Many school districts in the San Francisco Bay Area are allowing in-person enrichment classes. The Mechanics' Institute after-school classes began at the end of August and early September. It was exiting for everyone at Mechanics' Institute to see so much interest from parents, students, and the schools. We are currently offering chess classes at beginner and advanced levels in-person on 16 different school campuses and continuing to grow this program.

The Mechanics' Institute is preparing for our upcoming camp seasons. While schools are on holiday breaks, we offer chess camps as an alternative way to spend the free time.

October 11 - Indigenous Peoples' Day

November 11 - Veterans Day

November 22-24 - Thanksgiving Break

Dec 20-24 & Dec 27-31 - Winter Break

Chess camps will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute or online via Zoom.

In-Person camps are available from 9:30AM to 3:30PM, with the option of registering for morning or afternoon only or full day. Student engage with our chess coaches via lectures, puzzles, casual and paired games, similes, and much more! Snack, bathroom, and lunch breaks will be arranged according to COVID-10 precautions and proper social distancing.

Online camps are offered 9AM-12PM through zoom. Students are coached via shared screen and play games on the safe and secure ChessKid platform. All players are provided a ChessKid Gold account if they don't have one yet.

Camps are offered at two different levels:

Regular: Ideal for all chess lovers or anyone who is interested in chess! For beginners, we'll show you how to play and basic rules in a fun learning environment. While intermediate students, those who are under 1000 USCF rating or under 1200 ChessKid rating, will build on their basics with seeing game examples, learn and work on tactics, learn how to strategically open a chess game and to defend common opening traps, and of course get to play with other kids who are learning chess as well!

Advanced: Ideal for players with USCF 1000+ rating, or 1200+ ChessKid rating. Players should know the pieces and how they move, basic checkmating patterns, opening principles and ideally have experience with USCF rated tournaments. Students will see game analysis of masters' games, work on tactical patterns, learn opening theory, and have opportunities to play new and old friends. 

We are excited to host our upcoming live Halloween Special Scholastic Tournament on Saturday, October 30. Put on your best costume, come to Mechanics' Institute, and play some chess while having fun with others!

* Usual Swiss tournament with 4 games and three different sections

* Best costume competition with a celebrity judge panel

* Fun Halloween puzzles for special awards

Date and Time: Saturday, October 30 at 10AM

Tournament Format: Four rounds of G/30;d5 games.

First round starts at 10AM and the rest of the rounds are on a rolling schedule.

Special break between Round 2&3 to conduct the costume competition.

Awards: trophy ceremony at the end of the tournament.

More information: https://www.milibrary.org/chess-tournaments/mechanics-institute-monthly-scholastic-swiss-person

Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/Tournaments2021/MechanicsInstituteKidsSwissHalloweenSpecialINPERSON

When playing chess, most of the time you need an opponent. This seems trivial.

When playing in a chess tournament, you need an opponent. Also trivial.

What happens when there are odd number of players in a tournament, or in a section? One player has to "sit out" that round, and that player will be given a so called Full-Point BYE. This is essentially a free win. Player is getting one point for that round, but the game in this round will not be USCF-rated. It's a point for the tournament, but the USCF rating won't be affected.

There are very strict USCF rules determining who gets this full point in each of the rounds in a tournament, as we don't want to give one point to the leader and help them win the tournament. It always should go to the least favored: the player who is last in the list. First round it's the lowest rated player, and any consecutive round it's the lowest rated player in the lowest score group (i.e. point groups in the standing).

When you have to miss a round - for example you can't come to the beginning of the tournament, or you have a class in the middle of a full-day tournament, or you have to leave the tournament early - you can request a so-called Half-Point Bye. This will give you 0.5 point for that given round, and you will not be paired, but you will be kept in the tournament, and will be paired for in all other rounds. Important that half-point byes most of the times must be requested in advance of the tournament start.

In any round of a tournament players are paired based on what we are expecting at the tournament to play (registered players). If an opponent does not show up, that game is forfeited. Since there was no move made, the game will not be USCF rated. The player who was present at the board will receive a forfeit win (1X), and the player who did not show up will receive a forfeit loss (0F) and will be withdrawn from the tournament (U). The reason for the forfeit can vary, and sometimes it is affected by things outside of your control - i.e. an accident on the road. If this ever happens to you, and you are on your way to the tournament and want to be paired for the next time, be sure to call, email, or text us to make sure we don't withdraw you from the tournament.

To be continued - Part 5 - Tiebreaks

ChessKid results: Click here

USCF Cross table: http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202108295782

ChessKid results: Open Section - Click here

USCF Cross table: http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202109062582

ChessKid results: Click here

USCF Cross table: http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202109122842

ChessKid results: Open Section -- u1400 Section

USCF Cross table: http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202109183302

ChessKid results: Click here

USCF Cross table: coming soon.