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Norwegian Version of Poor, Poor Ralphie

Stakkars Rolf!
It will come as no surprise to anyone following chess that Norway experienced a swell in interest in chess in the 1990s which continues to grow, thanks largely to World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen and his associates. Material from this site was translated to Norwegian in the late ‘90s by Lars Pilo -- resulting in this version of Poor, Poor Ralphie. In these exercises, students are asked to mentally reconstruct chess positions that have been partially destroyed by one of the ongoing misadventures of the protagonist, Ralphie. These are visualization exercises of intermediate difficulty. Awareness of immediately possible captures and checks is stressed. Students are exposed to information about common chess openings, provided to satisfy and encourage curiosity -- not as material expected to be practical at this level. Solutions are provided.
20 pages. Approximately 1.1MB.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualization, spotting captures and checks, exposure to standard opening lines 		VIEW
SAMPLE

Chess Exercise Books:

After 1. e4!
This reference tool gives move-by-move diagrams for 30 king-pawn openings. Twenty diagrams (10 for each side) are provided for each opening. The moves for Black are shown from Black's perspective, with Black at the bottom.
40 pages. Approximately 200K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Strategy, Tactics, Chess Culture 		VIEW
SAMPLE
And Then There Were None!
A 16 page set of exercises to guide students step-by-step through the techniques necessary to FORCE checkmate when using a king and queen against a lone king. The skills covered by this material are critical to the development of all chess players. While this item can be used very early in chess instruction, it also can provide valuable practice for players in the early-intermediate stage.
16 pages. Approximately 1MB.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Forcing checkmate with king and queen vs. lone king 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Chess 911
Like emergency dispatchers, players learn to work through crisis situations in a calm, level-headed, systematic way. Players learn to identify ALL their immediate options when in check.
26 pages. Approximately 680K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Finding moves, tactical awareness, basic notation 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Chess Blitz III
Blitz III is terrific for group as well as individual practice. This version for downloading is formatted to accomodate use at club meetings. Dividing students into groups for a quiz game is a great warm-up activity. (Include triple-point rounds with NO chess boards visible!)
53 pages. Approximately 500K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualizing, calculating, seeing captures and checks, tactics (especially involving knight moves) 		VIEW
SAMPLE
The Chess S.W.A.T. Team
60 over-sized diagrams that help give players a solid grasp of critical chess concepts: check, checkmate, stalemate, pins, forks, and skewers. Diagrams are large enough that beginners can place actual pieces on the pages to form patterns.
81 pages. Approximately 780K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Tactical awareness, visualizing positions, checkmating patterns 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Crimes and Punishments
Guides students through a study of errors commonly made during the opening moves of games. Students study large diagrams of opening positions, preparing to answer tough questions about King Safety, Center Control, Likely Targets, The Knights and Bishops, Firepower, and Placement of the Pawns. The final challenge is to spot weaknesses, and to find appropriate penalties.
24 pages. Approximately 250K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Tactics, Spotting Captures and Checks, Visualizing and Calculating, Finding Moves 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Find Morphy's Motives!
In this set of exercises, players view all of Morphy's moves from seven exciting games. After studying each move, students try to match the move to a possible motive. Excellent for developing tactical and positional awareness.
Solutions to all problems are provided -- to those who decode the hidden location given on the last page!
77 pages. Approximately 290K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Tactics, Strategy, Giving Checkmate 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Is There Any Escape?
This book helps players develop their skills at looking at the WHOLE board, and recognizing the essential parts of checkmate and stalemate patterns.
27 pages. Approximately 195K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Checkmating patterns, finding moves 		VIEW
SAMPLE
King Houdini
This is a relatively large file that includes 70 diagrammed problems which focus attention on finding EVERY possible escape from a check. Over and over, students are guided through a systematic way of looking at the board at a level beyond that provided in Chess 9-1-1 (Item #22). A dozen additional frames provide introductory info about the World Chess Champions going back to Paul Morphy. Solutions are provided.
20 pages.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Finding moves, tactical awareness, basic notation 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Poor, Poor Ralphie!
Students are asked to mentally reconstruct chess positions that have been partially destroyed by one of Ralphie's ongoing misadventures. These are visualization exercises of intermediate difficulty. Awareness of immediately possible captures and checks is stressed. Students are exposed to information about common chess openings, provided to satisfy and encourage curiosity -- not as material expected to be practical at this level. Solutions are provided.
20 pages. Approximately 1.02MB.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualization, spotting captures and checks, exposure to standard opening lines 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Review of Chess Strategy -- Booklet for Smart Score Sheets, Form A
Use this easy-to-follow guide to chess strategy as a separate item or with Item #4. This booklet reviews the smart part of Smart Score Sheets. It discusses each of the 25 ideas raised for strong chess on Form A of the Smart Score Sheet series.
27 pages. Approximately 635K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Notation, Strategy 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Tombstone
40 exercises that challenge students to visualize sequences of moves made by top-level players. Players try to mentally keep track of the changes on the board as White and Black each make 9 moves! By trying to understand the relationships between the chessmen and the strategies of White and Black, students can make huge progress in their ability to imagine and calculate sequences of moves.
28 pages. Approximately 1.4 MB.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualizing and Calculating, Tactics 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Twenty Questions! (Homework Set B)
Exercises for forming solid habits for scanning the board for critical information in opening positions. Practice makes permanent, and these pages provide A LOT of practice. Students probe 100 positions from tournament play -- 60 problems require the reader to create and hold 1 to 3 moves from the shown position. Solutions are NOT included.
106 pages. Approximately 650K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Positional play, finding moves, visualizing and calculating 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Unmask the Impostor!
A dozen cases of classic chess fraud. Players must use their expertise about opening strategy to solve these cases. The solutions in this book were provided by the amazing Light Teal chess computer.
22 pages. Approximately 245K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Positional play, tactical awareness 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Veni, Vidi, Vici!
The chess diagrams in this book are super-sized to enable beginners to place actual chess pieces on the pages! These exercises are NOT just for beginners, though. Professional chess coaches have said their own visualization skills have improved through using this material! The focus of the exercises is on creating checkmate and stalemate patterns.
84 pages. Approximately 320K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualization, Spotting Captures and Checks, Tactical Awareness 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Where Was ...?
40 exercises that require students to analyze diagrammed positions and identify where a certain chessman must be placed in order for there to be checkmate. Sounds simple enough ... but it turns out there are quite a few subtle twists! Sometimes the chessman must be positioned to put the enemy king in check. Sometimes a defender needs to be pinned. Or the attacking man needs to be defended from the enemy king. Or must attack a possible escape square. Sometimes a possible escape route for the losing king needs to be blocked by a teammate; sometimes it's the losing king which needs to be located on the board!.
24 pages. Approximately 360K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Checkmating patterns, tactical awareness, visualizing positions 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Whodunnit?
Large chess diagrams give students many chances to see how every chessman on the board -- those on the winning side and those on the losing side -- can have a role in a checkmate. Many key chess ideas are worked into these problems, making them good starting points for study or discussion.
27 pages. Approximately 210K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Checkmating patterns, Tactics (e.g., how pins are used in games) 		VIEW
SAMPLE

