Details of adult chess are in the left hand column and junior chess in the right hand column below. Watford teams compete in the national league, local leagues and other over-the-board events, as well as online.
Watford Chess Club's venue is Herts Bowling Club, Bellmount Wood Avenue, Watford, WD17 3BT. Club nights are on Mondays for both adults (7.30 onwards) and juniors (6.0 onwards)
Adults and juniors play competitively. League match programme for 2023-24 is as follows:
4 Nations Chess League (4NCL) - two teams
Hertfordshire League - two teams
Hillingdon League - two teams (juniors only)
World Chess League.live - one team (Chess.com)
Online 4NCL - one team (Lichess)
Online Junior 4NCL - two teams (Lichess)
Latest OTB results: 4 Nations League: Ashfield C 4-1 Watford A (18 Nov), Watford A 1-5 Wessex B (19 Nov) Hertfordshire League: Watford 1 2.5-2.5 Little Heath 2 (6 Nov).
Intending new members of all levels and abilities (with the obvious proviso that they know how to play chess) are welcome - but, if it's your first visit, we recommend contacting us first to let us know you're coming. That way, we know to expect you. Club policy is that newcomers are allowed two visits as guests to sample the atmosphere and decide whether they wish to apply to join the club. This website aims to give full information about the club but, if you find there is anything not covered here, please use the "Contact Us" facility and a committee member will get in touch.
In common with other voluntary organisations and charities which bank with Barclays Bank, the club is experiencing difficulties due to the bank claiming to be complying with money-laundering regulations. Since virtually all the club's banking transactions are conducted via bank transfer or cheque, it is hard to see how anyone could suspect money-laundering activity and Barclays have provided no explanation.
4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE
Two teams confirmed for 2023-24 - details to follow.
Our 2022-23 squad (two teams) was fairly evenly divided between adults and juniors. Watford 'A' played in Division 3 East, Watford 'B' in Division 4. Both events took place over 11 rounds spread across five weekends.
| DIVISON 3E - FINAL PLACINGS | Match Points | Game Points | |
| 1 | Anglian Avengers 1 | 17 | 40 |
| 2 | Cambridge University 2 | 16 | 36½ |
| 3 | Rhyfelwyr Essyllwg | 13 | 33 |
| 4 | Hull & East Riding Tigers | 13 | 31 |
| 5 | Crowthorne A | 12 | 32½ |
| 6 | Iceni 1 | 10 | 31½ |
| 7 | Sussex Martlets 2 | 9 | 29½ |
| 8 | Poisoned Pawns | 8 | 29½ |
| 9 | Surbiton | 5 | 22½ |
| 10 | Watford A | 4 | 20 |
| 11 | MK Phoenix 1 | 3 | 23 |
| 12 | Guildford Castles (w/d) | 0 | 0 |
| DIVISON 4 - FINAL PLACINGS | Match Points | Game Points | |
| 1 | Average Wood Pushers A | 20 | 47 |
| 2 | Poole Patzers | 18 | 44 |
| 3 | Wessex Some Stars A | 16 | 40½ |
| .................. | |||
| 28 | Watford B | 7 | 17 |
| .................. | |||
| 35 | Cambridge University Y2 | 2 | 4½ |
Time control is first 40 moves in 100 minutes with another 50 minutes for all remaining moves plus 30-second increments per move starting at move 1.
Above - the 4NCL scene before the action starts
4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE ONLINE
See above. Contact Paul Litttlefair if interested.
HERTFORDSHIRE CHESS LEAGUE
See above. Use "Contact us" tab if interested.
Pursuant to the AGM held on 11 September and as previously announced, the adjourned session of the club's AGM will be on Monday evening, 18 December.
- Roger Lancaster (RL) appointed as Chair
- Ushma Chadha (UC) appointed as minute taker
4. Consider, and if appropriate approve, minutes of EGM of 13 February 2023 - Nothing to consider, approved
6. Deal with matters arising from any or all of items 2-5 above - Nothing applicable
- Over the board chess has not been strong. Although the club's first team narrowly avoided automatic relegation in the 4NCL, its first team in the Hertfordshire League finished bottom of Division 2 and were relegated.
