News & Updates
SPOILER ALERT! — ANSWERS TO THE CHESS QUIZ!
Here are the answers to the ultimate chess quiz written by Bill Wall. When you’re finished, let me know how you did!
Answers:
1. Manuel Aaron was India’s first International Master, in 1961.
2. Viswanathan Anand was India’s first Grandmaster, in 1987.
3. In 1995, Robert Smeltzer played the most USCF games in one year – 2,266 games.
4. Michael Adams was the youngest player to win the British Chess Championship at 17.
5. Bobby Fischer was the youngest player to win the US Chess Championship at 14 in 1957/58.
6. Hikaru Nakamura was the 2nd youngest player to win the US Chess Championship at 16 in 2004.
7. Utat Adianto was the first Read more �
Think you know a lot about chess and chess history? Here’s the ultimate chess quiz for long-time chess lovers created by Bill Wall. Good luck – you’re going to need it! When you’re finished, let me know how you did!
1. Who was India’s first International Master?
2. Who was India’s first Grandmaster?
3. Who played the most USCF rated games in one year?
4. Who was the youngest player to win the British Chess Championship?
5. Who was the youngest player to win the US Chess Championship?
6. Who was the second youngest player to win the US Chess Championship?
7. Who was the first Read more �
We’re so excited about our new website that we decided to run a sale and shipping special to help invite people to come and experience the new site! From now until March 31st, the annual Spring Clearance Sale is under way!
Take a look at our sale and scratch and dent categories and you’ll find pages and pages of chess equipment and supplies marked down from 25% to 75% off! It doesn’t get much better than this . . . usually. Obviously, some of the luck of the Irish must have rubbed off on you, because we’re also throwing in free basic shipping to the contiguous US on orders over $75 with promo code SPRING9. Now that’s something to celebrate.
This sale features our scratch and dent House of Staunton pieces at 75% off normal prices. We want to get these imperfect pieces off our shelves to make way for the perfect pieces you’ve come to know and expect from House of Staunton.
In addition to those, you’ll find many of our top chess books and software on clearance along with some of our most popular wood chess sets at wholesalechess.com.
If you’ve been a member at Wholesale Chess for a long time, you might be thinking “Why another change to the website?” Observant shoppers will notice that every walk-in store changes their displays and layout on a regular basis, trying to find the best way to serve the needs of their customers. We listen carefully to the feedback our members give us, and though we cannot please everyone, we try our best to improve.
What’s new this time around?
New Colors and Design
The previous site felt a little ‘pink’ to us, so we darkened things up a little bit, and spread our Wholesale Chess Red around a little more.
New Navigation and Filtering
We’ve removed many of the tabs that formerly were at the top of the page. We found that most members didn’t find the extra tabs to be much help to them. The drop down menus on each of the main 9 tabs should serve to help members find product they’re looking for much faster than before.
We’ve also added new filtering options at the product category level. For example, you can now select the ‘Plastic Chess Pieces’ category, and select all pieces under $9.99, that weigh less than 1 pound, and that have a king height of less than 3 inches.
New Search Function
We’ve updated our standard search function on the website to improve accuracy (now found directly under the main menu). We’ve also updated our advanced search function to make it possible to search not only product titles but also product descriptions to help you find books and software that cover a particular move you’re hoping to learn.
Teach – Learn – Find – Read – Share – Sign Up
Wholesale Chess has for many years led the online chess industry in pricing, selection, and responsive customer service. As time has passed, our loyal members have started to turn to us as a source not only for quality product at guaranteed low prices, but also as a source for information about chess, and as a place to do more than just shop. We hope you’ll spend some time reading articles on our blog and sharing your own chess experiences with the thousands of other Wholesale Chess members.
Tell us what you think about the new site – - Leave your feedback!
Forty hours of my week are spent at the office here at Wholesale Chess. That’s a lot of time spent with other people – which is why building a good relationship with them is important to me. So here’s a thought – what better way is there to enjoy the game of chess and get to know my coworkers better than to play chess at work!
I recently spoke with John, a Wholesale Chess member and a member of a corporate sponsored chess club at a major insurance company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who shared with me his experiences in starting up a chess club at work along with another employee in his office.
“The founder sent an email out to all employees at our Cedar Rapids location, basically asking people to reply if they might be interested in a chess club. Once she had a list of about 30 people, then she went about talking to facilities and reserving a conference room for the first meeting.”
“We had over 20 people show up the first meeting. Since then, we’ve met a few times in large conference rooms and 12-25 people show up at each meeting. We started with monthly meetings, but are moving to meeting every two weeks.”
According to John, the meetings may not be perfectly organized, but everyone has a good time and enjoys playing chess with other coworkers. The club currently doesn’t have any kind of ranking system or organized round robin – many players set up their chess sets and play whoever is nearby. When a game is over, players rotate to play someone else. Most people make an effort to play everyone, or at least people they haven’t played before or recently. A few of the people have entered chess tournaments before, but most are just involved to play recreational chess.
