DJCA events coming up

Click on Event for directions and entries
Sat 24-Apr-27 TBC Bovey Tracey Chess Weekend 2027: adult & 12-18 rapidplay

Wickham Hall - 23 Ashburton Rd, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot TQ13 9YQ

Y8 and older are welcome to this mixed adult/junior event supportd by DJCA

There will be a stronger and a weaker section based on grading, and separate prizes for junior players

 
Sun 25-Apr-27 TBC Bovey Tracey Chess Weekend 2027: DJCA Sunday U12

Bovey Tracey Activities Trust
Phoenix Hall, St John's Ln, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot TQ13 9FF

U08/U10/.U12 chess event run by DJCA - PLACES LIMITED TO 24 - Age taken at Aug 31 2026
Sat 15-May-27 TBC NEW DJCA Devon Districts Jamboree

Alphington Village Hall, Ide Lane, Exeter, EX2 8UP

A new event for our annual calendar -- Devon Districts Team Jamboree
Sat 19-Jun-27 TBC DJCA Summer Fun Event 2027

Alphington Village Hall, Ide Lane, Exeter, EX2 8UP
  • Chess with a difference!  
  • This is a new event for us to round off the season.  We will play 'variant' chess games all day, and over 7 rounds we might play: 
    Sat 03-Jul-27 5th Plymouth Junior Chess Tournament

    Plymouth College (Sports Centre), Ford Park Lane. PL4 6RN

    5th Plymouth Schools Chess Tournament
    Open to students from Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall Schools (and home-educated)
    Saturday 3rd July 2027

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    Events marked DJCA are organised by DJCA; other local junior (and adult) events may be listed.

    See also: https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/calendar (all events in Google calendar format)
    See also: 2024-25 https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/draft-local-chess-calendar-adult
    See also: SW junior events https://www.englishchess.org.uk/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=...

    Meanwhile, way down South...

    DrDave's picture

    Submitted by DrDave on

    Results from the 6th Simon Bartlett Memorial Congress, Torquay 2025:

    Minor: Our top U14 and U18 players showed well: Shreyas Pasupulety 4/5 (1st); Ben Darlington & Daniel Smith 3½/5 (tied for 2nd-4th with another player).  Jack Amos from our U11 squad also played -- hope you enjoyed it!

    Inter: Suhayl Abdalla 3½/5 (tie for 2nd-3rd); Mac Holland 3/5; Varnika Neralla 2/5

    Major: Jack Wills 3/5

    ...while Ananya Nerella with awesome poise jumped into the deep end of the Open!

    Devon juniors' success at LJCC centenary

    DrDave's picture

    Submitted by DrDave on

    The London Junior Chess Championships were founded 100 years ago, and in their centenary event Devon juniors had some notable success.

    Congratulations to Swetha Narayanan who scored a very creditable 5/7 in the huge U8 section, winning a prize.

    And very well done to Pengxiao Zhu, who as an U13 player won the U16 trophy on tie-break with 5/6 and no losses, beating a 2100-rated player in the last round.

    large_1000039610.jpg

     

    Devon Juniors in the mix

    DrDave's picture

    Submitted by DrDave on

    Some excellent performances from Devon Juniors in the 56th Torbay Congress (Hope I haven't missed anyone!):

    Open section: Caleb Caleshu 3½/5 and shared 3rd place, half a point behind the winner

    Major: Jack Wills 2½/5

    Intermediate: Mac Holland 4/5 shared 2nd place on tie-break; Suhayl Abdalla 3½/5; Jamie Glasson 2½/5; Shreyas Pasupalety 2/5

    Foundation: Ronit Randhawa 4/5 3rd place on tie-break; Joe Forty 3½/5 5th; Rhys Hammond 1½/5

    Ex-juniors Nathan Mills and Ben Sturt also featured in the lists

     

     

    Devon Juniors play for SW England against Wales

    DrDave's picture

    Submitted by DrDave on

    Pengxiao Zhu and Viacheslav Ovcharenko both played for the SW England U14 Team against Wales on Sunday 26th May.

    The SWE Team won the U14 by a wide margin but the U11 event was very close.

    Well done to all taking part and many thanks to the organisers for making everything happen.

    5th Simon Bartlett Memorial Congress 2024

    DrDave's picture

    Submitted by DrDave on

    Congratulations to Suhayl Abdalla who won the Minor section with 5/5!

    Devon Juniors Daniel Smith, Vincent Dong and Pengxiao Zhu also took part, scoring at least half-marks in their respective sections.

     

    Dr.Dave's 10 steps for choosing a move

    1. What is your opponent up to?  What are all the things your opponent's move does?
    2. Even if you think you know: look at all the checks and captures (now and next moves for your opponent)
    3. Most important: Look around the whole board
    4. Can you spot any tactical patterns -- or are there loose pieces/Kings -- can they make something happen?
    5. What can you do to them?  Same routine: checks and captures, whole board, tactical patterns
    6. Improving your position -- which is your laziest piece?

    Reuben Fine’s 30 Rules of Chess

    OPENING RULES

    1. Open with a centre pawn.
    2. Develop with threats.
    3. Play knights before bishops.
    4. Castle as soon as possible.
    5. Avoid developing the queen too early.
    6. Do not move the same piece twice without a good reason.
    7. Use your minor pieces to fight for the centre.
    8. Maintain at least one pawn in the centre.
    9. Make as few pawn moves as possible.
    10. Avoid sacrificing without a clear and adequate reason.

    MIDDLEGAME RULES

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    David Regis, 71 Mary Street, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9HQ  

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