Kennesaw Chess Club

Welcome

New

Members

Our Purpose

The purpose of the Kennesaw Chess Club (KCC) is to provide residents of the Kennesaw area and the surrounding community an opportunity to meet and play chess in an informal and friendly atmosphere. The club offers weekly meetings, instruction, tournaments, and special events for players of all skill levels. The club is a not-for-profit organization.

Here are the benefits that club members enjoy:

Open to players of all ages and skill levels.

Weekly meetings where members can socialize and play chess.

Assistance in organizing car pools and accommodations at area tournaments.

Scholastic participation is encouraged by organizing special events like local scholastic tournaments, chess camps, and school clubs.

Frequent United States Chess Federation rated tournaments like the Kennesaw Chess Championship, Kennesaw Blitz Championship, and "tornado" 1-day weekend tournaments.

Members receive and provide free individual instruction for beginners and free group study and game analysis for intermediate and advanced players.

Computer chess events to test man and machine.

Members are eligible to rent chess videos from the club library at a reasonable rate.

KCC members help administrate and direct local tournaments, serve as club officers, teach chess to the inexperienced, coordinate attendance at area tournaments, promote chess, etc. The list is endless, the need is great, the reward noble.

Please see the section titled "Kennesaw Chess Club Membership" for dues and other benefit information. The Kennesaw Chess Club meets at the Kennesaw branch of the Cobb County Library almost every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., except holidays. Children under 7 require adult supervision. For more information, call (770) 421-1437.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have little or no experience playing chess. Am I welcome at the club?

Absolutely yes! The KCC includes and welcomes players of all experience and ability levels. Experienced players will be happy to offer assistance.

How can I improve my game?

There are several ways to improve your game:

Play regularly -- in tournaments, against computers, and with club members.

Analyze your games -- bring them to club meetings.

Study -- tactics, middle game strategies, positional elements, tactics, endings, openings, tactics, complete grandmaster games, and tactics.

Attend the coaching sessions.

There is no simple way to learn chess. If there were, there would be more grandmasters. Chess is a game of tactics, strategy, tactics, psychology, and tactics -- all aspects must be mastered. Tactics are relatively easy to learn and they can be learned through solving tactical exercises. Initially, improving you tactical ability will help you the most. After becoming proficient in tactics, you should learn the positional elements of chess and the relationships to tactics, pawn structure, and middle-game strategy. It is also important to master basic endings. (This advice is the opinion of the author only).

What books do you recommend?

Nimzowitch, My System (for the more advanced player)

Chernev, Logical Chess Move by Move (en excellent beginners book)

Pelts and GM Alburt, Comprehensive Chess Course (another excellent beginners book)

Mullen and Moss, Blunders and Brilliancy's (beautiful tactics training)

Fischer, My 60 Memorable Games (good games by a great player)

Keene and Levy, How to Play the Opening in Chess -- ISBN 0-8050-2937-0 (for beginners and intermediate players)

A common error is to focus too much on the opening. Many strong players give equal study time to the opening, middle game, and ending.

Where can I buy chess books and equipment?

The Game Keeper (10% off with member ID card), store at Town Center Mall (770-420-7555)

United States Chess Federation (1-800-388-KING)

Media Play (books 10% off), Barrett Parkway (770-425-8387)

Barnes and Noble, Barrett Parkway (770-422-2261)

Where can I get more information?

Our E-mail representatives will be happy to provide more information about the KCC and upcoming chess events:

dghirschler@automatedlogic.com

jrgardner@mindspring.com

Check out our home page at:

https://members.tripod.com/~kchess/index.html

Check the home page frequently for the most current information, including announcements, a schedule of upcoming events, member rating information, Grand Prix point standings, and directions to events.

Kennesaw Chess Club Membership

Amount for Dues

$10.00/year for club membership

$5.00/year for scholastic membership (under age 18)

$15/year for families (immediate family members only)

Seniors (55 or older) get FREE club membership

Payable to any of the club officers. Note that membership dues are completely voluntary and are required only if you want to enjoy all the benefits of membership.

Who should pay

All club participants are encouraged to become dues paying members. Note that you may not rent video tapes nor win prizes without joining the club. Dues are good for one year from the date of joining.

The Kennesaw Chess Club uses the money collected in order to provide more benefits to our members, such as:

Purchase chess videos which can be rented by members.

Purchase chess equipment for use at club meetings and club-sponsored tournaments.

Sponsor USCF-rated chess tournaments.

Purchase chess equipment to be awarded as Grand-Prix prizes.

Promote chess in the Kennesaw and surrounding community.

Rest assured that your membership payment is appreciated and will be put to good use. See the front of this booklet for more information on the benefits of membership.

An additional benefit is that upon presentation of their membership card, club members receive a 10% discount at The Game Keeper store in Town Center mall (770-420-7555).

The Kennesaw Chess Club is a not-for-profit volunteer organization. Without volunteers, the club would cease to exist. Volunteer for something and feel good about it! Thanks for supporting your chess club.

