OCBCF Newsletter October 2005
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Assume a New Identity in Chess
By OCBCF President George Tintera
In these new days of the internet we are constantly assuming new identities and then hiding them. Of course, we have a great deal to lose when someone steals our identity.
Starting chess players will also assume a new identity on joining the U.S. Chess Federation. I did, and now I go by 12927233. This is my official U.S. Chess Federation ID. It is mine for life and it is how I am known by the USCF for rating of games and my work as a tournament director. Players not reporting their I Ds? cannot play in a rated tournament.
It is important that each tournament chess player—that’s you or your child—keep a record of his/her USCF ID. You will get some help in that it will be on any mailing label coming from the USCF.
Information about all members is also available at the USCF website (www.uschess.org/msa). However you need to know that USCF is a national organization. Many chess players share the same name. So you may need to use other clues—home state, rating or birth date—to find your own identity at this site.
In this age of multiple identities, it is important that chess players accurately report their USCF ID when they register for each tournament. Be sure to include your USCF ID as well as your name spelled exactly as it is in the USCF database. Also, include your birthdate and state as having them can help a tournament director tell you apart from the 17 other chess players with exactly the same name.
With this new identity you will be able to keep track of your progress as a chess player. At the USCF website you can follow the changes of your rating over your career as a chess player. You can also get the record of each rated game you have played and keep track of how your opponents are doing.
Don't be afraid to show off this new identity. And be sure not to keep it a secret.
Beyond the Boards: Notes from the OCBCF Fall Tournament at Calallen High School
By Ken Muir
When Calallen High School’s web page boasts that they’re the home of the fighting wildcats, they’re not exactly kidding. They’ve got some kind of stuffed bobcat standing inside their trophy case, pouncing in attack position, as you enter the front doors. What a great setting it was for OCBCF’s first tournament of the season! In their well-lit cafeteria under large glowing orange fluorescent letters announcing the Wildcat Diner, approximately 250 scholastic players battled through six grueling rounds of chess, game/30. And surrounding them throughout the day were the four-toed maroon paw prints of the wildcats, apparently left when they tried to climb over fresh paint on the uprights to the ceiling.
It was enormously satisfying from a TD/parent perspective to see the enthusiastic participation of a large variety of schools and families, ranging from points as distant as Edinburgh, Laredo, Brownsville, and Katy, to the more familiar surroundings of Kingsville, Banquete, Robstown, Alice, Flour Bluff and Corpus Christi. Private schools such as Central Catholic, St. Patrick’s, Incarnate Word Academy, and others were well represented numerically in the primary and elementary sections, as well as a very diverse group of public schools, and at least a few home schooled students. It was equally gratifying that a large number of chess parents and school representatives worked together amiably as volunteers to ensure that the kids would have an enjoyable and productive experience. Charlene Tintera ably commandeered the helm as Chief TD, and Senior TD Bob James worked feverishly behind the scenes with the computer pairings to ensure that the rounds progressed smoothly.
Interesting highlights of the tournament included the fact that not just one, but two children were reliably reported to have lost teeth during their game play. Shortly after one of the children was allowed back into the tournament hall to recover a tooth left at the board (remember, those teeth still have value when left under a pillow), another child reported that a tooth had fallen out and the clock was stopped to allow a brief respite for recovery purposes. Now, it is well established that chess play can have positive mental developmental effects, but apparently it also causes dental developmental effects as well. The tournament got off to a difficult start when a printer failed to function but this was quickly remedied.
As I wandered amongst the boards in my role as TD, I marveled once again, as I always do, at the dedication and concentration displayed by these young players as they studied the boards and tried to determine what course to follow. The players were, I thought, exceptionally well behaved and courteous, and very interested in what they were doing. Losing is perhaps the hardest part of this game, and these players seemed to take their losses well.
In my High School section I had the fortune to observe a large number of interesting games, but of special note was the game played in round six at board 1 between Anthony Guerra and Fernando Spada. Anthony is a senior representing Edinburgh North High School, a friendly young man with a bright future ahead of him, possible college scholarships under consideration, and a couple of hundred chess tournaments under his belt. Fernando is a third grader from Hudson Elementary in Brownsville, who was introduced to chess at age 4 by his grandfather, and has had remarkable success in chess, having placed very highly in a large number of state and national chess tournaments. He was K-1 State Champion in 2004, K-3 Regional Champion in 2005, and was selected to the 2006 All America Chess Team of the USCF (to be announced in December of 2005). His father reports that he enjoys reading and soccer, and that his favorite chess player is Bobby Fischer. I watched early on as Fernando was down a pawn, then later won the pawn back, and finally succeeded in obtaining a draw. It is fascinating how players of Anthony and Fernando’s caliber seem to spend little time studying their positions, appearing instead to have plenty of interest in wandering around to watch other games.
I, on the other hand, never seem to have enough time to figure out my moves. Apparently quality of time, and not quantity, matters in chess, as in other things. However, speaking of quantity, I must pay tribute to the enormous patience endured by the parents, doggedly waiting endlessly during and between rounds out “there” somewhere in the confines of the school, not knowing whether they’re going to be congratulating or consoling their child. Their caring support is sincerely appreciated by the tournament volunteers as well as by their children.
A note from the Editor, Eddie Rios: Parents, Coaches and all other participants that attended the Calallen tournament, thank you, thank you, thank you. Without your dedication and support, this chess organization would have no purpose. We believe that we make a difference. You too can make a difference, not just in your childs life, but also in all the children that participate in chess. Be a volunteer, whether you play chess or not, is not a factor. You just have to be willing to donate some of your time to helping us organize and run the tournaments the children play in. If you were at the Calallen tournament you realize just what it takes and how many people it takes to pull these things off. If you wish to support our organization by volunteering, then you can contact me at www.edrios54@hotmail.com I will not ignore you or turn you down. I promise. We welcome and need all the help we can get. Again thank you everyone and see you at the tournaments.