- The club had approximately 40 junior members. However, around 6 adult members of the club, many unhappy at the way the club is developing, appear to have decided not to rejoin.
- Last year's treasurer has advised that the club will run at a loss if subs are not increased and the financial arithmetic worsened with the unexpected move, during the year, to HBC.
- All in agreement for subscription increase to £75 pa irrespective of age of the member. Discussion for non club night attending members, or family discounts to be discussed adjourned to a later date.
- A point was raised that junior members should be given a discount. However this was countered with the fact that the juniors tend to attend club nights and take advantage of any training offered.
- The £75 rate was agreed with item (b) to be left to the committee to decide
- After much discussion it was agreed nem con that "aged over 16" in clause 5.1.3 of the club constitution shall be replaced with "aged over 14" so that all members eligible to vote are also eligible to join the committee was agreed. This vote met the two-thirds constitutional requirement.
President: None at present
Treasurer: None at present
Club Secretary: Ushma Chadha (incumbent)
Membership Secretary: None at present
Juniors Secretary Roger Lancaster (incumbent)
Tournament Secretary None at present
Other Committee members Ewan Davids, Tomy Joseph, Maya Saujani, Sophie Mitran (incumbents)
- Ewan Davids agreed to take on the role of Membership Secretary. It was felt that it was important that the club offer a meet and greet service to potential new members. The meeting thanked Ewan for agreeing to perform this vital function.
- A discussion was had around increasing membership numbers for adults and juniors:
- Suggestions focused on:
- Attracting sponsorship for the club
- Reaching out local educational institutions. Thanks to Mia Scally for offering to share information with Middlesex University students The Juniors offered to share information with their schools.
- It was also felt that a club identity and the Membership secretary was much needed role and vital to creating the right impression of the club for new members.
- The club is heavily reliant on the goodwill and time of Roger Lancaster in teaching the juniors
- It was noted that whilst the juniors form the larger part of Watford Chess Club's members, there was no desire to be a junior only club. The club is a community where it is hoped that juniors will progress their skills and continue to play chess as adults for Watford Chess Club, it was noted that a number of members had been here for a number of years and had formed friendships and had no desire to play elsewhere at the age of 16/18.
- The appointment of Ewan Davids as second coach to some extent removes the single point of failure for the junior coaching but further assistance is still required. Suggestions for assistance to be adjourned date TBC. However, there was a discussion around more parental involvement and some of the higher rate juniors assisting in training younger juniors. It is also felt that the expansion of resources in this space, along with more thought as to playing layout may assist in noise control.
- For a fee coaching services to be brought in occasionally.
- It was agreed that the committee would consider these matters and endeavour to report back at the adjourned session of the AGM
Note to Minutes: Sophie Mitran's intention to stand down from the committee was not received in time to be recorded in the Minutes but this, and Ewan Davids' agreement to take up the role of Membership Secretary which has an automatic place on the club committee, means there are now two committee vacancies.
PRICE CUP
JUNIOR CLUB NEWS, NOVEMBER 2023:
BREAKING NEWS: Watford Juniors v Fiji Chess Federation 'live' on Twitch.tv 9.0 Sunday morning - go to https://www.twitch.tv/chessheroes
Club nights are from 6.0 until 10.45 (but no obligation to stay late!) on Monday evenings at Herts Bowling Club in West Watford, a comfortable and spacious venue. As well as the playing area, there's normally an overflow lounge area where parents can sit and relax while their progeny checkmate one another. The bar isn't usually staffed but there are three admirable vending machines (cash only) respectively dispensing coffee, cold drinks and nibbles.
Most Monday evening sessions start with group coaching (6.0 to 6.40) following which training games take place. The length of playing sessions means that we can stage classical games (typically 45' + 15") as well as rapidplay. Some evenings instead have matches against other clubs. We aim to ensure that all rated training games at the club, whether rapidplay or classical, count towards juniors' ratings by the ECF within 7 days of being played.
