is there to help.
Keeping
score
Players
must keep a score as they play games (except in certain specific
circumstances).
The
score sheet contains a wealth of information about the game. Note that
modern players use the algebraic method. The squares of the board are
numbered 1 to 8 from the white side to the black side and from a to h from
white's left hand to white's right hand. Thus square al is the first square
on white's left hand and h8 is
the first square on black's left hand. The move on the score sheet indicates
the square the pawn or piece moves to and the pieces are indicated by their
first letter R for rook, N for knight B for bishop etc. Captures are
indicated with a cross. Castling is indicated by writing 0-0 or 0-0-0 for
queen side castling.
The
chess clock
All
necessary clocks for club tournaments are available at the Club. After you make your
move you press your clock which stops your time and start your opponent's
time. See how
they work and practice using them.
Equipment
and score sheets
All
equipment and score sheets are provided for all tournaments.
Attendance
Try
and attend tournaments at all scheduled dates. Once you have entered a
tournament you are an important player in the club. No matter how low your
score is you must play all the games in the tournament.
However
it may be necessary to seek a postponement.
If
you cannot attend a game for a good reason:
·
being too ill to come
·
having an engagement entered into prior to the start of the tournament
·
having to work
you
have to ask for a postponement.
What
to do.
You
must ask the club captain Gerrit
Hartland 9878 3163 or the arbiter for the tournament for a postponement
as early as possible, but no later than 24 hours before the start of the
game. If he agrees to your request, you must then ask your opponent. If he
or she agrees to an alternative date, it should be no later than the
Wednesday following. If your opponent does not agree to your request, and
you still cannot play, you will have to stand out of
the draw for that round. Whatever happens you must inform the captain
or the arbiter of your arrangement, and of course inform him of the result
of your game.
Other
rules
·
A player cannot postpone a final round game.
·
A player who forfeits 2 games may be withdrawn from the tournament.
·
A player arriving at the board 1 hour after the scheduled start forfeits the game.
PLAYER
CONDUCT
Chess,
despite an air of calm concentration, is a game charged with tension and it
is important to remember that there is less stress when you are at ease with
your surroundings, you are familiar with the rules, you show respect for
your opponent and you have the respect of your fellow players and the
arbiter.
Here
are some important do's and don’ts:
Before
the game
Before
the start of the games players are free to socialise and play friendly games on any of the free boards and use the clocks provided.
However
when the call comes for players to move to their allocated boards, play must
stop immediately and set up the board and reset the clocks to the correct
time control.
When
the call is made players should make their way to their allocated board at
once and sit down at least until the games have started. This will enable
the arbiter to check who is there and will allow you the player to listen to
the announcements the officials might make. These announcements are often
important and you may miss valuable information if you are outside talking
or smoking.
At
the start of a game
·
Check that the clock is set correctly and works.
·
Check the board (A1 square on white's left]
·
Check to see if the arbiter has given the all-clear to start.
·
If your opponent is at the board, shake hands and start. If not,
start the clock if you are black. If you have white, make your move, then
start the clock.
During
the game
Respect
your opponent and in turn you will receive respect
·
Pay attention to the game and don't read a book or do the crossword
·
Don't wander away from the board for long periods.
Don't
discuss your game or your friends' games. It is illegal to do so
·
Don't belittle your opponent's moves by facial expression, sighs, or
by checking your watch
·
When you lose, resign gracefully, shake hands, and think of your next
game.
·
Unless you have the approval of the arbiter don't eat a meal at the
table. A cup of coffee a soft drink and a biscuit will see you through the
night.
Do
not disturb your opponent. (It
is illegal to do so.)
·
Don't engage in conversation
·
Don't hang over the board or stand behind your opponent
Don't
make aggressive noises when you punch the clock or move the pieces
Always
abide by the rules.
·
If you touch a piece, move it. Your opponent should not have to point
it out
·
If you know in your own mind that you have lost on time, resign,
don't wait to have it pointed out
·
Offer a draw in the correct manner. Make your move then offer the
draw and finally press your clock. Remember that the offer remains open
until your opponent makes his move.
·
Try to keep as good a score as you can. Always write down your
opponents move before you make your own.
When
the game is finished
·
Set up the board
·
Take empty drink containers,
cups wrappings etc. to the kitchen.
·
Enter the result and hand in
a copy of your score sheet COMPLETED with
names and results.
·
Then adjourn to the analysis
room for analysis and friendly games.
Spectators.
Players,
visitors, and parents are welcome to watch the games but need to observe the
following:
·
Don't engage in conversation
near the boards.
·
Don't stand too close to the
players and crowd them out. Allow space for the arbiter to observe the game.
He is obliged to do so.
·
As a parent or a coach don't
stand behind your child or pupil It will make the player nervous, or the
spectator, or both
Generally.
The
Box Hill Chess Club runs some very large tournaments with the participation
of players from 8 to 80 and from international masters to novices. Therefore
the above standards of conduct should be observed at all times and also help
to ensure a quiet and relaxed atmosphere.
·
As a player keep
conversation to a minimum and conduct it in whispers.
·
As a visitor or a parent if
you wish to talk go to an area outside the playing area
and converse in a quiet voice.
Some
advice for juniors.
The
Box Hill Chess Club has a policy for the promotion of junior players into
senior tournaments and treats the large number of junior players at
the club as equal to all. There are however some aspects of behaviour that
junior players in particular need to remember.
·
Remember you are not at
school. You come to the club because you want to come. Playground behaviour
is out of the question
·
When you finish your game
and become bored telephone home and organise to be picked up. If that is not
an option bring a book and read or study.
·
Don't discuss your game or your friends' games. It is illegal to do
so
·
Don't belittle your opponent's moves by facial expression, sighs, or
by checking your watch
·
When you lose, resign gracefully, shake hands, and think of your next
game.
·
Unless you have the approval of the arbiter don't eat a meal at the
table. A cup of coffee a soft drink and a biscuit will see you through the
night.
IN CONCLUSION
Try and enjoy playing, win lose or draw.
Gerrit
Hartland club captain
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