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The
Saint Emilion
Chess Club
The Contruction of this Site Was Started on Jan 15, 2003
WGM Alexandra Kosteniuk - A very pretty Grand Master
Alexandra Kosteniuk -(Sasha)
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Web Site: http://www.kosteniuk.com/index.shtml
Please wait for page to load. There is a Mini Poll and a Vote Caster at the bottom of this page
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Home Page
Do not click on home page unless you have the Password
Do you think you have what it takes to join our Chess Club?
Why You Lose at Chess
What is of prime importance to winning games?
How to increase your chess skills
How to increase your motivation Incentives
How do you achieve happiness
Monitoring Your Game
The Curriculum
Category 1 and Category 5 Club Members Log in Here
How Interesting Is My Site To You?
Understanding The Openings for White
Understanding The Defenses for Black
Understanding The Reti Understading The King's Indian Attack Understanding The English
Miscellaneous Openings
Understanding The Unorthodox Openings
The Alapin Opening
Training for Category Five Members
Welcome to Saint Emilion's Chess Club
You have just discovered a Chess Oasis in the middle of the
Internet, and like a oasis it offers a life line for those in
need of succulent nourishment, chess material which feeds and
supports the mind and spirit.
Our Goals
The Saint Emilion chess club is a totally free bold new project
to help in the development of people interested in improving their
chess skills in standard games, and blitz through the reading and
study of chess training materials and team member help. We are
especially interested in those who are serious about learning how to
increase their chess skills through serious study and inspiring and
teaching others to do the same. There are many people who have the
potential to become much better players than they are now. But for
one reason or another they just keep plodding along with out much
improvement. Often if these people join a club and find others to
inspire them and help keep them on track, the motivation develops
for their improvement. People with a special talent in some area
of chess can help others develop their skills there also. It is my
hope that others will do the same in forming new clubs like this
one and then maybe some day we will say, I bet our team can beat
the crap out of your team! Just imagine the camaraderie that
would be produced in such a fellowship.
Other than play chess, what have you done lately to improve your
chess skills? My goal is for every one who joins this club to see
a significant improvement through the mutual interest of its
members.
Its generally, but erroneously, assumed that the best teachers are
the best players, and that the best players can easily communicate
the secrets of the game. Actually, the best teachers are often just
interested amateurs who need only a teaching plan and some source
material to activate true talent.
GM Andrew Soltis. The New York Post
There are many strong chess players who know how to play chess
very well, but most of them are simply incapable of teaching you
the chess skills that they possess. Be careful of what you pay for
either in time or money from them.
Please note this disclaimer, that I make no such clams to be a good
chess player just because I am teaching others here how to improve
their game. My teaching skills are based on the classes I had taught
for Amature Radio and electronics for several years. Through this
experience I learned how important it was to lay a clear solid
foundation of the basics before going on to more advanced material
and that is what I attempt to do here.
It is a anomaly that many players who in spite of getting the best chess
books, Chess CD's, and other training materials, and having others's help
them to analyize thier games, just can not improve their game significantly
however much they want to.
I have found that one of the hardest problems towards one's improvement
in any endeavor to accomplish something, is to stay focused and stay on
track. That is the purpose of this club to have other members help in
keeping you on track. The demands on one's time can be another big problem.
Knowning what to study and in what order to study it is another. My advice
here is to do like the Russians do. They start their chess studies with the
end game. The analogy is that like going on a long journey one must first
know where the designation is for the shortest route or risk going around
in circles. But the biggest deterrent is simply that most just do not study
in a organized manner and keep at it on a regular schedule as they did when
in high school or in collage. As a consequence most players chess knowledge
is chaotic and disorganized. Simply put if you want to succeed you must read,
study and understand the material here and do so on a regular basis.
If you do not intend to do so please do not join this club.
