Dorchester U3A Chess Group

Further meetings in June and July are cancelled
We expect to resume in September

Why play Chess? - For fun and to keep the mind fit - regardless of weather.
Who can play? - Anyone - all are welcome and there are chess sets for the visually impaired.

Playing chess has taken off during the past two years partly due to the success of the film ’The Queen’s Gambit’ and partly due to the incarceration imposed by the pandemic. To be able to play chess may be regarded as a personal asset. You may play against friends – as in the Chess Group, you can play world-wide on line, or you can play against your own computer without the need for a true-life opponent. Are there any children in your family? Then you can play them or even teach them to play chess.
 
Playing chess makes you think. Once you’ve become familiar with the chess pieces and their ways of moving around the board, you can use simple tactics and develop a plan to win the game.
That is of course if your opponent doesn’t see through your plan in which case battle begins!
This is all good mental exercise similar to the way physical exercise is good for the body.

What do you need?.... A chess board – it’s the same as a draught (or checker) board and a set of chess pieces. While Amazon might be your ultimate hunting ground, pop in the local charity shops but check that all the pieces are there.
You also need a good book. The best I have found – and still use today, is….

            Usborne: The Complete Game of Chess – edited by Elizabeth Dalby

                                                                                        .....currently available for about £5. 
With this book you can start with no  knowledge of chess but it will take you well along the road to becoming a competent player.

We will resume our meetings Thursday, 8th September and we will be pleased to meet newcomers as well as 'old hands' who can enjoy a return to the game.
email: chess@dorchesteru3a.org.uk

Online chess:
We now have the facility to play chess online using the u3a Chess Network.
Go to the 'All that Chess' page where there are links to various chess sites.
The sites also offer chess training where your progress is shown by your scores in the training competitions.

Meanwhile why not try the puzzle to see how good a player you are - we won't tell a soul!


           Puzzle courtesy of Shredder Computer Chess

and there's more....
                .... Click on  "All that Chess" to see the page aimed at improving our game skills. A new source is listed.

Webpage updated 29/6/22 by GHPearce