Activity 2nd

Thursday 30th October 2025

Hello everybody this is Profesor Jake and welcome back to a new activity

THE HALLOWEEN GAMBIT

Watch the video (if you dare) and learn how to play it

The Halloween Gambit appears in the Four Knights Opening, offering a combative and currently uncommon variation into a very common opening found in many chess games.

The initial moves are:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. Nxe5 here come the SURPRISE

The objective of this surprise sacrifice is to achieve central dominance with the pawns while gaining time by expelling the Black knights. With this daring and deceptive opening, you can surprise your opponents.

It seems like you're going to lose, that you're giving away a piece as a present, and you can turn it into a sweet victory.

The true strength of the Halloween Gambit lies in its potential to create a powerful, sustained attack, rather than relying on specific traps. By sacrificing the knight to Ne5 and continuing with 5 d4, you drive away Black's knights and gain the center for a more advantageous position.

Con esta atrevida y engañosa apertura puedes sorprender a tus oponentes.

Parece que vas a perder, que regalas una pieza y puedes convertirla en una dulce victoria.

En esta lección exploraremos el Gambito Halloween, su misteriosa efectividad y los ataques devastadores que se desencadenan sobre oponentes desprevenidos.

El Gambito Halloween surge de la Apertura de los Cuatro Caballos, una apertura común y corriente, que se da en muchas partidas de ajedrez.

Los movimientos iniciales son:

1.-e4 e5

2.-Cf3 Cc6

3.-C c3 Cf6

y la magia comienza con el aparentemente incauto

4.Cxe5.

A primera vista, parece ser un error grande, ya que las negras pueden capturar el caballo y ganar ventaja.

Los más expertos pueden verlo con sospecha y esperar una rápida respuesta de las negras rápido. Sin embargo, el Gambito Halloween tiene un poder escondido dentro.

La verdadera fuerza del Gambito Halloween yace en su potencial para crear un ataque duradero y poderoso, en vez de depender de trampas específicas. Al sacrificar el caballo ante Ce5 y continuar con 5 d4, consigues ahuyentar los caballos negros y ganas el centro para una posición más ventajosa.

THE CHALLENGES: (Download the worksheet here)

El nombre moderno "Gambito de Halloween" fue dado por el jugador alemán Steffen Jakob, quien explicó que " Muchos jugadores se sorprenden, como se asustarían con una máscara de Halloween, cuando están mentalmente preparados para un aburrido Cuatro Caballos, y luego se enfrentan a Cxe5".

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY NOVEMBER 13th 

First Activity 9th season

Thursday 16th October 2025

New season I'm really exited...

Hello everybody this is Profesor Jake and welcome back to a new activity a new season with many challenges and a very exiting discoveries. 

Everyday chess is more and more popular among the students in my school.

We play chess every Tuesday during the break time and we are going to develop several workshops in the second cycle.

This is an example

With this video, we want to thank and honor all the parents, grandparents, and family members who share their passion for chess.

Thank you all.

Do you know this person?Have you ever heard about him?

His name is Manuel Álvarez Escudero, known as "Manolín,"

He is the oldest chess player in the world.The 104-year-old chess player is Manuel Álvarez Escudero, known as "Manolín," the oldest federated and active player in the world. He turned 104 on October 12, 2025, and is originally from Madrid, where he continues to play in tournaments such as Moratalaz.

Career and achievements: Manuel Álvarez reached an Elo rating of 2136 and has defeated much younger players, demonstrating his great chess skill.

Recent game: On the occasion of his 104th birthday, he played a game against a nine-year-old boy, in which he won thanks to his experience, according to YouTube.

Motivation: Despite his age, he continues to compete out of passion and camaraderie, believing that chess is for everyone and that age is not a limitation.

In everyday life: To keep his mind active, in addition to playing chess, he plays pocha in the mornings and watches the television program "Pasapalabra" in the afternoons.

El ajedrecista de 104 años es Manuel Álvarez Escudero, conocido como "Manolín", el jugador federado y activo más longevo del mundo. Cumplió 104 años el 12 de octubre de 2025 y es originario de Madrid, donde sigue jugando en torneos como el de Moratalaz. 

     Trayectoria y logros: Manuel Álvarez alcanzó un Elo de 2136 y ha ganado a jugadores mucho más jóvenes, demostrando su gran habilidad en el ajedrez. 

