Chess A2Z Inaugural Puzzle Competition

Join us for an over-the-board puzzle competition where speed, calculation, and pattern recognition are put to the test. Expect forks, pins, sacrifices, and combinations—the kind of tactics that actually win games.

Event Details
Date: February 21
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Portland Chess Club
Capacity: Limited to 50 players (first come, first served)
Entry Fee: $10 (FREE to Girls!) 

Schedule

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM | Puzzle Competition
Each player will receive puzzles to solve. Final scores will be based on accuracy first, then time used.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Master Class with WGM Zoey Tang
Zoey will break down the puzzles from the competition, focusing on:

• How to sense tactics in real game positions
• Why strong puzzle results don’t always translate to tournament success

4:00 PM – 4:40 PM | “Is There a Tactic in This Position?” Interactive Tactics Lab with National Master Austin Tang
Join Austin for a fast-paced, interactive tactics lab. Through a Kahoot-style format, players will vote, discuss, and analyze positions together to reinforce the ideas from the master class.

4:40 PM – 5:00 PM | Award Ceremony
Players will be divided into five groups based on published USCF ratings. Trophies will be awarded to first place finishers in each group.