Welcome

Welcome to SHTV!

Every Thursday evening, the members of this cosy chess club gather for a game of chess in the Hague ‘Vruchtenbuurt’ (Fruit District). The club has some 100 members, the youngest being barely six years of age while the eldest is well over 80. The skill level of the chess players varies from beginner to advanced. SHTV is the abbreviation of ‘Schaakcombinatie Haagse Toren Vogelwijk’ [Chess Combination ‘the Hague Rook’ and ‘ the Bird District’], referring to 2 chess clubs that merged in 2006.

The thriving youth division accounts for about half of the members. Every week the children receive training (following the steps method) and they take part in the club competition.

In the adult division, most club nights are filled with the competition to win the club championship. There's also a separate black/white competition in which players play in principle two games (one white, one black) with playing time within set margins. Furthermore, there's a competition to win the knock out cup. To add even more variation, there’s also a rapid championship, a blitz championship and at new year’s there’s the traditional ‘Oliebollen Tournament’. The chess season concludes with the Open Championship of SHTV.

In the 2015-2016 season, 5 teams are taking part in the external competition against teams from other chess clubs. SHTV 1 is taking part in Promotion class, highest class of the regional league of the Hague Chess Federation (HSB). SHTV 2 and SHTV 3 are in first class, SHTV 4 is in second class and SHTV 5 competes in third class.

In addition to the regular club night, many club members take part in Chess tournaments. SHTV is also quite active in (co-) organizing several chess tournaments: championships for pupils of the Hague primary schools (both individual as 4-member team tournaments), an open rapid tournament (as part of the Hague Rapid Cycle), The Hague Weekend tournament and since 2014 the Open SHTV Championship.

In short, a fun and active chess club for chess players of all ages and all skill levels.

 

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