Chess at Sidcup remains outstanding value at £50 for 51 three-hour meetings. Even better, pensioners get a £5 discount and anybody whose yearly income is under £12,000 pays only £30. And the most outstanding value is for juniors under 18 in full-time education, who pay nothing at all! Joiners during the year pay pro-rata. This is even better value than the cups of tea or coffee available at 20p per cup.

In the Kent League this season we have five teams of various average strengths: three six-board teams and two four-board teams. The league fixtures for the current season can be found on the Fixtures button by clicking on the link. Members who intend to play in the Kent League should now renew their membership of the English Chess Federation (see the English Chess Federation website for details).

Like last year the club will run its knock-out tournament for all members bar the stronger (“over 120 grade”) players and an all-play-all handicap tournament where the handicap is that the stronger player has less time to make all the moves than the weaker player. Perhaps you will play a game worth showing on the website. If you have items for the website, continue to send them to Steve at chess@sidcupchessclub.org.uk.

Ian McAllan