         Partida reciente: Con motivo de su 104 cumpleaños, jugó una partida contra un niño de nueve años en la que se impuso gracias a su veteranía, según YouTube. 

         Motivación: A pesar de su edad, sigue compitiendo por pasión y compañerismo, creyendo que el ajedrez es para todos y que la edad no es una limitación. 

En el día a día: Para mantener la mente activa, además de jugar al ajedrez, por las mañanas juega a la pocha y por las tardes ve el programa de televisión "Pasapalabra".

Read this article to know more Lee este artículo para saber más

NOW THE CHALLENGES                                               AHORA LOS RETOS

Hoja de respuestas answer sheet (Click para descargar)

1.- Tell us who tought you to play chess, you can send an image, or a drawing of that moment, just to say thank you very much.

1.- Cuéntanos quién te enseñó a jugar al ajedrez, puedes enviar una imagen, o dibujo de ese momento mágico.

2.- También me gustaría contar con vuestra ayuda a la hora de proponer retos y qué vídeos queréis que trabajemos.

Yo propongo:

Historia e historias del ajedrez

Ajedrecistas famosos

Música, arte, películas, teatro... y ajedrez

Movimientos de piezas

Jaques y jugadas

retos

Pero seguro que a vosotros se os ocurren muchas más ideas.

2.- I'd also like your help proposing challenges and which videos you'd like us to work on.

I suggest:

History and stories of chess

Famous chess players

Music, art, movies, theater... and chess

Piece movements

Checks and moves

Challenges

But I'm sure you can come up with many more ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY OCTOBER 30th 

13th Activity 7th Season (May 29th)

The last one

Hi there

This is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to some new activities

We're very excited because it's been a great year with a significative increase in our participants, so from the EXPLORA project we are very grateful

¿Sabías que el ajedrez no solo enseña estrategias, sino que también entrena el cerebro? Diversos estudios han demostrado que este milenario juego estimula habilidades cognitivas clave como la memoria, la atención, la planificación y el control emocional.

Aquí te presento 5 actividades lúdicas que combinan ajedrez y neurociencia para niños de 6 a 12 años. Ideales para usar en el aula, en talleres o incluso en casa.

🎓 ¿Por qué ajedrez y neurociencia?

El ajedrez es una excelente herramienta para potenciar funciones ejecutivas en los niños. A través del juego, se trabajan:

• ✅ Planificación y toma de decisiones

• ✅ Control de impulsos

• ✅ Concentración

• ✅ Tolerancia a la frustración

Curiosidades mentales con ajedrez

• ¿Sabías que Magnus Carlsen puede jugar partidas ¡con los ojos vendados?!

• Tu cerebro puede quemar hasta 6.000 calorías en un torneo largo de ajedrez debido al esfuerzo mental.

Did you know that chess not only teaches strategy but also trains the brain? Several studies have shown that this ancient game stimulates key cognitive skills such as memory, attention, planning, and emotional control.

Here are five fun activities that combine chess and neuroscience for children ages 6 to 12. Ideal for use in the classroom, in workshops, or even at home.

🎓 Why chess and neuroscience?

Chess is an excellent tool for enhancing executive functions in children. Through play, the following skills are developed:

✅ Planning and decision-making

✅ Impulse control

✅ Concentration

✅ Frustration tolerance

Mental Chess Curiosities

• Did you know that Magnus Carlsen can play games blindfolded?!

• Your brain can burn up to 6,000 calories in a long chess tournament due to mental exertion.

The CHALLENGES:
Try to play with your chessboard. Close your eyes and answer to a friend what color are next squares: a1/g-5/ b-3/ h-8/ c-7

Los RETOS:

Intenta jugar con tu tablero de ajedrez. Cierra los ojos y respóndele a un amigo de qué color son las casillas siguientes: a1/g-5/b-3/h-8/c-7

Challenge for beginners                                          Reto para principiantes

Whites win material in just one move.           Las blancas ganan material  en un movimiento.

