Hey there, -- Hope that you are having a nice weekend!

Here is Colorado Springs, there is still snow on the top of Pikes Peak, but it is starting to melt, and the days are getting longer, and it is starting to feel like Spring!

There is a lot going on in the chess world these days.  

The "Super Nationals " are going on in Nashville right now at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center.  This is a huge scholastic tournament.  Shirley Herman of Colorado Springs and her 3 kids made the pilgrimage there, and are off to a good start.  You can see the current standings of all sections here: http://uschess.org/tournaments/2013/snv/?page=RESULTS
 
Magnus Carlsen won the Candidates Tournament that took place in March-April 2013 in London, thus earning the right to challenge World Champion Viswanathan Anand in the World Chess Championship 2013.

The April 2013 Issue of the Colorado Chess Informant Magazine is now out. 

Even if you don't live in Colorado, I think there are a lot of things in it that you might find interesting, including:

• A report on an all girls tournament held in Fort Collins by Brad Lundstrom
• A thoughtful letter to the editor by former CSCA (Colorado State Chess Association) President Paul Covington on the importance of good communication
• A large collection of games organized by Richard "Buck" Buchanan
• Some funny annotated games by Jeff Baffo
• A beautiful and well researched tribute article by Brad Lundstrom about the "Father" of Colorado Chess, Buck Buchanan
•  My Tactics Time column
• A really nice article by Paul Anderson on the 3 M's of chess - Mate, Material and Mobility
• Some interesting positions from Todd Bardwick featuring King Hunts
  

Editor Fred Spell did an outstanding job putting this issue together, and it includes a lot of really nice pictures, games and articles.

This issue is free for anyone who is interested, and is in PDF format.

I will be the tournament director at the Springs Fundraiser next weekend in Colorado Springs.  It is a 4 round G/30, which is always a fun time control (each player gets 30 minutes on their clock).

Most of tournament income will go to help Colorado State Scholastic Champions attend the national championship tournaments.

I really appreciate all the support, encouragement and kind words, that I receive from around the world.  The chess world is a big family, and I am proud to be a part of it!