John points out what he sees as the most important thing to remember when setting up a chess club at work: “Just get people in a room playing chess. You don’t want them to get hung up on rules or procedures, especially at the start. Our chess club has no bylaws or constitution, just a one page set of rules.”
Looking to start a Chess Club at work? Here are a few things to consider:
1. Get permission to contact employees and find out who’s interested
2. Check for facilities early on to see if a meeting place at work will be possible
3. Establish a regular time and place, and remind your members regularly
3. Don’t get hung up on rules or procedures – have fun with it!
Are you a member of a corporate sponsored chess club? Share your experiences with us! Need more help or ideas? Ask a question and I’ll find answers for you.
Al Wittenberg, a long-time Wholesale Chess member and retired chess player, spends many hours each week at four local Boys and Girls Clubs spending time with kids and teaching them to be better chess players. “We try to put a chess set in the hands of any kids that show an aptitude or a real enthusiasm for chess.”
Hand Made Chess Pieces
Difficult as times are right now, Wholesale Chess has embraced the goal to help in the process of supplying chess sets at an affordable price for scholastic programs and young chess players. That made me a bit curious about Al’s program, and I wanted to learn more about what Al and the kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Southern Nevada were up to, and here’s what we learned:
Chess Student and Teacher
“Initially, I started with table chess sets, but two years ago I saw the giant chess pieces and the floor chessboard. I did purchase the giant chessboard from Wholesale Chess, but decided to make the chess pieces…what a job! After we had cut them out of particle board, assembled them, and sanded them, I took them over to the Boys and Girls Club where I was volunteering to have the students paint them. They had a perfectly marvelous time, and certainly felt part of the process!”
Since that time the giant chess set has been the focus of competitions a couple of times a year at four different Boys and Girls Clubs, an elementary school Gifted and Talented class of 3-5 graders, plus twice at the Advanced Technologies Academy. The Academy has a “Game Night” three times a year, where middle and high school students can play board games through the afternoon. Al has taken the giant chess set as well as multiple table chess sets for the youth to play on during Game Night. The chess sets are always very well received, and the boys and girls have a terrific time playing chess.
Giant Chess Set
Wholesale Chess is proud to recently have donated $150 as part of a drawing Al entered to help support chess at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Southern Nevada. It’s nice to know that chess stands strong today and continues to bring meaningful values and educational strength to the youth of our nation through the efforts of volunteers like Al, and many others I have the pleasure of working with on a regular basis.
Written by Laura Sherman of YourChessCoach.com
Imagine a world where people all have excellent problem solving skills, where they are patient and respectful of each other on a daily basis. A society where citizens live for the future and plan long term, thinking of where their children’s children will be, following through, seeing each goal to its conclusion with ease. Now add to that an indefinable quality of artistic imagination, dreaming for more than can be reasonably expected, reaching beyond the status quo.
Chess can teach our next generation all these skills and more!
I learned chess when I was young and to this day I see the world as a giant chess game where any barrier can be conquered and any victory can be achieved. No goal is impossible and when I have a target in sight there is no stopping me. The same glint I had in my eye when I faced an opponent at a chess tournament still exists today when I face a challenge, along with the insouciant grin that comes from the pure joy of the experience.
Intuitively most would agree that chess improves a student’s grades and ability to study. Numerous studies have been done over the years throughout the world that show this to be the case. IQ increases, reading test results improve as do math and science scores. However there are so many other skills children pick up naturally from learning and becoming good at chess.
Imagination is a must in chess. You cannot form strategies and tactical plans without being able to envision your goals. It is impossible to win a game without first imagining the victory. You are the one to make the chess pieces dance to the rhythm you choose. Without the player the pieces just sit dormant on a dusty board.
A child’s self confidence soars as the victories pile up, especially when that child can routinely trounce adults. Allow that child to teach other children or perhaps even the adults and he or she will master the game quickly. Nothing helps someone learn faster than teaching others and nothing does more for one’s pride than to see someone improve under one’s tutelage.
In order to achieve a victory one must consistently play well throughout the game. You can make forty excellent moves and one thoughtless blunder and lose the game instantly. As a result you quickly learn to be thorough in your analysis and patient with your moves. Imagine if we all applied this little lesson to our daily lives. Thoughtless comments, heat of the moment bursts of anger, crimes of passion might just become things of the past to be studied as a part of a history lesson.
If every parent initiated regular family chess nights and if every school taught chess as part of their daily lesson plan imagine where our country could be. Children naturally are drawn to chess. If you don’t believe me try an easy experiment. Go to an area populated with children, put out a chess set and see what happens. I promise you they will flock to the board and become immersed in a game. We all have the power to fuel our children’s existing passion for learning and help our next generation soar. Let’s make a difference!
This article was written by Chess Instructor Laura Sherman, of YourChessCoach.com. Your Chess Coach is devoted to teaching chess to children of all ages, giving them the many life skills that the game offers.
If you would like to ask Laura a question about chess, you can ask the question in the comment space below, leave your email, and Laura will respond directly to you.
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