JAN 352A: KINGS & QUEENS – PLAYING AND UNDERSTANDING

Semester: Interim 2015 Professors:

Time: MTWRF 9:30 – 12:30 Dr. Clayton Whisnant (Main 105, x4550)

Place: RSBVC 104 Dr. Wesley Pech (Main 301, x4368)

Office Hours: MWF 1:15-2:15

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Chess is a game enjoyed world-wide, originating in India before reaching Europe around the 11th century. Today, it is considered the archetypal game of thought and strategy and has become almost synonymous with intelligence and survival. Chess has also taken on notable cultural significance; in a famous scene from Ingmar Berman's film 'The Seventh Seal', for example, a challenges Death to a chess match in order to win some last minutes of life. In many stories, chess is a metaphor for political confrontation or psychological drama, or simply an indicator of intellectual brilliance. This course will combine instruction in chess playing (and ample time to hone our chess skills) with the opportunity to learn about the history, subculture, and symbolism of chess. No experience with chess is necessary. We will provide all the basic instruction, so players of all levels (and abilities) are welcome.

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Course Goals

In this course, students will:  master the basic ;  gain some experience with chess openings, strategy, and tactics;  learn about the history and culture of chess;  discuss the significance of chess within our wider culture;  and develop ideas for possible projects involving chess.

Course Objectives

To meet the goals of the course, students will a) attend class where they will play chess every day, b) write regular responses to the readings, and c) develop a project which will be presented to the class at the end of interim.

Instructional Format This course will normally begin with an hour of lecture, discussion, and/or chess instruction, followed by two hours of chess play.

TEXTS

 Raymond Keene, The Simon & Schuster Pocket Book of Ches), (Simon & Schuster, 1988)  David Shenk, The Immortal Game: A (New York: Anchor Books, 2006).  Readings on the library's e-reserve system.

The readings listed under each day should be done before the assigned day.

USEFUL WEBSITES

To help you analyze your games, go to this Chess Analysis Board.

For virtual chess board, go to chess.com’s board editor.

To play through some historic games, try Chessgames.com

For options connected with Shenk's book, try TheImmortalGame.com

To play online, try chess.com or instantchess.com

For info and theory, go to Wikibook on Chess

Wikibooks also useful discussion of structures.

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GRADING

Attendance: 20% Quizzes: 30% Journal Entries: 30% Final Project 20%

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are expected to attend class regularly. Unexcused absences will result a 10-point penalty being taken from the attendance grade. Four unexcused absences or more will result in a failing grade for the entire interim. Excused absences are those due to approved college-related activities (e.g. sporting events), documented illness, and family emergencies. Students have the responsibility to make up missed work.

OTHER REMARKS

Electronic devices (iphones, laptops, ipads, etc.) are not to be used during lecture, instruction, or discussion. All cell phones must be turned off at the beginning of class. Do not, of course, take phone calls during class. Please be on time. If you must arrive late or leave early, do so as quietly and unobtrusively as possible.

All work must be yours. Plagiarism and cheating will be punished with an F for the assignment. Plagiarism, we should note, is defined in the following way according to Wofford College's Faculty Handbook (VII-6):

(1) the verbatim repetition, without acknowledgement, of the writings of another author.

(2) Borrowing without acknowledging the source.

(3) Paraphrasing the thoughts of another writer without acknowledgement.

(4) Allowing any other person or organization to prepare work which one then submits as his or her own.

You should pay close attention to the third definition, especially when referring to ideas borrowing from a website.

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CLASS SCHEDULE

Course Schedule Date Class Assignment Introduction Welcome! Monday, Jan 5

Review Rules, Read Keane, Chs 1-3 Tuesday,

Jan 6 Play Chess The Origins of Chess Read Shenk, The Immortal Game, Prologue- Wednesday, pp. 63 Jan 7 Quiz Chess Openings Read Keene, Ch. 4; and Shenk, The Immortal Game, pp. 65 – 83. Thursday, Youtube: The Violence of Chess Jan 8 Links: Top Ten Chess Openings (Kevin Quiz from the Chess Website)

Chess in the Modern Era Read Shenk, The Immortal Game, pp. 86 – Friday, Jan 121. 9 Quiz

Week 2 Use chess analysis engine and write a Chess Culture Monday, journal about what you learn.

Jan 12 Quiz Read Hallman, The Chess Artist, Chs. 2-3 Chess Culture, cont. Play Ten Games on the tactics page of chesstempo.com and write a journal about it. Quiz Read Hallman, The Chess Artist, Chs. 9, 13 Chess, Nationality, & Socioeconomic Class Tuesday, Jan 13 Links: Chess City in Dubai; Interview with Ilyumzhinov; Wikipedia on Kirsin Ilymumzhinov

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Read Keene, Ch. 5 The Middle Game Wednesday, In Shenk, Appendix 2 play out at least one Jan 14 Watch Film famous game (besides the immortal game itself, which we will look at on Monday)

The Middle Game In Shenk’s book, finish the remaining moves Thursday, Video: Chess for Beginners with GM of “The Immortal Game.” Jan 15 Akobian

The Endgame Read Keene, Ch. 6; play over one famous Friday, Jan game and analyze endgame 16

Week 3 Work though twenty tactic exercises from Chess Tactics Wilson and Alberston’s Tactical Puzzles (on Monday, e-reserve) Jan 19 Spasky and Bronstein (1960): chessgames; youtube Write journal on film Searching for Bobby Fischer Chess Tactics Analyze a game played today and write a

Tuesday, Video: Chess Sacrifices (Kevin from letter to a partner about it. Jan 20 chesswebsite.com)

Watch Film Do problems from chesstempo.com. You Wednesday, Link: On-Line Board that can help will need to create username and password, Jan 21 with chess problems but it is free to do so.

Chess Problems Selection of Problems from Polgar's Chess Thursday, Jan 22 Game Analysis (NM Stewart)

Chess and the Mind Schenk, Ch. 7 Spanier, Ch. 8 Quiz Friday, Jan 23

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Week 4 Chess and Madness Shenk, Ch. 8 Spanier, Ch. 7 Seinfeld Episode: George & the

Monday, Soviet Film: Chess Fever January 26 Short Pixar Film: Geris Game

Quiz Chess in the Twentieth Century Schenk, Ch. 9-10 Tuesday,

January 27 Quiz Watch Film: The Chess Players Schenk, Ch. 11-12 Wednesday,

Jan 28 Quiz Thursday, : Alice Chess & Jan 29 Andernak Chess

Note: This syllabus is tentative and subject to change upon notice.

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