The traditional start to the York chess season, the alternative chess day, was held at York Railway Institute.

The first event was a singles event with rules as follows.

The pieces move in their normal way but after white's first move players then move twice. However each move must be with a different piece and if you are in check you must get out of it first move.

If that proves impossible then it is checkmate and you lose.

The event was split into two all-play-all groups and the results were: group one winner Richard Hardy (7 points form 8 games), then Paul Hopwood (6), Eric Key (5), David Findlay (4) and Paul Johnson(4).

The group two winner was Tim Turner (7 points from 9 games), then Richard Allis (6), Herbert Lockwood (6) and Owen Robson (6).

The second event was the doubles - a variation where two players play two others on two boards.

When they capture a piece can pass it to their partner who can put it anywhere on the board, except for giving a check and pawns can't be put on the first or eighth rank).

The game is over after the first game to finish.

The event was won by Paul Hopwood and Tom Anderson with Owen Robson and Paul Barber second, David Findlay and Neville Pearce third and Richard Hardy and Richard Allis fourth.

The third event was a team event with teams of five players playing over four boards. A player makes a move then moves to their left to play a move on the next board.

All moves are played at ten-second intervals and the game is quite fast and furious. The game is over as soon as one of the boards has finished

The winning team was Arjuna Prithiviraj, Paul Johnson, Peter Cloudsdale, Tim Turner and Paul Hopwood.

York Junior Chess Club have organised a training day with FIDE Master Jeff Horner to be held at Oaklands School in Acomb on Saturday, September 22.

The entry fee is £5 and the event runs from 10am to 4pm. Anyone wishing to enter should contact Peter Cloudsdale tel 01904 767177.

Updated: 12:02 Thursday, September 13, 2001