We make no claims that by joining this club that this will ensure that
any one will progress up to the Expert or Master level just because of
our teaching methods. That type of skill level will require a much more
exhaustive program of study than can ever be provided by our limited
curriculum here. Our focus of study is merely to improve on and instill
the importance of those basic Chess skills needed to build on in order
to progress up to those upper levels beyond the average playing level
found in internet play. However through the collective and shared group
interests, its members will be motivated to helping all in the club to
be constantly improving their game and chess skills far beyond what they
would have done on their own if they had not joined.
Mindless memorization is harmful not only in the case of opening
variations but also in the case of all the principles of play and
other material that the student is taught. What is needed is to
understand the principles and the reasons underlying them. Once
a student has done this, he will remember the material almost
effortlessly. Chess books usually tell you what to learn but
almost nothing about how to learn it. Experience has shown that
the best way to study the material is with a series of step by
step exercises, asking questions and forcing one to think, and
finding the subtleties of positional play, etc. It is very
important to master the various basic weapons of chess to be able
to make combinations, find hidden possibilities in positions,
understand the opponent's plans, and play creatively. A chesplayer
can make progress only if he coordinates his study with practice.
How We Teach
What is it that makes a strong chess player? Is it a knowledge of
opening theory, as many people seem to believe or perhaps being able
to calculate more moves ahead than their opponent? A quick eye perhaps,
fierce will to win or just patience? There are all sorts of theories
as to what it is that makes someone good at chess, not all of them
very sound. As a result it is quite difficult for an amateur player
with a limited amount of time to know exactly how to improve.
With these thoughts in mind this chess club has set about developing
a training program which would target the main areas in which stronger
players distinguish themselves. The first is the sound platform of
basic chess fundamentals and basic concepts necessary to build on from
this base of knowledge. The second is to develop good judgment and
creativity through modern teaching methods. A technique of programmed
instruction has proven very successful and led to new areas of
self-instruction and automatic teaching that overcomes the disadvantages
of text book learning. The third is through the combined efforts of our
membership to help each member improve and ensure that each member keeps
on track to maintain a slow but steady progress in his chess skills.
However, merely joining this club will not improver your chess. Only those
who persevere and work systematically through the curriculum will show an
upswing in their results, and maybe even showing a dramatic improvement
beyone their expectations.
How Can You Be Accepted as a Member?
To join this club you must meet our tough standards of acceptance.
You will find these standards given in our link of
"We don't want you if....."
You must be at least 21 years old.
Because of problems in the past with those under 21 we now must restrict
the age limit. It seems especially so with teens today that lying is not
considered as doing anything wrong. Neither is not keeping ones word.
For many it appears that their moral compass is broke and being irresponsible
and inconsiderate is the norm. For some this stage of immaturity will last
until they get to at least 29 years old and some will never mature.
Also those under 21 don't seem to have the maturity to stay with something once
they promise to undertake it. The tough tenacity of being able to stick through
something to completion when apparent overwhelming problems occur is lacking.
They are too fickle change their mind and give up at the first onsite of adversity.
They are just to young to have experienced many hard times and misfortunes.
We need people who are persistent, tough and have the patience, tenacity and
maturity to get tough when the going gets tough!
Your Basic Chess Area to Choose
Although this is not a college, it is like any institute of learning. In those types
of schools if you are not spending time to study the materials available to you and
improving you will be expected to leave and so it is the same here. You must do as
you promised to do or else you are not really serious about improving your chess
skills and you will not be an asset to our club.
Also just as in college you must major in a subject so must you do the
same here. You will be asked in what single basic chess area of chess do
you wish to study and excel in? There are four areas that
one can specialize in.
Basic Chess Areas you wish to major and excel in. Pick one.
Tactics, Strategy, Openings, and Endgame.
This will be noted in your personal file and progress will be reviewed from
time to time. A slow and constant improvement will be
expected in this area of chess that you name or you may be
terminated. So choose wisely and study the training materials to improve
in this area. Your progress can and will be monitored.
We don't expect you to become an expert in this area
you choose, only that you show that you are serious about improving in it.
Obviously, if you are not reading any training materials you are not serious
about improving in your Chess skills and will be expected to explain why.
