USCF Benefits
USCF Membership Benefits
By USCF
May 2, 2014
As a member of the USCF you experience many benefits including:
• Entree to the world of chess through affiliated clubs, organizations and USCF sanctioned events;.
• Opportunities to develop chess strengths and establish a nationally recognized rating.
• Personal recognition (titles, Top Lists, MAP) and accreditation (TD certification, chess coach certification).
• Connection with chess players around the world via correspondence chess events.
• Support participation of U.S. players and teams in international competitions.
• Advocacy through posting views and opinions on the website forum.
• Improved critical thinking and social skills such as problem solving, decision making and sportsmanship.
• Access to current and historical chess information, through our websitewww.uschess.org, including electronic versions of back issues of our Chess Lifeand Chess Life for Kids publications.
By USCF
May 2, 2014
As a member of the USCF you experience many benefits including:
• Entree to the world of chess through affiliated clubs, organizations and USCF sanctioned events;.
• Opportunities to develop chess strengths and establish a nationally recognized rating.
• Personal recognition (titles, Top Lists, MAP) and accreditation (TD certification, chess coach certification).
• Connection with chess players around the world via correspondence chess events.
• Support participation of U.S. players and teams in international competitions.
• Advocacy through posting views and opinions on the website forum.
• Improved critical thinking and social skills such as problem solving, decision making and sportsmanship.
• Access to current and historical chess information, through our websitewww.uschess.org, including electronic versions of back issues of our Chess Lifeand Chess Life for Kids publications.
Benefits of Writing Down Moves
If you want to become a stronger chess player, it’s important that you learn how to record your games – and actually follow through and write down the moves every time you play a tournament game. Some players even choose to write down casual games whenever possible, giving themselves the best possible opportunity to improve their chess. The following are a few of the many reasons why recording games is important for any improving chess player.
Postgame Analysis
One of the easiest ways to improve your chess is by analyzing all of the serious games you play. This can be done in many ways: you can find a stronger player to help you go over your mistakes, or you can use a computer chess program to do a tactical analysis of your game. Either way, this opportunity to learn from your own games won’t exist if you don’t take the time to record your games.
Improving Your Play
Many players – especially at the scholastic level – find that they play better when they record their moves during a tournament game. The obvious reason for this is that writing down the moves forces them to slow down and think about their movies. They cannot just grab the first piece they think of, as they first have to think about their opponent’s move as they record it. They will then think about what move they want to write down before they actually make that move on the board.
However, I think there may be a second reason why this effect occurs. Writing down your moves can remind a player that a particular chess game is important, and that they should be concentrating throughout the game. That mental change can help ensure that players avoid most of the silly mistakes they might make by rushing through a game that isn’t being recorded.
Taking Advantage of the Rules
There are several situations in a chess game where having recorded your moves can work to your advantage. Several rules require at least some level of scorekeeping in order to be enforced, including rules for claiming draws by three-move repetition or the fifty-move rule. Similarly, a complete and accurate game score can prove you made a time control even if a faulty clock does not recognize that you’ve made the correct number of moves. Recording your game can protect yourself and allow you to take advantage of situations in ways that players who do not record their moves don’t have available to them. Plus, in many tournaments, the rules stipulate that you must record your games, meaning players who can't or don't record could face serious penalties.
Postgame Analysis
One of the easiest ways to improve your chess is by analyzing all of the serious games you play. This can be done in many ways: you can find a stronger player to help you go over your mistakes, or you can use a computer chess program to do a tactical analysis of your game. Either way, this opportunity to learn from your own games won’t exist if you don’t take the time to record your games.
Improving Your Play
Many players – especially at the scholastic level – find that they play better when they record their moves during a tournament game. The obvious reason for this is that writing down the moves forces them to slow down and think about their movies. They cannot just grab the first piece they think of, as they first have to think about their opponent’s move as they record it. They will then think about what move they want to write down before they actually make that move on the board.
However, I think there may be a second reason why this effect occurs. Writing down your moves can remind a player that a particular chess game is important, and that they should be concentrating throughout the game. That mental change can help ensure that players avoid most of the silly mistakes they might make by rushing through a game that isn’t being recorded.
Taking Advantage of the Rules
There are several situations in a chess game where having recorded your moves can work to your advantage. Several rules require at least some level of scorekeeping in order to be enforced, including rules for claiming draws by three-move repetition or the fifty-move rule. Similarly, a complete and accurate game score can prove you made a time control even if a faulty clock does not recognize that you’ve made the correct number of moves. Recording your game can protect yourself and allow you to take advantage of situations in ways that players who do not record their moves don’t have available to them. Plus, in many tournaments, the rules stipulate that you must record your games, meaning players who can't or don't record could face serious penalties.