IM Michael Brooks TONIGHT at the Westport Flea Market

I have just been informed that IM Michael Brooks WILL be playing in the G/29 Chess tournament tonight at the Westport Flea Market!

If you have any desire to improve your game, Michael is always more than generous with recommendations. Just don't talk his ear off, okay?

One of the biggest mistakes a chess beginner can make, is to skip steps on the path to improvement. IM Brooks once answered my question as to how to get better at chess, by giving me a short reading list. I read one of the books from cover to cover, played through every game, every variation and read every word of it.

It was the book I had seen a few months earlier in a New York City Chess center. It was the only book they had for sale! Probably 20 or so copies on the shelf.

It was My System, by Aron Nimzowitsch, 21st Century Edition.

My game improved dramatically in about 6 weeks (from crap to respectable), but not so much as it would of if I had read the other books books Michael had recommended:

The Game of Chess, By Siegbert Tarrasch

Chess Fundamentals, by Jose Raul Capablanca

Lasker's Manual of Chess, by Emanuel Lasker

THEN pick up a to collection of Grandmaster games, such as

My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937, by Alexander Alekhine

(okay, I read most of that one ... it helped considerably!)

These books are regarded as having stood the test of time. Don't be like me. Read them, or find a teacher and develop your own study plan. 📚

But whatever you do, don't drink and drive, and we hope to see you tonight at the Westport Flea market!  http://westportfleamarket.com/

Will be back at the club in the near future. I'll get my butt kicked after this much chess-brain atrophy! Looking forward to seeing you all! -- Richard Franklin

In case you missed the last notice:
Every 2nd-Tuesday of the month, our club hosts a rated Game-29 round-robin chess tournament. You have to be a member of the USCF to participate. Each player will have 29 minutes to make their moves. You will play 3 rounds in a round-robin system, and there will be 4 players per section. Sections will be created according to your USCF quick rating (You will only play people near your current rating.) The entry fee is $5, and the winner of each section will win $15. Since this is G/29, only your quick rating will be affected.
Registration begins at 6:30. Please try to arrive by 6:45 to help our Tournament Director get the pairings done in a timely manner

If you have a functional CHESS CLOCK, please bring it to the club for the tournament! 🕦🕦

There are always other players available for non-tournament, casual play, so feel free to come to the club, even if you do not plan to play in the tournament. That includes beloved kibitzers, who will whisper very quietly to themselves to avoid interfering with the tournament