Congratulations to 9 Queens Co-Founder Jean Hoffman on her new position as Executive Director of USCF!
The US Chess Scoop goes to Parsippany for the 2014 US Amateur Team East, also known as the World Amateur team. Among the interviewees were new Executive Director Jean Hoffman, young SM Joshua Colas & Elizabeth Spiegel of Brooklyn Castle.
Jennifer’s TedX 2014 Talk can be viewed here:
In honor of the release of Brooklyn Castle this week, the October puzzle of the month comes from a game between IS 318k teacher Elizabeth Spiegel and former IS 318k student Rochelle Ballantyne. In the position below Elizabeth is playing black.
Can you find a way for black to win a piece?
Bring the solution to this puzzle to our October Family Chess Night and win a prize!
If you haven’t seen the trailer for Brooklyn Castle yet, watch it here.
“The first time you stick it to a boy that’s when you really get inspired to get going.”
-St Louis chess coach Carrie Lax
This US Chess Scoop video interviews female chess players and coaches talking about how they learned to play chess, why they love the game, and how we can get more women involved. I love this piece not only because there is a nice plug for our book Play Like A Girl, but also because it features a diverse group of women talking honestly about their experiences in the chess world.
Can you solve the puzzle for April? Black to move and mate in three.
Win a PRIZE! Bring your puzzle solution to Bookman’s on Speedway Family Chess Night, 6:30-8:30pm, first Wednesday of every month–this month, April 4–and win a free prize. The whole family, new and experienced players are all invited to join us to play or learn chess.
Dress for chess minding the rules
Maybe the biggest story coming out of the recent European Women’s Individual Chess Championship in Gaziantep,Turkey–other than winner Valentina Gunina also placing first in the blitz–was the announcement of a new dress code.
Internet alerts for women’s chess were blazing with news of the dress code released by the European Chess Union. The story got much media exposure–Time, New York Times, USA Today and the Tucson Citizen among others.
A photo of 9Queen’s co-founder Jennifer Shahade playing chess with a tattooed male opponent (an homage to artist Marcel Duchamp’s famous game), illustrated a number of the news releases.
The irony of the sexually assertive championship’s masthead–a red lipstick with black rook base–and the concurrent dress restrictions, highlights confusions female players face in a game dominated by men and conservative views of current fashion.
Though guidelines for both sexes are described, the news buzz focused on keeping women’s blouses buttoned up and skirts long. Rules describing clothes “coordinated to the outfit” and “a pulled-together, harmonious, complete look with colors, fabrics, shoes and accessories” makes fashion concerns imperative in an otherwise geeky domain. What to wear supersedes which opening to play.
ChessBase News (making the initial report) presented an interview with the ECU general secretary Sava Stoisavljevic about the new rules. Surprisingly, Stoisavljevic described men’s appearance as being more of a problem than women’s. ChessBase followed up the media flurry by interviewing players about the dress code and photographing tournament attire.
9 Queens 5th Annual Chess Fest set for Saturday, May 5
9 Queen’s 5th annual Chess Fest is just around the corner. This year’s free family chess celebration is featuring former World Women’s Champion and Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk. Congratulations go to Grandmaster Kosteniuk for winning silver in the Rapid Championship in Gaziantep, Turkey.
See you May 5 at the Hotel Congress for 9 Queen’s Readymade Chess Fest!
References
2012 European Individual Women’s Chess Championship
Gaziantep: Gunina overtakes Pähtz, wins European Women’s Blitz–ChessBase News
Interview with Sava Stoisavljevic on the dress code–ChessBase News
Chess and cleavage: dress code story in the media–ChessBase News
Postscript
March’s puzzle solution:
1. . . . Qxf2+
2. Rxf2 Re1+
3. Rf1 Rxf1#
Join 9 Queens and former Women’s World Champion and Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk for the 5th Annual “Chess Fiesta” on Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2012) from 2-5 pm at the Hotel Congress (311 E Congress St, Tucson, Arizona). This year’s Chess Fest will feature a simultaneous chess exhibition where Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk will play multiple games at a time against Tucsonans interested in challenging the Grandmaster. Grandmaster Kosteniuk will also be the recipient of the 9 Queens Award given to a player who embodies the mission of 9 Queens and our commitment to empowering under-served and under-represented populations.
This year’s “Readymade” Chess Fest will have something for everyone, regardless of age or chess experience. For those more artistically inclined, Chess Fest will pay homage to Marcel Duchamp an artist and avid chess player known for selecting ordinary manufactured objects and using them to create “readymade” pieces of art. Participants can visit the arts and crafts station to create their own “readymade” chess sets and crowns. Other activities include: beginner chess lessons, pick-up chess games, face painting, chess simultaneous exhibits.
9 Queens is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through chess by making the game fun, exciting, and accessible.
“I became interested in chess when I was about four. I like chess bc you get to have fun and learn some things. You get to be more patient. You get to focus and concentrate. ”