Why a slow and constant improvment is needed
Advancing in your chosen chess area and improving your chess skills in this field
will not only help you to play better chess but it will be a strong weapon against
other opponents who play against our club's team. When ever we engage in our club's
team play with other FICS teams, we will be able to ask others in our club who have
some expertise in this area for their advice for a candidate move. Also these people
will be able to help others in our club to advance their chess skills in this area as
well. What better kind of asset than this type of person could a club ask for in the
advancement of its chess club?
You may not belong to this club unless you obtain a Yahoo
Instant messengers and a Yahoo email account.
You will need to get this free Instant Messengers for group chat, team play, etc.
You will be expected to activate your messenger and keep it activated whenever you
are on line so other members can contact you and to know if you are on line.
You will be expected to put all our club members on your messenger by clicking on
Contacts and ask all Saint Emilion members (Including me) to accept the invitation
to join your messenger.
Get your Yahoo E-mail and Instant Messenger account here: http://www.yahoo.com/
This Yahoo email account is necessary for our Mailing List program. We know that
this one works for our mailing list. We choose the Yahoo one because we had trouble
with the others.
Our Rating System
Our rating system is based on your FICS "Best Rating" Once a best rating is posted in
your finger at FICS, this rating is used for our Category system. When you apply for
membership and when you become a member your best rating is established and fixed.
You will never go down to a lower Catergory level.
A. 1200 Standard Rating:
Catergory level 1 is the minimum Club member level. To join at this level our
requirements demand that you must have a FICS Standard "Best" rating that is
at least 1200 to join as a Category One regular club member.
You will need a Basic Chess Area of chess to study and excel in. You will be
expected to improve at a slow and constant rate in this area.
"Why a slow and constant improvment is needed"
Why a minimum of 1200 standard?
Why do we set a minimum of 1200 standard? This is a chess club for intermediate
level players. Not a chess school for beginners or low ranking amateurs. We don't
want our members constantly being bothered with questions or help that these people
will demand. This time would better be spent on our members reading our training
materials or engaging in club team playing exercises. Just like in any school of
higher learning the requirements are such that they expect you to have reached a
certain level of skill before you can be accepted in their school. If these people
want to join our club they should take advantage of all the many available chess
training materials for free on the web and rise up to our minimum requirements.
Probation
Refusing to read training materials, not playing standards games, not keeping your
Yahoo Messenger active when logged on FICS, and not showing any concentrated effort to
improve your chess skills will result in probation sanctions. Probation sanctions in
this case means being placed on probation for a period of 1 week. If there is not a
significant effort to change your improvement attitude and position with in 1 week
your account will be terminated. The amount of time you spend reading training
materials and the amount of time you spend playing standard chess games will be
monitored for a judgment on your efforts to improve.
B. 1700 or above Standard
Catergory level 5 is the Advanced Club member level. To join at this level our
requirements demand that you must have a FICS Standard rating that is at least
1700 to join as a Category 5 regular club member. When you join our club at
the regular 1200 level and then progress up to the 1700 Standard level or above,
you may request to rise up to the Cat 5 level if your "best" FICS rating shows
this increase.
Note: Please Read, "We don't want you if.........," before you decide to join.
You may change your mind after you find out who we don't want.
We may not want you to join our club because you don't measure up
to our standards. Reading this may prevent you from being terminated
after you join.
We don't want you if...Click Here---> X <---
If you have decided you want to join our club, your rating should start increasing
by 100 points immediately!. If it does not begin to increase in the next 5 sec,
click on the rainbow
C.1700 Standard:
Want to be a administration person in our club?
We need high rated chess players that will help run the
club and be used for administration purposes. Such people will assist in
the training of others, and help to make decisions in the selection of
others who want to join. Be team captains in team play, be available for
questions, be a member of our security department for checking out
applicants, etc. To qualify and apply for a administration position you must
have a Standard rating of at least 1700 and own a copy of a Fritz program.
