Chess clubs in Montreal

[Mike Ivanov]

Going to Montreal for the Victoria day weekend and I was wondering which clubs would be recommended, and which have the most competition. Suggestions anyone?

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Chess clubs in Montreal

Here is my standard list (below). Cafe Pi is the only place where you are guaranteed a game virtually any time you're there. Open until midnight (opens at either 10 am or noon - I forget which). Forget about trying to play a serious game there - it's mostly blitz (at odds and stakes if you and your opponent are agreeable - you will probably encounter at least one table with players playing 3 min to 35 seconds for $25 a game) - with the inevitable game of poker in the back (starts about 7 pm). There's a giant TV screen to show important sports events (probably nothing until the Euro unless the clientele demands it).

The MCC is generally open for tournaments only in the evenings - only Wednesday and Friday nights the next couple of weeks.

The Longueuil clubs may be closed due to the student boycott. I'm not sure when the Ahuntsic season ends.

Lakeshore club season is winding down - probably only a small club championship in progress.

Other locations tend to attract weaker players, but with nice weather predicted this weekend, you never know who might show up at Lafontaine Park (best time is usually 1-3 pm). It's about a 20 minute walk to/from Cafe Pi; 10 minutes from Sherbrooke metro station.

Let me know if you need more info.

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Chess Specialist/Montreal Chess Club, 3423 St-Denis (metro Sherbrooke)
Open: Mon,Tue,Wed,Sat 10-6, Thu,Fri 10-midnight. Sun 1-6.
(call in advance to check if it's open)
Table rental: $3/day/player.
Blitz tournaments: Fridays 7:30 pm. Regular weekend and one-day events.
(no blitz tournaments since Jan. 2007)
Info: (514) 522-3927

Café PI , 4127 St-Laurent (near Rachel)
The most popular gathering place for chess players in the city.
Open: noon-midnight. Licensed. Light meals and desserts.
No table fee, but please buy something!
About a dozen sets and boards available and some clocks.
Blitz tournaments the 1st Sunday of every month at 1:30 pm.
Other games: backgammon, go, poker, mah-jong, etc.
Info: (514) 286-4828

Lakeshore Chess Club, 310 Brookhaven, Dorval.
Open: Fri 7:30-11 (Sept-June).
Info: Stuart Corbett (514) 631-3368, (514) 234-0751

Ahuntsic Chess Club 10007 Parthenais (near Sauvé metro station)
Open Saturday afternoons. Several open (active) events annually.
Info: Pierre Hébert pphebert50@yahoo.fr

Longueuil Chess Club CEGEP Edouard-Montpetit, 945 Ch. Chambly, Longueuil.
Open: Tuesday and Friday nights; Saturday afternoons.
Meets either in room B-105A or F-002. Regular "active" events.
Info: Martin Landry mlandry58@sympatico.ca

Café YOY, 4526 St. Denis. (metro Mont-Royal)
Open: 24/7 (most chess activity after midnight).
No table fee, but please buy something!
Limited equipment available.

Complexe Desjardins, Ste-Catherine W., between Jeanne-Mance and St-Urbain.
Food court near escalators.
Open: Mon-Fri evenings; Sat-Sun afternoons and evenings.
Bring sets, boards, and clocks. Chinese chess also.

Café Cine Express, 1926 Ste-Catherine W.
Open: Mon-Sun 24 hours. Licensed.
Table rental: $1/hour.
Limited number of boards and sets. Bring clock. Backgammon also.
Info: (514) 939-2463

Second Cup
(1) 900 Mont-Royal E.
(2) St.Catherine & Guy
Open: 24 hours, 7 days/week. No smoking.
Bring sets, boards, and clocks.

Lafontaine Park, (weather permitting)
Picnic tables near school at south-east end of park.
Most active on warm, sunny weekend afternoons.
Bring sets, boards, and clocks.

Kent Park, (weather permitting)
Tables on the west side.
Bring sets, boards, and clocks.

[Mike Ivanov]

Re : Re: Chess clubs in Montreal

Thanks Hugh, that's a lot of clubs and from what I gather Cafe Pi sounds the best, I'll try my best to visit while I'm there. Is there any rapid rated tournaments this weekend?
Probably the only chance I'll get to play in Montreal...

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Chess clubs in Montreal

No chess events this weekend in Montreal. Only the nightly "student" demonstrations. :-)

Best time to go to Cafe Pi is after 7 pm any night.

[Mike Ivanov]

Re : Re: Chess clubs in Montreal

Had a great time in Montreal and played at the Cafe Pi, too bad the best players come only after 10 P.M. from what I was told there:( As for the student demonstrations, the only thing you have to watch out for is the tear gas attached to their clothes, not a pleasant sensation

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Chess clubs in Montreal

Mike - I saw you there, beating Gerry (Rubin) in at least one game. If you had stayed long enough, he would have insisted on showing you his win against Benko (Canadian Open, 1966), told you how he was abducted by aliens, and how he can cure your ailments with his thought waves. :)

Not many more of the "best" players would have arrived later that night - there were already a few masters present (including Francois Leveille, and Hugues Masse)..

[Mike Ivanov]

Re : Re: Chess clubs in Montreal

Lol, I didn't even know who I was playing, now I do :)
Wish I could have stayed longer, maybe next time

[Jordan S. Berson]

Re: Chess clubs in Montreal

...If you had stayed long enough, he would have insisted on showing you his win against Benko (Canadian Open, 1966), told you how he was abducted by aliens, and how he can cure your ailments with his thought waves. :)

It's easier to believe that he was abducted by aliens than he beat Benko :)