Eliminating Barriers to Success in Chess

Thank you for your support. I gained a lot of experience and knowledge from my wins as well as my losses. The Haring All Girls National tournament was composed of girls rated from 2343 to 436 rating points. One girl from each state was selected to represent her state. I started with a rating of 1174 and advanced to 1283 by the end of the tournament. I also received an award for the biggest upset in round 2. I hope you enjoy my report and THANK YOU ! for your support.

Submitted by Sarah Ramson

Round 1

My opponent was rated 1845. The opening was the Italian game. I played Black. The goal of the Italian game is to quickly control the center of the board. I was not the victor but what I learned from the game is that I should have put my bishop on a more protected square when it was attacked.

Round 2

My opponent was rated 1424. We played the Alekhine Defense. I played White. The Alekhine Defence tell your opponent you are not willing to settle for a draw. I did not know how to play this opening but figured out how to control the center and continue to attack. I was the victor.

Round 3

My opponent was rated 1599. I played black. We played the Scotch game. In this opening White tries to win the center by controlling the exchange of the d-pawn for Blacks e-pawn. I was not familiar with this opening. I learned to protect my center pawn to maintain my center control. I was not the victor in round 3

Round 4

I played against a 1276 rated player. We played the Caro-Kann Defence. The point of the opening is for Black to control the center without blocking his bishops. I played White. I continued to defend strongly until she made a mistake that I capitalized on. I was the victor.

Round 5

My opponent was rated 1528. I played Black. We played the Queens Gambit into the Slav Defence. In this opening, Black fights for equality against one of White’s most important openings without creating a bad light square bishop. I drew the game because I could not figure out what to do once I was ahead.

Round 6

My opponent was rated 1889. I played White. My opponent played the Scicilian Defense. Black’s goal in this opening is to force the trade of an outer pawn for a center pawn so he has an extra center pawn and open c-file for his rooks. I was not the victor. My downfall was that I knew the pawn I lost was valuable but I miscalculated and thought I would get it back.

In conclusion, I was honored to represent the District of Columbia. Overall, I like national tournaments because they give you an opportunity to use different openings that your don’t normally see in local tournaments.

Thank you very much for your support of my Chess journey.

Sarah Ramson

Chess Girls DC is eliminating barriers to success . Thank you for making a difference. Chess Girls DC (chessempowersgirls.org ) mission is to build the confidence of Girls using Chess as a tool. We do this by providing support in the areas of chess education, creating tournaments and supporting girls to participate in national events with the highest priority on minorities, access and inclusion for persons with disabilities, hard of hearing and deaf persons. Previously Chess Girls DC has raised money to send three children of color to represent Washington DC in the tournament of champions national chess tournament. We believe success is not guaranteed but the opportunity should be.

 This year one of our students earned the nomination to represent Washington, DC in the prestigious U.S. Chess Federation National Haring Girls Tournament of Champions. Less than 1 percent of African- American girls ever reach the qualifications to participate in the Girls National Tournament of Champions to represent Washington, DC.  

Over the years, Sarah has been instrumental in raising money for other students, male and female, to travel to national chess tournaments.

 

Sarah is teaching online during the COVID

Sarah hosted a podcast about Great Leaders having the same attributes as great Chess Players. You can view it at chessempowersgirls.org

 

 

 

During the height of the COVID, every weekend for 2 months, Sarah bravely participated in a chess gift-away in underserved communities giving away over 250 chess sets and books to at-risk students to stimulate productive thinking, eliminate idle-mindedness and avoid depression. Sarah also taught chess virtually to encourage students, especially girls, to take their minds off of the dismal COVID situation.

Sarah is an inspiration to other children of color as an example that competing at a high level is possible if they work hard. Sarah is deeply involved in supporting the community to learn Chess.

To see more about our community impact go to chessempowersgirls.org This is the 4th time Chess Girls DC has sent a child of color to the National Tournament of Champions to represent the District of Columbia. Thank you for helping us to be successful again !