Results from the first night of senior competition for the annual Freebird Trophy (played at 10m + 5s) saw Gordon Lyall and Geoffrey Gunawan leading after 3 rounds on 2½, with Ross Jackson and John Whibley following on 2 points. Final rounds of this first leg will be played next week, with the AGM following the week after.

There was a great turnout for the opening night of Junior club this week, with around a dozen kids, including a number of new faces. Welcome!

The Club opened for 2022 this week with a fun casual night of hand and brain chess.  In this variant, two players play each side, one acting as the ‘brain’ – and one as  the ‘hand’. The brain says the name of piece or pawn it wants to move, but not which piece or pawn, and not where it should move to. The hand has to decide this and move accordingly.

We rotated player-pairs and roles each game and it was interesting – sometimes funny – to see how different combinations of ability and playing style combined. The team play providing a nice change from what is normally an individual pursuit. With a 10m + 5s time control thrown-in, the night produced some weird and wonderful chess, and was a big hit. It will no doubt feature again sometime on our calendar later this year.

Note the Junior Club starts up again next week (8 February) at 6:30pm.

A reminder that the Kāpiti Chess Club opens for the year this Tuesday, 1st February, at 7:30 pm at the Salvation Army (rear hall) at 41 Bluegum Road, Paraparaumu. Note the Junior Club opens a week later, on Tuesday 8th February at 6:30pm.

Note that under the current COVID Red setting, a condition of the Salvation Army for anyone using their facilities, including our playing venue, is that they must wear a mask. Everyone 12 and over must also be double-vaccinated, and sign or scan in using the QR code. You must be well and have no signs or symptoms associated with COVID.

Our first night will be an easy social night, with likely some fun casual event to be arranged. Our tournament programme proper will kick off the following week with the Freebird Cup (10m +5s). Our AGM will be on the 22nd February. A full calendar of events for 2022 will be confirmed and posted in due course.

Look forward to seeing you there!

The Kāpiti Chess Club opens again on 1 February with a night of fun social chess to ease players back into it before the competition begins again the following week with the first of two nights of the Freebird Trophy (where games played at 10m + 5s). The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held the week after that, on 22 February.

The popular Junior Club, which runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm before the main Club meetings, opens again for 2022 on 8th February. 

In line with NZ Chess Federation Covid policy, anyone – members, parents or visitors – aged 12 and over – needs to be double-vaccinated, and scan or sign in, if wanting to enter where we play. Masks are not mandatory, but recommended.

Chess in NZ is taking off at the moment. Whether you’re new to it, or an experienced player, come and check us us out. Feel free to contact us if you have have any questions.