Chess Camp in Davis, July 13-16

My friend John Langreck organizes a summer chess camp in Davis each year.  This year's session is scheduled for July 13 to 16 (4 days), from 1-5pm daily.  The location is on Cowell Boulevard in South Davis, adjacent to I-80.

John is a USCF Life Master with experience teaching chess to beginners, experts and those in between.  He will solve tactics puzzles, cover basic strategy, and discuss game analysis - among other important topics.  Activities include Play the Master, blitz and bughouse!

If you are interested, then print out this flyer and contact John Langreck to reserve your spot.  Don't forget to let him know that Fpawn sent you. :-)

Western Invitational Chess Camp

Robby Adamson on cover of Chess Life, March 2009.

I am writing this post on behalf of my friend FM Robby Adamson.  Readers may have met him at West Coast chess tournaments, where he's always one of the most popular players.  Robby actually started out as a scholastic national champion in the 1980s.  Today he confidently sports a 2400 USCF rating, and even loftier ratings on his ICC account BLITZMASTER.  Yes, Robby loves blitz and bullet!  He lives in Tucson, Arizona and coaches many talented juniors, including the perennially powerful Catalina Foothills High School team. 

Robby also organizes one of the premiere chess camps each summer.  Now in its ninth year, the camp has attracted some of the strongest youngsters around the country.  Invitees are rated at least 1500, and the top group is over 2100!  Last year, they had 5 masters and an incredible 30 attendees rated 1900+!  Of course, such talented students are taught by highly qualified instructors, including Grandmasters Josh Friedel, Melik Khachiyan and Alejandro Ramirez.  The camp schedule includes 35 hours of serious chess over 5 days, plus a variety of fun activities in the evening. 

The 2012 Western Invitational Chess Camp runs from July 15 to 19, with an optional weekend tournament at the end.  If this sounds interesting, don't take my word for it--just check out the website!

If you end up going, please beat Robby at blitz or bullet for me.  Thanks!

Western Invitational Chess Camp

(Photo of skittles action from 2008 camp. Click here for more pictures.)

For those readers who have not yet made up their summer plans, I have one more option to consider. I am posting this for my friend FM Robby Adamson from Tucson, Arizona.

For yet another year, Robby hosts the Western Invitational Chess Camp that he bills as the strongest in the USA. Players must be rated a minimum of 1500 to be invited and the top group of participants should have an average rating near 2200. The instructors include Grandmasters Alexander Onischuk, Alex Yermolinsky and Alejandro Ramirez plus other veteran masters.

The dates for this year are July 12-16 (yes, it starts on a Sunday) with the optional Ye Olde Pueblo Open tournament on the following weekend. The camp schedule includes two daily lectures, a GM simul, a G/35 tournament (USCF quick rated), blitz and various fun activities each evening. For more information, please visit the Western Invitational Chess Camp website or contact Robby Adamson by email. A couple of folks from Northern California already attended and came back with enthusiastic reviews.

Mechanics' Institute Chess Camp, July 21-25

It is not too late to sign up for the Mechanics' Institute Chess Camp for Intermediate and Advanced Players. This program is unique in the Bay Area as it targets nationally ranked juniors and others rated over 1200. Last year even saw several A players in attendance. The instructors will be the always popular GM-elect Josh Friedel, Mechanics' Institute Chess Director IM John Donaldson and Mechanics' Institute Scholastic Director Anthony Corrales.

• What? Mechanics' Institute Chess Camp
  
• When? July 21-25, 10am to 4pm daily
• Where? Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco, 57 Post Street, 4th floor
  
• Who? Children rated 1200-2200
• Why? "Look inside a top players' laboratory and get a feel for how they work on their game from the ground up. ... You will learn to identify the critical points of the game and to understand when and why things went wrong."
• How much? $320 for Mechanics� members, $355 for junior (under 21) non-members, $415 for adult non-members. $80 drop in fee for a day.

To sign up, mail in the entry form or send email to ChessRoom at milibrary.org (replace "at" with @ sign). For questions, call (415) 421-2258 or use email.

Western Invitational Chess Camp in Arizona

(Photo from 2007 Western Invitational Chess Camp. Do you recognize GM Gregory Kaidanov's opponent in the simul? Hint: it is one of my students.)

I am posting this for my friend FM Robby Adamson from Tucson, Arizona. For the fifth straight year, Robby is hosting an elite chess camp that he bills as the strongest in the USA. Players must be rated a minimum of 1500 to be invited and the top group of participants will likely have an average rating around 2200. The instructors include Grandmasters Gregory Kaidanov, Yury Shulman and Alejandro Ramirez plus four other veteran masters. Inside joke: Make sure to invite Yury to Taco Bell.

The dates for this year are July 20-24 (yes, it starts on a Sunday) with the optional Ye Olde Pueblo Open tournament on the following weekend. The camp schedule include two daily lectures, a GM simul, a G/35 tournament (USCF quick rated), blitz and various fun activities each evening. For more information, please visit the Western Invitational Chess Camp website or contact Robby Adamson by email. One of my students went last year and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least three or four go this year. Please let me know.