Announcing the Zootown Blitz Chess League

Now meeting downstairs at Zootown Brew, downtown Missoula, each Sunday at 2:00pm.

 

Game 10 (10 minutes per player) time controls, Unrated, Round Robin format.  With these quicker time controls, you'll get a chance to play everyone.  Again, it's competitive but casual, so don't expect complete silence in the room and a tournament official to beckon your every call... you baby. ;)

 

$2 per player, money goes into a pot (not a real pot) and winner takes all (so nobody tell Greg about this) -- haha, just kidding, you can tell Greg.

 

There will be NO co-champions -- that is, if you tie for first place, expect a sudden-death-blitz-off to the death (redundancy intended).

 

Should be loads of fun, so bring your chess sets and clocks if you have them, and get ready for some good games against worthy opponents. 

 

Also, Jacob made mention of trophies, SO. . . he or she who has the most games won at the end of the month gets a sweet trophy (somehow). 

 

We'll see how this goes and hopefully keep it up throughout the year.

 

Finally, I don't have everyone's email (for example, John Hay, Dale, Paul Mitchell, Jordan, etc) so spread the word.

 

Any questions, feel free to email RobGabriele.mt@gmail.com

 

Hasta la Sunday,

Rob

Chess Quotes from Chess Legends

My collection of the best chess quotes. Some are funny, wise, interesting ... These are the best I've come across in my online travels.

“A player plays in order to live through an adventure. In playing, he overcomes – overcomes himself, circumstances, and fate.” – Anatoly Karpov

“During a game the tremendous burden of all possibilities weighs upon you, along with the passage of time. Therefore we play at full strength only in those moments when, consumed by the process of the battle, we merge with the game to such a degree that everything else ceases to exist.” – Anatoly Karpov

“You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” – Mikhail Tal

“Chess is the art that expresses the science of logic.” – Mikhail Botvinnik
“Chess is life.” –  Bobby Fischer

“It has been said that man is distinguished from animal in that he buys more books than he can read. I should like to suggest that the inclusion of a few chess books would help to make the distinction unmistakable.” – Emmanuel Lasker

"A chess game is divided into three stages: the first, when you hope you have the advantage, the second, when you believe you have an advantage, and the third, when you know you’re going to lose!" — Savielly Tartakower

Chess Notes from the South Hills Chess Championship with Greg Nowak

On a drizzly Tuesday evening at Bernice's Bakery, and intriguing question was posed to Missoula's infamous Octopus.
 
The question was, "Is there such a thing as luck in chess?"

Greg Nowak (right) plays chess at Bernice's Bakery.

Greg Nowak is called the Octopus for his ability to play multiple opponents at once, and beating them anyway. He is a bit of an urban legend here in Missoula, Montana, and for good reason. At the 2012  First Night Missoula event, Greg won 99 games out of 100 in one night.

In reply to the question about luck in chess, Greg (The Octopus) paused, and then repiled "Yes- a little bit."

"Good!" said Dale, a tall, bald man as he sprang up from his chess board. "There must be luck in chess, otherwise I'd have no chance!"

Chuckles emerged from the group of concentrating, serious men, whose furrowed brows now loosened somewhat. Chuckles are commonplace here at Chess Tuesday's with the Octopus, and even if you don't play, sometimes it pays to just be a fly on the wall.

"I believe in miracles, but then there are things that are just coincidences too," the Octopus mused, and in another fit of wisdom he murmured, "Even a pawn could be a queen someday."

The South Hills Chess Championship finishes 1/22/13 where this year's champion will be chosen.

Keep your eyes glued to this blog for news on upcoming Missoula chess matches for opportunities to win money and grow along with some of Montana's finest chess players.

New Year 2013 - We're Glad to Be Here!

Check out www.ChessMontana.com for all the latest on the Montana chess scene.

Chess at Bernice's Bakery, Missoula MT.

We'll be covering tournaments and other news, especially in the Missoula, MT area.

Are you interested in writing for ChessMontana.com and the Montana Chess blog? Leave a comment below with your email address to be considered.

2013 Major Montana Chess Tournaments

Saturday January 26th and 27th 2013

It's "Joyces January Thaw" at the Last Chance Gulch Holiday Inn.
Registration is from 10-10:40.
The entry fee is $25 and for Juniors (under 19 years old) it's only $15.

Time Control: G/90, This means that each player has 90 minutes to make their moves, for a total possible time of 180 minutes (3 hours)  The rounds are at 11:00am, 2:30pm, 6:00pm and 9am follwed by 12:30pm.

Location: Holiday Inn, 22 N, Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT. 59601.
Mention "chess room" to get a discounted rate.

Open, 5SS ( Five Swiss System rounds) This means you play 5 games whether you win, lose or draw.

USCF & MCA membership is required, and other states are accepted. Good news! The tournament entry fee will be waived for new members. Read about how to become a member of the MCA. Becoming a USCF member gets you a free subscription to Chess Life magazine and updated ratings so you can see your progress online. Take this link to read how to become a member of the USCF.

Februrary 9th, 2013

2013 Midwinter Open

Time Control: G/25 d/3

Location: Strand Union Building, Room 168, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717

View Larger Map
Description:5 rounds Swiss System, USCF quick rated, USCF membership required (can be purchased at the tournament), half-point byes available if requested before round 2
Registration: 9:15-9:45am
Rounds start: 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Prizes (based on entries): 1st - 50%, 2nd - 25%, best under 1600 - 20%
Entry Fee: $20 (under 25 pay $10) if received by February 6, otherwise an additional $5.
Contact: Lukas Geyer
116 S Rouse Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
lukas.geyer@gmail.com
406-599-9957

$$: 1st-$75, 2nd-$50, biggest upset $35 (nonprovisional.)
Contact: Murray Strong, 406-459-6684. murstrong@aol.com