Because this club is free we are experimenting with ways to find quality people to
join our club. The methods we have developed may seem unnecessary but from past
experience with having to expel members for a variety of reasons we now find it
necessary to include tougher standards of conduct and be more through in checking
out perspective applicants. Unfortunately people do not always tell the truth and
do not always do as they say they will. We welcome any suggestions that you may
have towards this end.
Why must you read the whole web page to join?
People ask why must they read this whole web page to qualify to join the club?
Its one of our tests to weed out people with limited attentions spans. If they can
not or will not read this web page then we suspect that there is a good chance that
they don't have the patients to study and read our training materials or attend club
training sessions either. Also if they won't read this page then their desire to join
is not that great either. If someone really has a strong desire to join our club reading
this page in its entirety is a small price to pay for the returns they will get. Would
you rather I charge a fee each month like many others do?
*1. Joining this club is by invitation only. You may not join merely by asking to join.
To receive an invitation for consideration to become a member you may request to be put
on our invitation list.
If this seems odd just for joining a chess club, just think about the members here who will
be helping you should you be accepted. Would you want to join a club where its members do
not give a dam about the others in the club? Where its members do not care if you succeed or
fail? Don't you want to belong to a group of friendly people who will go out of their way to
make you feel welcome, and then be concerned about your progress?
When you ask to be put on our invitation list, we will check your playing history to see if
you are an abuser, cheater etc. As you might have guessed this process may take a little time.
So while your waiting we suggest reading EVERYTHING, on this web page if you have not already
done so.
2. The first requirement is that you ABSOLUTELY MUST read every thing on
this web page and its links. If you can't take the time to do this then we don't
want you, for the reasons given in our link of "We don't want you if....."
3. Joining this club is free. However it is not free in the sense that you will be
expected to read the training materials and show a slow but constant improvement in
the Basic Chess Area subject you choose. If you are not interested in doing this then
we don't want you.
"Why a slow and constant improvment is needed"
There are no hidden monetary fees or will there ever be any. As noted above there are
certain restrictions, and of course there are people who for the reasons given in the
article We don't want you if..., will not be accepted to join. You must measure
up to our tough and demanding standards, and have the personality to benefit our
club or we will not want you.
*4. To join the Saint Emilion chess club message SaintEmilion at FICS that you want to
become a member of the Saint Emilion Chess Club and be put on the invitation list.
Also state a single basic chess area you wish to major and excel in.
5. Soon after receiving your request we will check your playing history for
computer cheating, are presently a abuser, disconnection abuser history, dupe
accounts, etc. We have members who are experts in this field and have found
several cheaters since they have been doing this. So if you fall into one of
the above categories do not apply for membership here.
If later we find you lied and violated our honor pledge you will be immediately
terminated from the club and your handle will be posted for all time on our
"Club's Public Abuser List," so other members may put you on their
no-play list and censor you. Since I have no control over what other members
may tell other FICS friends about you, your reputation on FICS may also suffer.
We also will message abuse as to our findings and let them check you out for
possible abuser violations.
6. Shortly after receiving your invitation and if you do not fall into any of the above
abuser categories, I will ask for your Yahoo Messenger ID and if it is activated as
required above and for a valid Yahoo E-mail address to send you a Category two
password.
7. You then have to go to The Saint Emilion Chess Club at
http://www.ez-net.com/~mephisto/ (This Site) and log in with your
password to the Category Two, Registration password gate at the bottom of
this page: "Saint Emilion Category Two Members Log in here". Once there
you must sign the Registry Guest Book, Honor Pledge and answer all the questions.
8. If you are accepted, I will change your password to a Category 1 level password
that will accept entrance to the Category 1 Club Members password gate at the top of
this page. This gate takes you to the Home Page where you can now access all Training
materials and other helpful tools for Club Members.
Please be patient, this is not an automatic process, it may take a little time
before you get your password sent to you.
Visitors to this page since Feb. 2004
Saint Emilion Registration Page for Cat 2 members. Log in at the password gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->Here --------------------------->
Guests Only Sign our guestbook Here
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We can illuminate your horizons for improving your chess skills through study and a little help from your friends at the club