Chess Scoresheets and Game Analysis Forms:

Basic Chess Score Sheet
Plain and simple. This score sheet fills a letter-size sheet.
1 page. Approximately 35K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: Notation, Analyzing Games 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Smart Score Sheet -- Form A
These score sheets provide guidance to beginning and intermediate players as they learn to notate their games. They present yes/no questions dealing with 25 ideas behind strong chess strategy.
This scoresheet is intended to be copied double-sided and folded in thirds (Z-fold).
Also see the booklet designed to accompany these sheets.
2 pages. Approximately 90K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Notation, Strategy 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Move Analysis Form (Smart Score Sheet B)
This special training score sheet is for chess players who already have a solid understanding of basic strategy -- such as developing quickly, fighting for the center, and paying close attention to king safety. Students using these strategic ideas and consciously working on tactical sequences may find these forms to be very helpful in giving structure to analyses of their games and the games of other players.
The score sheets include spaces to mark the use of 11 critical ideas for positional play and 11 key tactical motifs. There is also a place to graph a student's overall assessment of a position after reviewing it for imbalances. Tips for using the form are included.
6 pages. Approximately 270KB.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Strategic planning, tactical analysis, evaluating positions 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Time Tracker Score Sheet
Time management skills are emphasized on these score sheets. After each move, the player records how much time is left on his clock. Space is provided to later write how much time was spent on each move. This can be used to help players effectively pace themselves and make the best use of their available time.
1 page. Approximately 55K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Clock Management. 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Game Planning, Tracking, & Analysis: Designed Especially for Correspondence Chess
This set of forms includes a move planning sheet, a variation analysis sheet, and score sheets with spaces for entering the date and time of move and for diagramming positions. A tip of the hat to two members of Stan's NetChess, Savin and Jenn, who contributed suggestions about practical ways to keep track of positions, plans, and time for correspondence play. Coaches of advanced chess students report these forms are effective for non-correspondence chess use as well.
7 pages. Approximately 375KB.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Strategic planning, tactical analysis 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Post-Game Study Guide
A single-page questionnaire that helps beginning-to-intermediate players analyze their chess games.
1 page. Approximately 50K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Strategy, Tactics, Notation 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Computer Challenge Score Sheet
This is a training score sheet designed to help players practice looking ahead. It's for playing against a computerized chess game that's set to play at a level above a student's usual strength. Players must pause before they make each move to predict how they think the computer will respond. They must write down the 3 replies that they think they're most likely to face. AND, next to each prediction they must write how they think they would respond in turn to each of these potential computer moves. As an added incentive, students receive points when they correctly predict what the computer will do.
1 page. Approximately 75K.
Skill Levels: All; minimal chess knowledge needed
Skill Areas: Visualization, planning ahead, finding moves, humility 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Practice Scoresheets
These have the added feature of including moves and diagrams from 20 miniature (short) games. Information about chess notation is provided, as well as suggestions about use.
22 pages. Approximately 350K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: Notation, Tactics, Strategy 		VIEW
SAMPLE

