Frequently Asked Questions

How does our school join Kingco?

Contact the league director. Our season is planned in October, and games are played from November until the State Team Tournament in February. All teams play each other once in a round-robin manner. We typically have 8 to 12 teams in the league. Team dues of $40 payable after the invoice is presented at the first chess match.

Where can we buy chess equipment?

Economically, your finest quality chess equipment costs less if purchased directly from the manufacturer. Sometimes you gain further advantage when vendors, such as the United States Chess Federation (USCF), partner with the manufacturer for special offers. This usually occurs when the vendor achieves a bulk discount.

Although shopping at local retail outlets is convenient, the selection of goods may be limited. The least expensive option is shopping online, where the quality and selection is almost limitless. In addition, some manufacturers auction their quality sets online for less than retail using web sites such as eBay.

Online, some clubs in Kingco have had good experience shopping with The Chess House (Lynden, WA) and with Wholesale Chess (Kaysville, UT).

On the Sammamish plateau, our local chess master Bruce Kovalsky sells quality chess equipment, including clocks and wonderful triple- or quadruple-weighted chess sets.

How can I improve my chess performance?

Study and practice, including tournament experience, will improve your performance. How much progress will be determined by your passion for the game, your innate learning ability, and study and practice. As reading and writing can improve the intellect, so too can studying chess literature and playing rated games improve your chess performance.

Also you must understand that usually one player will lose the game. Chess grandmasters gained their titles by learning how to win chess games, and sometimes how not to lose chess games. At the same time, they did not give up on chess because of a devastating loss or series of losses.

Chess games naturally fall into three parts: the opening, middle game, and ending. Grandmasters recommend learning should begin with mastering the endgame, for if one cannot understand the part of the game with the fewest opposing forces, comprehending the interplay between 32 pieces is impossible. Most all-purpose books cover all three phases of the game, starting with the endgame.

What books are recommended?

These five books are widely recommended, often in this order of priority:

My System
Written by Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch first in 1925, this book discusses all phases of the game and is recommended for beginner to advanced.
Logical Chess Move by Move
Written by Irving Chernev in 1957, this book literally discusses 33 grandmaster games move-by-move from the perspective of a grandmaster. After two or three games alone you no longer question why White opens with 1.e4 (P-K4) or 1.d4 (P-Q4). After a few games you, too, will be playing chess based on proven principles of force and space and time. Recommended for beginner to intermediate.
Winning Chess Series
Written by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan in the 1990's, there are six books which cover every phase of the game, for beginner to intermediate. The six books are prioritized as:
  • Winning Chess Endings
  • Play Winning Chess
  • Winning Chess Tactics
  • Winning Chess Strategies
  • Winning Chess Brilliancies
  • Winning Chess Openings
How To Reassess Your Chess
Written by International Master Jeremy Silman in 1993, the book covers all phases of the game and is recommended for beginner to advanced. As quoted by International Grandmaster Nick deFirmian, this book is "the most fundamentally important middlegame book since Nimzovich's My System."
My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937
Written by Grandmaster and World Champion Alexander Alekhine, this book details 220 of his games with his personal commentary. Although there are many grandmasters to emulate, few wrote books of their games with such detail and personal analysis. This book is recommended for intermediate to advanced.

What chess software is recommended?

Chessmaster offers more per dollar in one program than its competition. For example, it offers extensive audio and text tutorials and exercises for beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. It also has an online site for internet play. Its chess engine recently outplayed Grandmaster Larry Christensen.

ChessBase offers great chess programs in Fritz and Junior.

Although some justify buying two or three chess playing engines, the difference between an engine rated 2600 and 2800 is insignificant even for the advanced player.

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