We had four players at our November session with all in attendance enjoying their last game for 2024.

Chess will not continue in 2025 as a convened program, however at registration day in January 2025 there will be an opportunity for people to register an expression of interest for Chess to continue in some altered format for 2025. If numbers are sufficient Chess may take on the form of a monthly informal drop in session on Tuesdays. There will be more news on this after the 2025 program and registrations are finalized.

I would like to thank all those who have participated in the 2024 program and hopefully enjoyed learning and playing the great game of chess.

Doug Smith

Our Chess segment over 2024 has introduced a number of U3a members to the game of Chess or refreshed their knowledge of the game they have played and enjoyed in the past.

At our October meeting we had two boards playing where much concentration was exercised as to the next critical move and the occasional call of “checkmate”.

New and experienced players also have the option of playing at home on the website www.Chess.com. This is a free site which I have promoted, for learning or refreshing your chess skills.

The continuation of the program unfortunately is in doubt for 2025, due to a lower than expected level of interest shown in 2024 and my stepping away from the Convenor role.

Doug Smith

Our turn out for the September meeting saw two of our new members return to learn and play chess.

Their continuing enthusiasm is a rewarding feature to conquering a game that is often complex but exciting as the many moves see the call “checkmate” and “I didn’t see that coming”.

I have promoted learning or refreshing your chess skills by playing on line for free. The site is www.chess.com and it offers free games of various standards. It is easy to access and very user friendly and highly recommended especially if you are a beginner.

If you would like to join our October session please let me know by text.

Doug Smith
(M: 0417527171)
Convenor

I reported in June that our recent monthly Chess sessions had not been well attended, and that the July session would be cancelled.  Interest was subsequently canvassed to determine if Chess would discontinue for the remainder of 2024.  The response since has been positive, with sufficient numbers indicating the desire to continue.

Our August meeting saw three enthusiastic new learners join our session, however, rather oddly, our regulars were nowhere to be seen! 

​We will persevere on a month-by-month basis now that weather conditions are becoming warmer, and we have new people wanting to learn this great game.

If you would like to join our September session, please let me know by text.

Doug Smith (M: 0417527171)

Have you played, or attempted to play, Chess in the past and have it on your bucket list to do again one day? Perhaps you know someone this applies to who might enjoy playing Chess socially with others.   Doug Smith is keen to hear from members who may have played chess, however well or badly, in the recent or distant past, who would like to join his group.

The Chess group, which next meets after a July break on Tuesday 20 August, is held in Classroom 2, where Chess.com sometimes features on the big screen to introduce the possibilities of online chess for practice at home.

Interested?  Check out the Chess page on the U3A Benalla web site and call Doug on 0417 527 171. 

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Our recent monthly chess sessions have not been well attended; however, I do thank those that do apologize. This may be due to a number of reasons related to health issues, cold weather or other competing interests I have therefore decided to cancel the July session and possibly the remainder of 2024.

I thoroughly enjoy the U3a chess sessions and helping others appreciate and learn the game.

The group meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 1.30pm in Room 2.

If you would like to see the sessions recommence after July 2024, please let me know by email or text.


​Doug Smith

A very small group attended at our May meeting with numbers affected by winter ills and other commitments.

This allowed a new member to sit in on several games being played by two of our experienced players.

Chess can appear complicated in the beginning but playing face to face with an opponent of similar experience and helpful assistance from other players present sees improvement gained quickly.

I continue to promote the website Chess.com as an excellent tool for those learning or wanting to practice. You can play the computer bot or friends online and Chess.com is free if you stick to just playing the bot. This site allows you to pick varying degrees of difficulty, choose black or white men and allows take backs. I found it to be an excellent training tool and it’s free.

Our small chess group of mainly beginners is gathering experience and confidence as they negotiate the nuisances of the various moves of the chess men.

Chess can appear complicated in the beginning but playing face to face with an opponent of similar experience and helpful assistance from other players present sees improvement gained quickly.

The website Chess.com is an excellent tool for those learning or wanting to play the computer bot or friends online.  Chess.com is free if you stick to just playing the bot. This site allows you to pick varying degrees of difficulty, choose black or white men and allows take backs. I found it to be an excellent training tool and it’s free.

Our players have been accessing this site for practice and honing their skills for play on our meeting days.

Give it a try, it’s good fun.

The group meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 1.30pm in Room 2.

​
Doug Smith
Convenor ​

​Our first meeting for 2024 saw 8 players attending. There was a mixture of people who have never played and people who had not played since their youth but who soon picked up the threads of the game.
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The website Chess.com is an excellent tool for those learning or wanting to play the computer bot or friends online.Chess.com is free if you stick to just playing the bot. This site allows you to pick varying degrees of difficulty, choose black or white men and allows take backs. I found it to be an excellent training tool and it’s free.

The group spend time on screen collectively playing the computer bot, discussing various tactics as well as becoming familiar with the way the various piece are allowed to move. I have also issued some hard copy notes on chess tactics for participants.

We had three boards operating with those new to the game sitting with, watching and learning from the more experienced players.

I encourage anyone interested to come along and strongly recommend the website Chess.com for practice or playing alone.

The group meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 1.30pm in Room 2.

Doug Smith
Convenor ​

Don't be frightened off by Chess; it is a very social game involving one to one face to face and it is not too late to learn.

Chess has progressed in the electronic age to be able to be played on-line for free, either against a bot or a real person.

Our Chess group offers an introduction to on-line Chess and hosts monthly social Chess sessions to players of all grades from beginners to experienced players.

Joining Chess you will be matched to your chess playing skill level together with enjoying the interaction that this presents. The other benefit is you can practise at home online to hone your skills in between your U3A sessions.

Our trial in 2023 aroused a moderate interest that we hope strengthens in 2024.

Doug Smith