Over-The-Board Chess Exercises:

Chess Meets Hangman!
Here's a set of exercises for over-the-board practice at forcing or defending against checkmate when one side has a large advantage. Problems are organized by material left on the board (e.g., king and queen versus king, king and passed pawn versus king).
25 pages. Approximately 535K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Giving Checkmate, Strategy, Tactics, Notation 		VIEW
SAMPLE
KINGO!
This activity can be very helpful for reinforcing the ideas behind strong opening moves. Moves which accomplish one of the listed goals for opening play can be marked on a BINGO type card. The activity also helps to encourage use of notation.
34 pages. Approximately 660K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Notation, Strategy 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Skittles
A simple, popular exercise for improving visualization skills, and for learning to pay close attention to the relationships between the pieces on the board. Students play modified blindfolded chess by moving cards that have the chessmen printed on the UNDERSIDE. Diagrams are included for begining play from endgame positions. Pages need to be cut prior to use. Use of colored paper is recommended.
5 pages. Approximately 140K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualizing and Calculating 		VIEW
SAMPLE
** Also see the guided score sheets listed above in the score sheet section. **

Chess Exercise Sheets:

Homework Set A
Here are 16 pages of exercises to help players practice critical chess skills. The material is designed to challenge players from beginning through advanced -- players can select the level of difficulty that's best for them. Solutions are NOT included.
17 pages. Approximately 170K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Notation, Captures and Checks, Tactics, Visualizing/Calculating, Chess Culture 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Key Checkmate and Stalemate Patterns
64 diagrams that students must analyze to determine if there is checkmate, stalemate, or neither. Excellent practice for learning key patterns and for increasing understanding of how various pieces can work together.
5 pages.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Rules, Giving Checkmate 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Puzzler Page K72
Here's a quick challenge for the more advanced students looking for some problems of their own while the beginners work on easier exercises for forcing checkmate (e.g., And Then There Were None!) Fairly challenging chess-based problems that require a lot of visualizing and calculating. Solutions are available online to all.
1 page. Approximately 150K.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualizing, calculating 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Puzzler Page R5
More exercises based on positions from games played by the determined but incredibly unlucky Ralphie. This time he's trying to defeat an intimidating chess computer program. Five types of common tactical blunders are demonstrated. Solutions are available online to all.
2 pages. Approximately 220KB.
Skill Levels:0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Tactical awareness 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Visualization Exercises for Checkmate
An interesting and challenging set of problems to help develop a student's ability to imagine positions on the board.
3 pages. Approximately 80K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Visualizing, Giving Checkmate 		VIEW
SAMPLE
** Pages from many of the chess books listed above can be used as separate worksheets **

Pairing Sheets and Tournament Day Puzzles for Students and Parents:

