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One of the chess dreamers around here recently spoke of a chess library: a place where players could house their collections for the benefit of the entire chess community. I dream also, but where would we find the space for such a library? Saint John has no actual ‘chess club’, no physical house or building – or even a space within a building – that players can call their own. It seems that we are not alone in this. Across the country most ‘chess clubs’ appear to be played in borrowed spaces at the good will of charity organizations, libraries, churches, schools and community centers that grant a limited use of their facilities for a minimal fee or none at all. On designated days at designated hours people are privileged to bow their heads to play their silent game, but when it is over they must pack up the pieces and the boards and hide all the traces that they and their game ever existed. When these lent spaces are needed for something other than chess, they are simply taken back – no reasons given, no questions asked. Chess is very much a beggar in our society, dependant on the handouts and good will of others; and like a beggar it always has one eye on the door, for it knows that eventually it must head in that direction.
We do not think of chess as an open air game, but this city has done a wise thing by planting outdoor chess tables in various parks. Wanting now are more players to frequent these playing spots or other outdoor locations with board and pieces and to make chess more visible, accessible, and friendly. I say this for selfish reasons because I enjoy playing chess outside, and the more people who do it, the better for me. For several years, intermittently, I’ve been playing chess on the sidewalk in front of my house with anyone and everyone from the neighborhood that shows an interest in the game. The other week we had a ‘tournament’ with several tables set up. People who were walking by stopped to chat, drivers slowed down their cars to have a look. The next day a neighborly woman commented: “I never knew chess could be so loud.” My heart soared; I felt we had accomplished something. And we did it all without rule books, score sheets, clocks, arbiters, ratings or membership fees.
Isn’t it time you treated yourself? Try some ‘open chess’. Flavor it according to your own taste or catch up with the outings of The Saint John Amateur Open Lady La Tour Chess Challenge. Recently we have added the following entrees to our menu: The Ponziani Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5 Bc5 6.dxc6; The Cochrane Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7; and the classic Frankenstein/Dracula Variation of the Vienna. Bon appetite.
We do not think of chess as an open air game, but this city has done a wise thing by planting outdoor chess tables in various parks. Wanting now are more players to frequent these playing spots or other outdoor locations with board and pieces and to make chess more visible, accessible, and friendly. I say this for selfish reasons because I enjoy playing chess outside, and the more people who do it, the better for me. For several years, intermittently, I’ve been playing chess on the sidewalk in front of my house with anyone and everyone from the neighborhood that shows an interest in the game. The other week we had a ‘tournament’ with several tables set up. People who were walking by stopped to chat, drivers slowed down their cars to have a look. The next day a neighborly woman commented: “I never knew chess could be so loud.” My heart soared; I felt we had accomplished something. And we did it all without rule books, score sheets, clocks, arbiters, ratings or membership fees.
Isn’t it time you treated yourself? Try some ‘open chess’. Flavor it according to your own taste or catch up with the outings of The Saint John Amateur Open Lady La Tour Chess Challenge. Recently we have added the following entrees to our menu: The Ponziani Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5 Bc5 6.dxc6; The Cochrane Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7; and the classic Frankenstein/Dracula Variation of the Vienna. Bon appetite.
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