Donations

The club gladly accepts donations of chess-related books and equipment. All donated material becomes club property and will be used in the best interests of the club. Alas, since the club is not an official entity in the eyes of the IRS, tax deductions for donations to the club are not allowed.

About the Georgia Chess Association

The GCA is the USCF affiliate for the state of Georgia. Membership is open to any interested individual or organization by paying the annual membership dues. Membership for local residents is required at tournaments sponsored by the GCA, such as the Georgia State Championship. The dues schedule is as follows:

Regular Individual Membership: $10/year

Contact Information

Georgia Chess Association

c/o Scott Parker

5025 Antebellum Dr.

Stone Mountain, GA 30087

(770) 939-5030

Georgia Chess

Georgia Chess is the quarterly publication of the GCA. Those interested in submitting articles, game scores, and other items of interest may contact the editor.

About the United States Chess Federation

Mission Statement

USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization devoted to extending the role of chess in American society.

USCF promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of society. It informs, educates, and fosters the development of players (professional and amateur) and potential players. It encourages the development of a network of institutions devoted to enhancing the growth of chess, from local clubs to state and regional associations, and it promotes chess in American schools.

To these ends, USCF offers a monthly magazine, as well as targeted publications to its members and others. It supervises the organization of the U.S. chess championship, an open tournament every summer, and other national events. It offers a wide range of books and services to its members and others at prices consistent with the benefit of its members.

USCF serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and as a participant in international chess organizations and projects. It is structured to ensure effective democratic procedures in accord with its bylaws and the laws of the state of Illinois.

Membership

Full Adult -- $40/year -- Includes 12 monthly issues of Chess Life magazine. 2 years $75,
3 years $109

Youth (under age 20) -- $15/year -- Includes 12 monthly issues of Chess Life magazine.

Scholastic (under age 20) -- $10/year -- Includes 6 bimonthly issues of School Mates magazine instead of Chess Life.

Senior (age 65 and over) -- $30/year -- Includes 12 monthly issues of Chess Life magazine.
2 years $60, 3 years $90

Special Memberships

Sustaining -- $95/year -- Becomes a Life Membership after 10 consecutive timely payments.

Life -- $850 -- No more dues!

How to Join

By Phone: Call the USCF at 800-388-KING or 914-562-8350 from 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday and charge your membership; most major credit cards are accepted.

By Mail: Send your name, address, date of birth, and membership type to United States Chess Federation, 3054 NYS Route 9W, New Windsor, N.Y. 12553. You can pay by check, money order, or charge to most major credit cards.

By E-mail: Visit the USCF on the World Wide Web at: http://www.uschess.org Check out this site just for fun! It has many cool features and contains links to many other chess-related web sites.

1997 Grand Prix Rules

The Kennesaw Chess Club Grand Prix starts May 3, 1997 and ends Dec. 6, 1997. Prizes will be awarded Dec. 13, 1997, to the player with the top score overall, top score for under 1400 club rating, top scoring junior, and top scoring senior. One prize per player maximum. More prizes will be added each year as the club grows.

Four points is the most that will be awarded to a player at any single club meeting (and 1 point is the least). Thus, for Quads, first in each section gets 4 points, second 3, third 2, and fourth 1. Seven people in a section? Great -- first 4 points, second 3.5, third 3, fourth 2.5, fifth 2, sixth 1.5, and seventh 1. Tied for fifth - sixth? Great you get (2 + 1.5) /2 =1.75 points. We'll keep track of standings to two decimal points.

Events which take place over multiple days award a corresponding multiple of points. Thus, first place in a 5-round tournament will yield 4 * 5 = 20 points with last place getting 1 * 5 = 5 points.

The cost to enter each Grand Prix event is $1.

Most scheduled club events count in the standings for Grand Prix points. USCF tournaments do not.

Only Kennesaw Chess Club members will be awarded prizes. You can play and keep a club rating without joining the club, however.

In the interest of fairness, Grand Prix points cannot be accrued until after membership dues are paid.

The current Grand Prix standings and club rating information will be available through regular handouts and on the club's internet web site: http://www.members.tripod.com/~kchess/index.html

Video Library Rules

The Kennesaw Chess Club offers a video library! The Vice President is the club's librarian.

Rules

You MUST be a Kennesaw Chess Club member to rent a tape. (Exception: Play Chess I and II).

Five bucks gets you a tape for one week. (Exception: Play Chess I and II cost $2 per week.) It costs you $2 per week for each late tape (plus the wrath of the next person on the waiting list). Tapes are picked up on Saturdays at the club meetings and must be returned on the following Saturday or they are considered LATE.

Please REWIND each tape before returning it.

See the Vice President to rent a tape, to put your name on the waiting list, or to provide feedback on which tapes to order.

Kennesaw Chess Club

1997 Calendar of Events

Current Player Rating List