Chess Moves 4 Seminars & Program

W. Caribbean • January 16–23, 2011

This page will familiarize you with the Chess Moves 4 offerings. (Read about our seminars and schedule on a previous Chess Moves cruise.)

The conference fee is $1,095 and includes all courses and course materials; entrance fee and participation in a USCF-rated tournaments; one Simul for each "rated group" (under 1500 and over 1500); and the Bon Voyage Cocktail Party. GM Pascal Charbonneau and IM Irina Krush will be available during the rated tournaments for analysis of your games!

GMs Joel Benjamin and Larry Christiansen will deliver two concurrent tracks while our cruise ship is sailing between ports. (One track will be aimed at beginner-to-intermediate players, with a rating up to 1500; the other track will be for more advanced players.) Except for the two tournaments offered to everyone, and participation in either of our Simuls, our program is classroom based. Attendees, however, may move freely — at any time — from one track to another.

	DAY	TIME	PORT / EVENT / PROGRAM SESSION(S)
	JAN. 16 SUNDAY	6pm	TAMPA, FLORIDA BON VOYAGE COCKTAIL PARTY
	JAN. 17 MONDAY	8:30am – 10am 10:30am – Noon 1pm – 6pm 5:45pm – 7:45pm	Develop! Develop! Develop! • Winning with Practical Calculation King in the Center! • Tactical Endgames KEY WEST Round 1 of USCF-rated tournament* (60-minute time control)
	JAN. 18 TUESDAY (AT SEA)	8:30am – 10am 10:30am – Noon 1:30pm – 2:30pm 2:30pm – 4:30pm 4pm – 7:30pm	The Lighter Side of Chess • How Fischer Won! Classical Openings 101 • Opening Repertoire to Match Your Style Under 1500 Simul • Tournament Games Analyses Round 2, USCF-rated tournament* (G/60) Tournament Games Analyses
	JAN. 19 WED.	8am – 5pm 6pm – 7pm	BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Cocktail party!
	JAN. 20 THURS.	7am – 5pm 4:45pm – 6pm 6pm – 8pm	MAHOGANY BAY, HONDURAS USCF-rated Blitz Tournament, Rounds 1–4 (G/7) Round 3, USCF-rated tournament (G/60)
	JAN. 21 FRIDAY	7am – 3pm 3pm – 4:30pm 4:30pm – 6:30pm 6:30pm – 8pm	COSTA MAYA, MEXICO Over 1500 Simul • Tournament Games Analyses Round 4, USCF-rated tournament* (G/60) Tournament Games Analyses
	JAN. 22 SAT. (AT SEA)	8:30am – 10am 10:30am – Noon 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3:30pm – 5pm 5pm – 7:30pm	To Trade, or Not to Trade • Endgame Seminar Sacrifice and Survive! • Sacrifices for Fun and Profit Round 5, USCF-rated tournament* (G/60) USCF-rated Blitz Tournament, Rounds 5–8 (G/7) Tournament Games Analyses* and cocktail party!
	JAN. 28 SUNDAY	7am	TAMPA, FLORIDA
			*Our group dinners will be served at 8pm. Our Swiss USCF-rated Class Tournament will be five (5) rounds with a 60-minute time control (also known as “G/60” — i.e., each player gets 60 minutes. Our Swiss USCF-rated Blitz Class Tournament will be eight (8) rounds with a 7-minute time control (G/7). Both tournaments will offer prizes; there is no entrance fee for the tournaments.

BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE CLASSES
For players with a rating below 1500

Develop! Develop! Develop!

Speaker: GM Larry Christiansen

Quick development leads to quick wins. Larry explains the importance of quick, efficient development. Just one tempo can mean the difference between victory and humiliation.

King in the Center!

Speaker: GM Larry Christiansen

If the enemy king is marooned in the center of the board no price is too high to deliver mate. Larry explains covering exits, piling up the pressure, pins and more motifs that are required to hunt down the elusive enemy king.

The Lighter Side of Chess

Speaker: GM Larry Christiansen

This lecture reveals some of the funniest, wierdest, and craziest examples of chess with many examples from the highest levels. Larry’s notorious victory a-full-queen-behind is “analyzed” and tips on swindling are freely dispensed.

Classical Openings 101

Speaker: GM Joel Benjamin

Double king pawn openings (1.e4. e5) are important to understand, especially for novices. This lecture will focus on ideas and the reasons behind the “book” continuations. Some positions require us to learn specific moves, while others can be played more on general principles.

To Trade, or Not to Trade

Speaker: GM Joel Benjamin

Don’t be a trading monster! Exchanges should be made if the swap is favorable or unavoidable, but never taken lightly. Topics include superior placement of pieces, altering the pawn structure, and trading when ahead or behind in material.

Sacrifice and Survive!

Speaker: GM Joel Benjamin

A lot of players will succumb to a mating attack without considering the benefits of a timely investment in material. Piece sacrifices, exchange sacrifices, and even queen sacrifices can stop an attack cold and give us the chance to turn the tables.

ADVANCED CLASSES
For players with a rating above 1500

Opening Repertoire to Match Your Style

Speaker: GM Larry Christiansen

If you are a solid oriented player, you might choose to play the London System with 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4. For the more aggressive minded Larry discusses some promising gambits and the strategies behind them.

Endgame Seminar

Speaker: GM Larry Christiansen

King and pawn endings are a must-know for players of all levels. Larry talks about King and pawn endings and supplies many interesting and instructive examples from real games. Even the greatest players can falter in this deceptively tricky endgame.

Sacrifices for Fun and Profit

Speaker: GM Larry Christiansen

Larry instructs students on the art of the sacrifice. He wil emphasize his view that a sacrifice is a calculated risk for high reward (checkmate).

Winning with Practical Calculation

Speaker: GM Joel Benjamin

Strong calculation skills are a vital component of tactical ability. Using practical examples drawn from his own games, Joel will explore the process of navigating towards a winning position.

Tactical Endgames

Speaker: GM Joel Benjamin

Endgames aren’t just about technique and principles. Even with limited material on hand, tactical possibilities can still abound. Themes include checkmate, stalemate, and pawn promotion.

How Fischer Won!

Speaker: GM Joel Benjamin

Bobby Fischer, who died just before Chess Moves #3, left behind a legacy of great games. Joel will examine the nature of Fischer’s chess genius, including trademark endgame skills and virtuosity in the opening.

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