Happy Valentine's Day

Hi there; today's challenges have to do with the Rooks.

For personal reasons I cannot be challenging you as usual, I'm trying to answer your questions and giving your feed back as long as I can, so take it easy I am still hands on.

The challenges of this week are dedicated to a new friend of us, a very special friend from far far away, I cannot tell you more it is going to be a surprise.

But at the same time I am very nervous because it is going to be a great responsibility, he is a really good chess player and he knows tons of things about our favourite game.

Challenge 1:

Rooks work well as a team.

A double challenge; place the Rooks in the next chess boards:

You have to place a ROOK in order to "check mate" the black King in the second puzzle there are two possible solutions send them back to me.

Challenge 2:

The second Challenge is also related to Rook Positions.

Which player has the better positioned Rooks on this board?

Send me the solution (Black or White) but try to make an effort and explain us the answer.

I am preparing a video with a surprise but... technical reasons don't let me show you a very, VERY special work.

May you wait one more week? please...

See you Soon pals.

LE ROI

LE ROI

The King is the most important piece in the game of Chess. This is because the objective of the game is to capture your opponent's King.

The King has the ability to move one space in any direction.

However, the King can not put himself in danger (or been put in danger by any other of his pieces).

That means that two Kings can never be side by side (at least one space between them).

If the King can be captured he is said to be "IN CHECK".

If he can not move to a square where he is not threatened, and if the checking piece can not be captured or blocked, the King is said to be in "CHECKMATE" and the game is over.

That is the reason because his value is "PRICELESS"

If the King is not directly thratened but he can not move to a safe square, I mean where other enemy piece can capture him that is called __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and the game is a draw, even if the enemy has all the advantage.

There you are the first Challenge for this week, what is the missing word with 9 letters to name when the King has no moves because other enemy piece can capture but at the same time he is not in CHECK.

Second Challenge:

Let's find What happens

It is the turn for the black pieces in this diagram:

What happens in this situation?

What is this phenomenon called?

and...

Who wins the game, white or black?

Visit to C.E.I.P. Juan Yagüe

Last week I had an invitation from a participant school in our program the C.E.I.P. Juan Yagüe in Logroño.

They were very kind and I had the opportunity of explaining some activities, stories and games related to our fabulous aim, the CHESS.

There I had also the opportunity of watching the great amount of activities they do with the chess:

Tournaments

Arts & Crafts

Lengua Española

…

Here we have some pics and THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INVITATION

You can have a look to their web page in this image:

and next you can have a look of our visit there:

I do hope to see you very soon.

Well I am not sure how to stop wishing everybody "Happy New Year". I guess I really wish happy life to veryone always it does not matter the calendar.

Here we are again with full energy.

I sent your pins with my logo and I hope you like it as I do.

Well it is time to re-start over new.

Here you are 2 new activities, I do hope you enjoy them.

Solve this missing letters-numbers or words related to the chess positions and vocabulary:

1.- At the start of the game my  _____ white pawns are in row ____

2.- At the start of the game the black _______ are in squares C-8 and ___.

3.- If White wants to move a Knight on his first move they can make ___ different moves each.

4.- If the black pawn on a-7 wants to reach the end of his column to promote and ask for a Queen who will have to advance at less ___ steps until landing in square ___.

A comic with some mistery

In the next game the situation is very dangerous for both!

Once upon a time...

 

Although I do not believe it...

But, in case he tells the truth, let's investigate a little. Make a check on the white king:

Now read these pieces and answer their questions:

OOPS! Well, it seems he did not tease me! Only one of those checks does not make black lose later!

Can you tell what and why others lead to disaster?

Can you be creative I feel like to post your solutions with pics, drawings... if possible (just an idea never an order he he he!!)

4th Activity How about the Bishop?

Hi everyone, today we are going to learn some interesting facts about the BISHOP.

As any other class we are going to learn about theory

OK Don’t worry I’ll do it short.

The word "bishop" comes from the Arabic الفيل (al-fil = the elephant) and this from the Persian pil (elephant), because this piece of chess originally represented the forces of these pachyderms in an army. Then the Arabs took the game to Spain (pre-Spain) where stayed for 700 years, shortly before the first crusade.

Because of the exoticness of the elephants, in Europe they were changed to bishops, who at that time used to accompany the king in battles. In Spanish the Arabic name was kept, but in English it is called "bishop", "bishop". This is also why the bishop is shaped like a miter.

How is Bishop in other languages:

In French it is called “fou”, as mad, crazy.

In Italian alfiere

In German Läufer

In Russian: епископ (yepiscop) that refers to a religious chief.

In Portuguese: Bispo

In Spanish: Alfil

So there are two ways of naming this piece: the religious one related to the symbol: the mitre (like a pointy hat that are used in some religions for their chiefs) and the ancient word of an elephant.

Here you are an image of an ancient "bishop":

Well now it's time for a little fun, you can remember how our piece works on a Chessboard by watching this presentation click on the next image:

TIME FOR CHALLENGES:

Challenge number 1:

I am sure you can get the checkmate with the white pieces putting on practice what you learnt about the bishop.

Challenge number 2:

Try to find how white pieces can give CHECKMATE in just one move. The hint is our piece of the week.

HOPE YOU ENJOY A LOT AND AS USUAL YOU CAN PARTICIPATE BY SENDINF AN E-MAIL, A WHATSAPP OR BY TWITTER.

See you soon and Comments are apreciated.

3rd Activity Let's be creative

Hi there, some people have suggested to post an activity in order to show how creative you are.

IE IE Crew!!! Always pleased to accept all your suggestions and ideas.

Let's BE creative then.

I had an idea of painting a huge CHESSBOARD in a school:

Then we need some chess pieces and there you are this week first activity:

Watch this video

It is shown how to make a Knight.

 I am sure you can do it better or at less more creative. Of course it has not to be so big, it is big because the chessboard is that size but you can do it for playing at home with a regular chessboard.

Send me your pics, works, videos showing how you do a Knight (or any other piece) using your imagination.

REMEMBER it is not necessary so BIG but I rather prefer don't tell you anything else and wait for your answers.

The second activity is to play with the Knight

I mean to practise how it moves.

If you need a refreshing because you do not remember it very well I recomend you to click on this link

It is not so difficult but you have to capture the 9 pawns in 9 moves... Or 10 or 11 I do not remember yet.

Can you tell me how? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

The Rook

Hi there,

Right here with another couple of challenges, one for beginners and the other for those who know how to play this game a little bit more.

First of all I have posted a video explaining interesting facts about the ROOK, one of the most important pieces. It is very easy to move and I think is a good way to learn Chess.

Did you like it? If there is any doubt, just make me know it or check on the label “TheClass”, where there is some information about the pieces.

The first challenge is to find out How many moves are needed to capture all the black pawns. Can you guess it trying to make the less possible moves? Send me your solutions and I’ll be delighted.

For the second challenge you have to think a little bit more: you play with white pieces and get the “CHECKMATE” in just two moves. Remember the black ones have to make a move… but it will be one move you force him/her to do.

Ready steady GO…

Remember your solutions via mail:

explorajake@gmail.com

via Twitter @ProfesorJake

via WhatsApp 682 33 61 70