14 August (see above) saw a departure from normal club nights with WIM Natasha Regan and NI Matt Ball giving a presentation of "Zwischenzug - a comprehensive guide to intermediate moves" based on their Chessable course. Go to https://www.chessable.com/zwischenzug-a-comprehensive-guide-to-intermediate-moves/course/139623/ for an 18-minute preview video. The session was targeted at players in the 1200-1600 bracket as those below/above that range might find it too advanced/basic
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Ramsey Dairi (below) becomes joint British u-12 champion (and sole English u-12 champion) with 6/7 at Leicester in July
4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE
See opposite.
JUNIOR 4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE
Due to difficulties booking hotels, the 2022-23 J4NCL season was cancelled and the2023-24 season looks set to suffer the same fate. Watford Juniors played in the final 2021-22 weekend when results were as follows:
| J4NCL DIVISION ONE | P | W | D | L | MP | GP | ||
| 1 | Oxfordshire A | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 15 | |
| 2 | JHJ 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 14½ | |
| 3 | Staffordshire Spitfires | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 13 | |
| 4 | Welsh Dragons A | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | |
| 5 | Leicestershire Juniors | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9½ | |
| 6 | Watford Juniors A | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | |
| 7 | Fantastic Six | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 11 | |
| 8 | 3Cs Charmanders | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 10½ | |
| 9 | Warwickshire Bears A | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | |
| 10 | JHJ 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | |
| 11 | Harrow Juniors A | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5½ | |
| 12 | Manchester A | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
If and when J4NCL restarts, the intention is that Watford Juniors will compete again. Each J4NCL weekend consists of 5 rounds [3 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday], at either an 80' + 10" [Division 1] or 50' + 10" [Division 2] rate of play, between teams of four following a Swiss-paired system.
Below - Advait Keerthi Kumar, London u-10 champion (+6 =1 -0, December 2022) 
HILLINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE - JUNIOR DIVISION
There will be two Watford teams in this competition for 2023-24, the second team aiming to give match experience to our newer and younger juniors. After playing all eight matches in 2022-23, Watford Juniors finished as runners-up with five wins, one draw and two losses. Format is teams of four playing 45' + 15" sessions, on home and away basis, against teams from Harrow and Uxbridge.
The object of WLCA is to act as a bridge between club-level and national-level coaching with a view to enabling juniors, if they have the necessary drive and ability, to progress to approximately candidate master (CM) level. It is not intended, certainly at this point, as a substitute for good-quality club-level coaching. Participation is open to members of the six junior chess organisations mentioned above.
Jennifer Hurrell presents Ernest Karumazondo, joint 2019 winner with Andrew Stone, with the Price Cup
If you are a member of Watford Chess Club (the "Club"), your personal data will be processed by the Club for the purposes of Club and membership administration and to facilitate your participation in club competitions and similar events. For fuller information, click "Privacy Policy" link under "Policies and Procedures".
Everyone is welcome (to access, click on pictorial below) at Geir Erik Nielsen's YouTube channel at
PLAY AN AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
Tired of playing the boring old computers that always beat you or play so weirdly you can't understand what is going on, asks webmaster Geir Erik Nielsen? Read our article on Artificial Intelligence and how you can install it at home
Also embedded in the updated article is now a video of how to get the best of Arena and Leela at home.
As a teaser for it all, and as an incredibly instructive game, here is how Leela deals with the Benoni
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USEFUL CONTACTS AND WEBSITES |
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Watford Chess Club email address |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (allow up to 2 days for reply) |
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English Chess Federation |
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Hertfordshire Chess Association |
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Hertfordshire Chess League results |
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Hertfordshire Schools Chess Association |
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4 Nations Chess League (incl. J4NCL) |
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Tournament chess results (main site for this) |
http://chess-results.com/Default.aspx?lan=1 |
ARCHIVE:
Article in Watford Observer, 19 February: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/18247132.
watford-chess-club-looking-sponsors-ahead-international-tournament
Club rapidplay, 30 December 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/Tnr501649.aspx?lan=1
3rd Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 29 July 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr457143.aspx?lan=1
Club rapidplay, 8 July 2019, results at http://chess-results.info/tnr453784.aspx?lan=1
Price Cup (2018-9 club championship), October 2018 to June 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/
2nd Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 27 May 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr435032.aspx?lan=1
Club rapidplay, 13 August 2018, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr374277.aspx?lan=1
1st Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 30 July 2018, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr373197.aspx?lan=1