Dear Scholastic Chess Players,
 
I have several updates to provide regarding the Denker-Barber chess tournaments being held Saturday at the Ankeny High School. We are very excited to be having this tournament at Ankeny.  But this is a new location for many of us chessplayers, so I wanted to make sure everyone knows how to get there.  The address is 1155 Cherry Street, Ankeny, IA 50023.  I will leave it to Google or your GPS to get to the High School.  Once at the campus, the west doors will be the only doors open. To get to this entrance. take Ankeny Blvd to Magazine Drive.  Enter the parking lot from Magazine Drive.  Come in the West doors, veer left toward the cafeteria.  There will signs and individuals on site to help direct the participants get to the right location.
 
The Tournament Director is Bill Broich, the Assistant TD is Cub Noble, and the High School faculty contact is Cullen Stevens.  Thank you up front for your work and prepartion to host this important chess event.  I am working closely with these individuals to organize the event, but I will not be on-site as I have a work commitment that requires me to be out of town.  So, if you are paying on-site, please do so with Bill when you arive. Bill will know those who have paid me already,  Please be assured that I will be available by phone during registration should there ever be a need for clarification.
 
I need to clarify an error on the original flyer posted on my website, www.chessiniowa.org.  I had an incorrect time control and number of rounds (incorrectly listed on the flyer  as Game/30, 5 Rounds, start time is fine).  I corrected that earlier this week.  The Denker tournament was properly adverstised on IASCA's website (www.iowachess.org) with a time control of Game in 60 minutes and 4 rounds. 
 
Historically, we have been able to complete these tournaments under a G/60 time control.  This has been achievable because the number of students participating in the Denker 9-12 event was low enough that a winner could be determined in three rounds or actual play was faster so that 4 rounds could be played at Game in 60. Last year, the Barber K-9 was added to the event.  This year, registration for the Denker remains about the same (about 8 players) but the the Barber is up considerably.  Based on pre-registration numbers and that we need to be out of the Ankeny High School at 6 pm (trophies, clean up and all), we will not be able to use a time control of Game in 60 minutes in the Barber for all rounds.  Rather the first rounds of the Barber will begin with a Game/45 time control.  The TD may allow for a G/60 in the last round or two if actual play is faster than the allowable time control.  But that is the TD's decision depending on the pace of play.  I apologize for this, but it is the best that we can do given what I have just explained.
 
An additional request. Please bring chess clocks if you have them.  This is a USCF national qualifying event and chess clocks will be used there.  We want to simulate that experience as best we can in our qualifying event.
 
On site registration closes at 9:45 am.  If you are going to register on site, be there ahead of time so that registration can be completed by 9:45 am. Anyone attempting to register after 9:45 am may be awarded a half-point bye the first round so that the tournament can start on time. I apologize if that sounds harsh, but the schedule for this event is tight and we need to give the student the best opportunity to play their best chess.
 
 
Take care,
 
Jim Hodina, Scholastic Director
Iowa State Chess Association