IMPORTANT MESSAGES:

BLOG NEWS:
Important messages / Latest News:

Click on the Aristea Chess Tournament banner (flyer) on the right,
to enter online, or the Tournament News tab above for more information on the 2018 tournament at Aristea.

Latest blog links:

How chess helps your brain - 10 Big Brain Benefits of playing Chess.


Upcoming events:

The Aristea Friendly chess tournament, sponsored by Harcourts Cape Gate, will take place on the 15th of September 2018.

Click on the Tournament news tab above, or on the small flyer on the right hand side. The online entries are open. Click on the small flyer below, on the right to enter.

Read more on the blog!

Thursday 29 August 2013

Scheduled Friendly Tournament

Good evening parents and blog followers!

I hope you have been well.  It is very cold and wet in Cape Town at the moment, so keep warm and cosy and don't get sick this close to the end of the term!

With regard to the Friendly Tournament scheduled for tomorrow - when I set out the date, I didn't know about our school's spring fate, games day that was going to take place.  After consulting with Mrs. Geldenhuys and other colleges AND our chess players during this afternoons' chess practise, it was decided to postpone the tournament to next week and Friday.

This gives us more time to get more teams and to get the word out a bit more, and maybe get some old faces in close by high schools to join us!

If there are some of you high school boys and girls reading this, please comment or send me a message and let me know.

Keep well, keep warm!

:-)



Friday 23 August 2013

Friday Puzzle


Good morning everyone!

Today's league results vs Totius will be updated on the blog probably later today, otherwise over the weekend.  So look forward to that!

But first, Friday's puzzle:


White is first sacrificing a big valued piece to get the King to where he wants it to be, then he goes in for the 'kill' / checkmate.

Enjoy.
:-)

Thursday 22 August 2013

5000 posts!!

Hello everyone!

I just want to share the following with you.  Today we had our 5000th visit on the blog!

In exactly 16 months, from the 22 April 2012 that I started, we have had an average of more than 310 hits per month.  Some months more and less than others.

Thank you for everyone's support.

Will you please do me a favour, if you were one of the 5000 hits.  On the right, just below the total page views number (like above), there is a short form to fill in - just give me your name and where you are from (town / city and country), and any comments (not compulsory).

Thank you!

:-)

Thursday Puzzle

Morning everyone!

1 day to go till our last league game for the year - at home versus Totius.
Enjoy this puzzles - find checkmate in 3 moves.

Enjoy
:-)


Wednesday 21 August 2013

Match vs Totius Primary

Good evening everyone.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but someone has to do it.

Unfortunately, the match against Totius this Friday has to be cancelled.  I spoke to their chess organiser this afternoon, and she told me that they only have an under 9 team for Friday.  Which we don't have.

Then, because I'm not feeling well (not at school on Wednesday), and the doctor booking me off for Thursday as well, there will be no chess practise tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, 22/8/2013).

Enjoy the rest of the week with some chess puzzles coming your way each day, all the way to the weekend and beyond.

Regards,

:-)

White just lost its Queen but is not worried? Why?

Black's Bishop just ate White's Queen, (1).... Bxe1) but White is not worried!?
What can White do?  2) .........?


Wednesday Puzzle

Middle of the week puzzle.

I hope your week is going great so far.
Enjoy
:-)


Monday 19 August 2013

Monday puzzle

Morning everyone!

There is a very nice puzzle to start of the week.



Saturday 17 August 2013

Weekend puzzles

A few puzzles for you to enjoy this weekend.

Just a note: below this post, I have blogged about this months league results - have a look at how our team is going this term.

In the first puzzle, black is far ahead on points, with a Queen, but in this one, he missed his mark, and it was white to capitalise and win the game with the piece that has the least value. :-)


In the second puzzle (here below), white wins in two moves.


Latest results vs Kenrige vs Panorama vs Labiance

Good morning everyone.

The last couple of weeks has been hectic at school, with the Eistedfodd taking place at our school and the Conquesta Olympaids that I'm administrating.  Thus sorry for not posting almost anything this month.

This month we have played 3 league games and this post is dedicated to those results.

On the 2nd of August we played a match against Kenridge.
The results were as follows:
The under 13 team won 4 - 2, and the under 11 team won 3,5 - 2,5.
The individual results are not with me at this time, but in the chess file in my class.  I will edit this post and put them in here when I have a chance.