SOLUTIONS for Puzzler Pages
Several items in this section were designed as activities to engage non-players at scholastic chess tournaments. That is, these are activities intended to help parents, family members, or friends pass time while games are being played. Minimal knowledge about chess is required -- for most of the puzzles, just an understanding of how a knight moves. Answers for the various puzzles can also be viewed one-at-a-time using the Puzzlers page on this site. This item provides answers for all of the Puzzler items except those which are open-ended (the Scrabble-style puzzlers). This download may be especially helpful for scoring responses at a tournament or other group event.
29 pages. Approximately 500K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: Knight's tour, chess wisdom, chess culture, general interest 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Chess Meets Scrabble
Puzzles that combine word searches and knight moves. Each square on a chess diagram holds a letter and a number -- just like on a Scrabble® tile. The goal is to create words worth as many points as possible by connecting letters through knight moves.
5 pages. Approximately 165K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: Knight's tour, chess wisdom 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Club Tournament Pairing Forms
Here are two forms which can be used to post pairings at club or training tournaments. One form is plain and simple. The other's a little fancier and has room to write required openings (when all players begin their games with the same early moves) and allow for handicapping players.
3 pages. Approximately 60K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Chess Culture 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Message Decoding Using Notation (Novice)
By applying basic knowledge about standard alpha-numeric names for squares on chess diagrams, players can solve coded messages that give tips about tournament play. Solutions are available by entering the puzzle numbers (26, 27, or 28) at Puzzler Hints and Solutions.
3 pages. Approximately 125K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: General 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Message Decoding Using Notation (Intermediate)
Same as the item immediately above, except players must be able to use alphanumeric coordinates from Black's perspective and without files and ranks being labelled. The hidden messages refer to more advanced chess concepts. Solutions are available by entering the puzzle numbers (29, 30, or 31) at Puzzler Hints and Solutions.
3 pages. Approximately 155K.
Skill Levels: For students familiar with use of alphanumeric coding.
Skill Areas: General 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Tour of Chess Champions
Puzzles that can help to entertain and engage parents at scholastic tournaments. In this set, the names of World Chess Champions are hidden on chess diagrams, and can be uncovered by making a knight's tour of the board. A different closed (circular) knight's tour is demonstrated through each puzzle.
5 pages. Approximately 150K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: Knight's tour, exposure to names of World Chess Champions 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Tour of Chess Quotes
Designed primarily to be a chess-themed mental refuge for parents waiting for their kids on tournament days -- but also fun for fans of chess and word games. Fifteen pages of memorable chess quotes, each one scrambled over the 64 squares of a chess diagram. The quotes can be unravelled letter-by-letter through a knight's tour of the board.
15 pages. Approximately 280K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: Knight's tour, chess wisdom 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Wrong Wrong With This Chess Position?
Aimed at beginners, these puzzles draw attention to common rule violations made by beginners -- setting the board up incorrectly, illegal moves, notation irregularities.
3 pages. Approximately 110K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Chess rules and notation 		VIEW
SAMPLE

Miscellaneous Items:

Champion Team Cards
This item goes naturally with the Team Flags listed below. These cards can be given to all members of the team which earns the most points during games at scholastic club meetings.
2 pages. Approximately 60K.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: General use 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Chess Tips
A one-page summary of general principles behind strong chess playing.
1 page. Approximately 70K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Strategy 		VIEW
SAMPLE
King Gustafon's Speech to His Troops
Here's a one page reprint of what King Gustafon had to say to his soldiers early in their first battle with the White Army. Chess coaches have requested copies of this speech to use as an instruction and discussion tool when reviewing opening strategy.
1 page. Approximately 60K.
Skill Levels: General interest. Concepts for levels 1-3.
Skill Areas: Strategy, Tactics 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Predator Team Flags
This file includes an idea sheet plus material to make six double-sided flags (6 different flags, 6 flags per page). These can be used to increase team spirit and to slip in some indirect coaching, via the tips on the back sides of the flags.
13 pages. Approximately 415KB.
Skill Levels: All
Skill Areas: General use 		VIEW
SAMPLE
Transparency Master Sheets For Introducing Level 1 Books From USCF Press
These sheets are intended primarily for chess instructors who are introducing groups of students to the Level 1 items. Sample pages from each book are included. These sheets can be copied onto transparencies for overhead projection.
20 pages. Approximately 485K.
Skill Levels: 0-1-2-3-4-5-6
Skill Areas: Rules, Notation, Captures and Checks, Tactics, Strategy, Giving Checkmate, Visualizing/Calculating 		VIEW
SAMPLE
These items are not to be sold or re-published. They are intended only for personal, classroom, or chess club use. Modifications of the material should be made only with the author's written permission. Adobe Acrobat Reader should be used to print the material after downloading. To download a free copy of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe site, run your mouse over this sentence and click it.


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