(Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Discuss anything you like about chess related matters in this forum.
Nick Grey
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Nick Grey » Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:33 pm

HMG confirm 5 weeks in measuring steps so 8/3 to 12/4 so we will hear that week.

Ronnie Burton
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Ronnie Burton » Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:52 pm

Excellent news from Torbay Chess Congress being held again in November (12th - 14th) Well run tournament by Ken Alexander and team

John Reyes
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Location: Manchester

Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by John Reyes » Wed Mar 10, 2021 11:07 am

Ronnie Burton wrote:
Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:52 pm
Excellent news from Torbay Chess Congress being held again in November (12th - 14th) Well run tournament by Ken Alexander and team

might asked my wife to spent some time in torquay for my birthday weekend :)
Any postings on here represent my personal views only and also Dyslexia as well

Simon Rogers
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Simon Rogers » Wed Mar 10, 2021 3:59 pm

John Sellen wrote:
Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:01 pm
From the Torbay Chess Congress website

"On a positive note, we are planning to hold the 2021 Congress on Armistice weekend (12th - 14th November). We hope to start accepting entries for the 2021 Congress around the middle of 2021.
Thanks for informing us all John.
Great news.
Although I've never played in the congress, I've heard a lot of good reports about it.
Many years ago, when Blackpool had a chess club a group of them would travel down to play in the tournament each year and drink a lot of alcohol in the bars and nightclubs in the area, between the chess games.
I was informed that one year, they each wore a top with the slogan "Blackpool Chess Club on Tour" printed on.
When Poulton Chess Club played Blackpool Chess Club, we did hear many stories about the Torquay night scene but not much about how the chess games went.

Mick Norris
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Mick Norris » Wed Mar 10, 2021 4:33 pm

Never been to Blackpool chess club, but did play at Poulton once, not sure what competition and who for though; I do remember I was on the white side of an Alekhine, so must have been 30 years ago before I gave up with e4
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Simon Rogers
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Simon Rogers » Wed Mar 10, 2021 4:47 pm

Mick Norris wrote:
Wed Mar 10, 2021 4:33 pm
Never been to Blackpool chess club, but did play at Poulton once, not sure what competition and who for though; I do remember I was on the white side of an Alekhine, so must have been 30 years ago before I gave up with e4
Blackpool closed over a decade ago, probably longer. Their last venue was the Cricket Club in Stanley Park. So there was no club night in the summer.
So we have a Blackpool & Fylde Chess League with no Blackpool Chess Club.
Poulton has changed venues a few times since I joined them in 1989.
We now play at the new Booths Cafe in the centre of Poulton-le-Fylde. There is a picture on the cover of the Blackpool & Fylde League Facebook page.
If you enlarge the top left hand corner you'll see my large display of various entry forms from all across the UK on two large tables.
There is also a Poulton-le-Fylde Facebook page which has not been updated or posted on for a long time which I don't know how to do.

Tim Spanton
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Tim Spanton » Tue Mar 16, 2021 3:25 pm

BBC on measures in Scotland:

Early June - Six people from three households can socialise in private homes, indoor non-contact sport can resume

Mick Norris
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Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester

Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Mick Norris » Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:33 pm

Simon Rogers wrote:
Wed Mar 10, 2021 4:47 pm
Mick Norris wrote:
Wed Mar 10, 2021 4:33 pm
Never been to Blackpool chess club, but did play at Poulton once, not sure what competition and who for though; I do remember I was on the white side of an Alekhine, so must have been 30 years ago before I gave up with e4
Blackpool closed over a decade ago, probably longer. Their last venue was the Cricket Club in Stanley Park. So there was no club night in the summer.
So we have a Blackpool & Fylde Chess League with no Blackpool Chess Club.
Poulton has changed venues a few times since I joined them in 1989.
We now play at the new Booths Cafe in the centre of Poulton-le-Fylde. There is a picture on the cover of the Blackpool & Fylde League Facebook page.
If you enlarge the top left hand corner you'll see my large display of various entry forms from all across the UK on two large tables.
There is also a Poulton-le-Fylde Facebook page which has not been updated or posted on for a long time which I don't know how to do.
Interesting venue choice Simon; there's no Booths round here, nearest is Clitheroe; I have used the Booths café a lot opposite Preston hospital, but the one at Hale Barns is nicer

Eccles play at a Coffee place now, but most Manchester clubs play in pubs or clubs of some sort; Bury's venue is a Sports Club, which is opening indoors from 17 May (provisionally), but only with social distancing we are told, so maybe not for chess
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Simon Rogers
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Simon Rogers » Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:54 pm

One of the clubs' in East Lancashire play their games in a cafe in a ASDA supermarket.
A lot of these supermarkets get encouraged by head office to provide something for their community. Us and Lytham Chess Club are very lucky to have a Booths Cafe as our venue.
The Booths Cafe for Lytham Chess Club is near the entrance of the store so their club is growing quicker than ours !!
The ckubs that are struggling with their venue, I would suggest chess club officials should approach their local supermarkets.
Before the pandemic the Booths Cafe closed about 6pm and we used the venue after.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Roger de Coverly » Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:43 pm

Mick Norris wrote:
Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:33 pm
Bury's venue is a Sports Club, which is opening indoors from 17 May (provisionally), but only with social distancing we are told, so maybe not for chess
Isn't it suggested that "rule of 6" would once again apply? It's possible that you could have multiple groups of six, but without ECF guidance I don't know how you would structure it if there were more than six people present.

A local Community Centre held film evenings last year for a while. They got round the rule of six by selling tables rather than seats. in other words you had a household of two or three people to a table who at least on paper didn't know or associate with households at other tables.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:19 pm

Various chess clubs (including ours) found ways of getting round the "rule of 6" last autumn, before stricter measures were introduced again.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Andrew Zigmond
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Location: Harrogate

Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Andrew Zigmond » Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:22 pm

If six people are allowed to sit around a table in a pub for a drink, then those six people are free to play chess while they're doing so. Another six people can do the same at an adjacent table. The problem only arises if the groups decide to mix.
Controller - Yorkshire League
Chairman - Harrogate Chess Club
All views expressed entirely my own

Wadih Khoury
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Wadih Khoury » Tue Mar 16, 2021 7:13 pm

Matt Mackenzie wrote:
Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:19 pm
ways of getting round
It wasn't ways of getting round, it was, in most cases, simply following the rules.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:14 am

The ECF's latest guidance offers a somewhat pessimistic note.

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/covid-s ... e-pathway/
Step 4 includes a more general opening subject to further review and regulations in force at the time.

We envisage that chess events will open up in a number of phases within Step 4, which is likely to be subject to continuing restrictions based on the current HMG Guidance.
The ECF's opinion being that June will not see an end to restrictions on freedom of association and regulations to follow.

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:30 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:14 am
The ECF's latest guidance offers a somewhat pessimistic note.

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/covid-s ... e-pathway/
Step 4 includes a more general opening subject to further review and regulations in force at the time.

We envisage that chess events will open up in a number of phases within Step 4, which is likely to be subject to continuing restrictions based on the current HMG Guidance.
The ECF's opinion being that June will not see an end to restrictions on freedom of association and regulations to follow.
Unless things pick up the pace, the government guidance states there will be an announcement one week before stage 4. So presumably the earliest we will know if all (or most) social legal restrictions are to be lifted will be the 14th June. Touch wood it all goes smoothly now and the 4NCL Congress can run.