Then, after no games the following week due to the long weekend, we played two league matches yesterday, the 16th of August.  We missed our games against Panorama the week before Kendrige, so we organised that we play two matches at their school vs them and Labiance.

First up, we played against Panorama and the results were as follows:
The under 13 team lost 1 - 5, but our under 11 team won 4,5 - 1,5!

Next, we played against Labiance, who unfortunately only had an under 13 team.
And I'm proud to say that we won that match 5 - 1!

Out of everyone who played yesterday, everyone won at least 1 game in the day!
Congratulations boys (and Kiara), I'm very proud of you.

Next mission: Playing at home vs Totius, on Friday.

Don't forget to bring in your and your teams' entries for the teams tournament the next week.

:-)

Friday 9 August 2013

Find checkmate in 2 moves

Friday morning

This is a very interesting puzzles - one that everyone can learn from!
Enjoy.

:-)


Thursday 8 August 2013

Long weekend puzzles

Good morning everyone.

Tomorrow, the 9th of August, it is Woman's Day in South Africa - a public holiday, which makes it a nice long weekend for teachers and learners.

Thus, I'm going to post a puzzle today, (underneath), and a couple on Friday via scheduled posts.  If you like them, let me know, comment what you think the correct answers are.

Enjoy the long weekend, learners and come and tell me you solved the puzzle online on Tuesday.  Bringing me to my last point: There will be no chess practice today (this afternoon), due to the long weekend!

Be safe!

:-)

Thursday 1 August 2013

Newsletter 5/2013

Letter 5/2013                                                                                                         August 2013

Dear Parents and players

The 3rd term has started; it feels like, with the speed of sound!  So many things are taking place in a very short period of time, and I hope you are still with us.  The players have been practising the last couple of weeks, and some interesting results have been given in.  Remember players, if you don’t come to practises, you won’t be eligible for selection for the teams playing each Friday.

The game that should have been played last Friday, was unfortunately cancelled due to misunderstandings on my and the other schools part.  I do apologise for the inconvenience caused due to this.  This game has been cancelled, and won’t take place.  Not to worry though, we still have three more league games, and a special tournament left for this term.

I have some new news regarding this Panorama match that we missed.  It might just take place after all.  More on this and some other exciting news, soon.


Fixtures for the third term


League games – Friday afternoons
2 August 2013 - Away game vs Kenridge
16 August 2013 - Away game vs Labiance
23 August 2013 - Home game vs Totius

Tournament on 30 August 2013


This will be a tournament like we haven’t seen or had at Aristea Primary.  We are going to play in teams!  It will work as follows:

  • Players make their own teams of 5 players per team.
  • Teams consist of the same grade players only.  In the end we are going to see which grade wins.
  • Players that don’t find a team to play with will play together in a team, regardless of the grade (the last team only).
  • Players decide on a name – preferably a colour or something similar so that you can be identified – and the order in which the players are going to play.
  • Entry fee is R10 per person – or if you get a sponsor for the team – R50 per team.        


Parents, please fill in the consent form that players must return with the entry fee.

Players, please return the team sheet, one per team. Please include a team name, and the order of the players. Player one is the best in the team.

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Parent’s consent form:  This form must be given in by each player.
Information:
Tournament date: Friday, 30 August 2013
Time: The matches will start directly after school and after everything has been set up, at 13:45.  All the rounds will be finished by approx. 17:00.
Entry fee: R10 per player

I, _______________________ give permission for _________________________ (Name
and surname of learner), to participate in the Teams tournament on Friday, 30 August 2013.
I will make sure that the entry fee will be paid on or before the 28th of August 2013. 

Cell phone number: __________________       Signature: _______________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

cut between these lines

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Team sheet: Only one per team must be given in.

Team name: ______________________________________________

Player position
Name and surname
Grade
1


2


3


4


5










Team manager / captain: _______________________

He or she will be responsible for checking the results and organising the team.
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General: Practices and Puzzles
Our practices will remain on Tuesdays and Thursdays, directly after school (14:35) until 15:30, but while the Eistedfodd is taking place, in Mrs Suzanne Grobler’s classroom.

Kind regards


Mr. Bekker

:-)

Thursday's puzzles

Thursday's puzzles.  1 day to go before match day vs Kenridge.
:-)

White to move - checkmate in 1 move


White to move - checkmate in 1 move