Magnus Carlsen for Amateurs

How has grandmaster chess changed in the computer era?

What does it mean to have a "style" in chess?

What can beginning and intermediate players learn from the games of the champions?

We'll discuss selected games of three great world champions from the decade after Garry Kasparov's retirement -- Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand, and Magnus Carlsen -- along with stellar up-and-comer Fabiano Caruana, with a special emphasis on Carlsen's career. Audience participation encouraged. Open to players of all skill levels ages 7 and up. Advance registration is not required. All programs are free and run from 2 to 3:30 PM.

Carlsen and Kramnik

Nov. 15: Lozano Branch Library, 1805 S. Loomis St.
Dec. 6: West Chicago Avenue Branch Library, 4856 W. Chicago Ave.

Carlsen and Anand

Dec. 13: West Englewood Branch Library, 1745 W. 63rd St.
Dec. 20: Austin-Irving Branch Library, 6100 W. Irving Park Road

Carlsen and Caruana

Jan. 10: Uptown Branch Library, 929 W. Buena Ave.
Jan. 17: Avalon Branch Library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave.

Special Program TBA

Jan. 24: Rogers Park Branch Library, 6907 N. Clark St.

Women's Chess Workshops, Nov. 8 and 22

Our Women's Chess Workshops return to the Logan Square and Avalon branch libraries! Inspired by the success of 9 Queens in Tucson, Ariz., at increasing participation in chess among underrepresented populations, we've put together these free, two-hour workshops open to women of all ages (along with future women ages 7 and up). Learn the rules of chess from square one, or improve your game if you play already. USCF Candidate Master Darrian Robinson will return as our guest instructor.

Advance registration is not required. All participants are invited to stay and play until closing.

Nov. 8: Avalon Branch Library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave., 2–4 PM
Nov. 22: Logan Square Branch Library, 3030 W. Fullerton Ave., 2–4 PM

Learn to Play Better Chess at Learnapalooza

"I know the rules of chess -- now what do I do?"

Too many of us learn how the pieces move and then find ourselves floundering, unaware that there are "basics beyond the basics." How do we make the move from just pushing pieces to pushing pieces with purpose? That's the subject of our one-hour Play Better Chess class at Learnapalooza, a summertime celebration of lifelong learning now in its fifth year.

Play Better Chess is aimed at novice players who know the rules of chess and not much else. We'll go over how to begin a game, how to find good moves and choose the best one, and how to finish your opponent off. After class, stick around and play, or take advantage of the many other learning opportunities available: pizza making, bookbinding, beekeeping and more.

We'll be at all three Learnapalooza sites this year: Wicker Park this Saturday, June 28; Lakeview, July 19; and Logan Square, Aug. 16. All Learnapalooza events are free -- just show up! Visit learnapaloozachi.com/classes for a list of classes and locations. (Our Wicker Park class will be held at North Avenue Day Nursery, 2001 W. Pierce Ave., at 11:30 AM; subsequent locations TBD.)

For more information on Learnapalooza, visit learnapaloozachi.com or www.facebook.com/learnapalooza.

Women's Chess Workshops, April 19 and May 3

Inspired by the success of 9 Queens in Tucson, Ariz., at increasing participation in chess among underrepresented populations, the Chicago Chess Center is holding free Women's Chess Workshops at two Chicago Public Library branches: Logan Square (Saturday, April 19, 2–4 PM) and Avalon (Saturday, May 3, 2–4 PM). These two-hour workshops are open to women of all ages (along with future women ages 7 and up). Learn the rules of chess from square one, or improve your game if you play already. We're especially pleased and excited that Darrian Robinson, a USCF candidate master and currently the highest-rated African-American female player in the nation, will be our guest instructor.

Advance registration is not required. All participants are invited to stay and play until closing!