Chess Opens and Tournaments in the Summer
by Michael Rhode, Grandmaster

For competitive chess players, summertime means the arrival of the Open tournaments. The season officially begins with the Chicago Open over Memorial Day weekend, followed by many warm-ups for the ‘big one,’ the World Open in Philadelphia over the July 4th holiday. Other landmarks on this summer’s tour are the Continental Open in Los Angeles during late July and the US Open in Framingham, Mass., during mid-August. Details for all these tournaments can be found at the U.S. Chess Federation website, uschess.org.

For chess students, playing in an Open tournament is a major step up from the usual scholastic competition. Opponents are usually seasoned adults who have played for many years, and for ambitious players, facing this tough competition is the best way to improve quickly.

Bill Goichberg of the Continental Chess Association ran statistical comparisons of promising junior players and found that those who consistently played up in open tournaments rather than racking up title after title in scholastic events, ultimately reached a higher level of playing strength.

The second annual Forest Hills Chess Tournament, to be held at the Central Queens YMHA, (67-09 108th St.) on July 15, is a fun event, a blitz tournament open to the public, featuring several grandmasters. Both the entry fees ($20 to play; pay on site at noon and expect to be there until 4 p.m.), and all other donations, will benefit the American Cancer Society. The event also includes a donated $450 prize fund for place and rating-based prizes, with $50 scholarships awarded to the best under-18-year-old and under-13-year-old. Please send any donations, payable to American Cancer Society, to Mr. Alan Hackman; 61-61 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, NY 11374.

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