Solution last week (May 15th)

El caballo mueve a d-7 y amenaza con Jaque al Rey negro, pero además se aprovecha que el rey tiene que salvarse puede capturar el alfil o el peón, obviamente el alfil: C d-7 +

The knight moves to d-7 and threatens the black King with check, but it also takes advantage of the fact that the king has to be saved and can capture the bishop or the pawn, obviously the bishop: C d-7 +

And that's all for this 2024-25 see you next course and DON'T forget to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY SEPTEMBER 2025 

12th Activity 7th Season (May 15th)

Hello everybody this is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to a new activity

May is already here and after some clouds and rain sunshine came back

Let's use Chess to solve other challenges.

All we already know how Knight works

(check it on this video) 

But based on the move of this spectacular piece let's solve a special wordsearch

There is one in English: (download it here if you can't see it)

y otro en Español: (descárgalo aquí si no lo puedes ver)

Challenge for beginners                                                   Reto para principiantes

White pieces win material in one move.                   Las piezas blancas ganan material con un solo movimiento.

Solution last week

(April 3rd)

K c-7 ++/ R c-7++ The bishops attacks and the Black King doesn't have escape

El alfil ataca y el Rey Negro no tiene escapatoria

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY MAY 22nd 

11th Activity 7th Season (April 3rd)

Hello everybody this is Profesor Jake and welcomeback to a new activity.

Why does the bishop piece have a slot in its "head"?

Read this document and learn a lot about this wonderful piece

Download in English

Descargar en Español

Now the Challenges:

From an empty board:

1. How many squares does a bishop dominate from its starting position?
2. How many squares could it dominate at most from another point on the board?
3. What is that position?
4. What "warlike" animal does the bishop represent?
5. Who is the bishop in medieval tradition?

Ahora los Retos:

Responde a las siguientes preguntas:

En un tablero vacío:

1. ¿Cuántas casillas domina un alfil desde su posición inicial?
2. ¿Cuántas casillas como máximo podría dominar desde otro punto del tablero?
3. ¿Cuál es esa posición?
4. ¿A qué animal "bélico" representa el alfil?
5. ¿Quién es el alfil en la tradición medieval?

Challenge for beginners                                                            Reto para principiantes

Whites win the game in just one move.                  Las blancas dan mate en un movimiento.

Solution last week (March 20th)

 K X f-7 ++/ C X f-7 ++ The pawn on h-6 controls g-7

El peón en h-6 controla g-7

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY MAY 8th 

10th Activity 7th Season (March 20th)

 Hello everybody and welcome to a new activity

today it's time for...

MUSIC

Let's go with a couple of VIDEOS there're one in Spanish and the other in English

VIDEO (in English) You can sing along with the lyrics included

VÍDEO (en español) Puedes cantar a la vez con las letras incluidas.

CHALLENGE

Why don't you send me a song related to Chess, to Jake... I love music and I love Chess so... help me please

Let's see if among everybody can make a playlist of Chess songs

RETO

¿Por qué no me envías una canción relacionada con el ajedrez, Jake? Me encanta la música y me encanta el ajedrez, así que... ayúdame, por favor.

A ver si entre todos podemos crear una lista de reproducción de canciones de ajedrez.

Challenge for beginners                                                                Reto para principiantes

Mueven las blancas. Las blancas pueden dar jaque mate en una jugada. ¿Puedes encontrarla?

White to move. White can checkmate in one move. Can you find it?

Solution last week (March 6th)

Black Knight  d-8 and protects his King. Then 5 points each they have to fight to win the game.

El Caballo Negro d-8 protege a su Rey. Luego, cada uno debe luchar 5 puntos para ganar la partida.

find it?

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY APRIL 3rd 

9th Activity 7th Season (March 6th)

 Hello everybody this is profesor Jake and welcomeback to our blog

today we want to talk about...

OPENINGS

Read this worksheet (or download it HERE)

and watch the VIDEO

CHALLENGES:
They are included on the Worksheet (the second sheet)😏

Solution last challenge (the eigth, February 13^th)

El siguiente movimiento permite llevar a la torre a la casilla marcada con una “x”. Desde ahí podrá capturar la pieza promovida.

The next move allows you to bring the rook to the square marked with an “x”. From there you can capture the promoted piece.

And that's all for this week, see you soon and remember to send me your solutions, questions, comments, and ideas.

See you soon and keep playing

Remember send your challenges, comments and solutions to

explorajake@gmail.com

or via whatsapp to 682336170

NEXT ACTIVITY MARCH 20th