CHESS IN NEW YORK CITY PARKS. . . .

I went on vacation on July 20th to New York City and in planning this trip I said to my wife. "You know we are going to be in New York and there is the oldest chess club building in Greenwich Village so . . ."

Before I could get any more out she said, "I am not going to sit and watch you play chess, no way. If you go there then I am going shopping."

"I didn't intend to play chess," I said. "I just wanted to see the place, like we are seeing the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building."

"Didn't Fischer play in some park?" She asked.

"He did and there was that kid "JOSH" played in the park in Searching for Bobby Fischer."

We left that discussion at that. On the last day of the Vacation we headed to the New York Library research center. Well right next to that place is a park, and as we entered she said, "Look it looks like they are playing chess over there."

I didn't say a word. We strolled nearer and there on a sign on a table said.

   "RESERVED FOR CHESS. MARSHALL CHESS CLUB."

Wow. It brought a smile to my face. The round metal table had the chess pieces where on the board just waiting to be moved and two empty chairs waiting for two opponents to sit down and let their minds open up.

She said, "Do you want to play?"

"No, I don't want to play," I said.

"I just analize games and teach now. I haven't played a game in months." I said a white lie to her.

"You can play if you want to."

"No. But they set up the pieces wrong I'm goind to straighten them out."

"Maybe they want them that way. Leave it alone."

I didn't listen to her and walked over to the table, picked up the white king and queen and reversed their positions. I picked up the black king and queen and reversed their positions. Nobody bother to look at me doing that.

I said to Barbara, "I don't understand how chess players can do that. They do that in the movies all the time. The last major flaw I have seen was on Harry Potter chess game that they sell. There is a black square on the right bottom side of the chess board on the box. The whole thing is backwards."

"Maybe some kid set this up that way on purpose," she said.

We started to walked away toward the library and was looking at the position of a game that two players were playing. The clock showed it was the mid time of a five minute game. The players were discussing where the move should have been.

"If you want to stay and watch the game go ahead." she said.

"No. There aren't really playing they are discussing every move and pointing where the best move should have been."

We went into the library. Later we came back to have lunch in the park. Not even noticing the chess players.

But the thought of belonging to the Marshall Chess Club was sure intriguing to me.

              Bye for now. Thanks for reading

     Now this post is one of the better ones, thanks for taking the time and the pictures. You came all the way from Denver to NYC, I bet if you are like me it was a nice one time experience, but glad to be back home, close to the beautiful Rocky Mountains!  Thanks again, I felt like I was there with you, I still think that guy will make a move if you wait long enough!

I will be traveling to New York this summer also, and would love to see this.  I also told my wife it would be cool to play a game of chess against one of those park players, even if they charged me, it would be like paying to see an attraction.

Anyone know which park is the "one"?

Hello Namsob

Sorry but those were photos of the statues are in Oregon, not in NYC.  

In NYC right next to the NYC Library museum there are chess tables from the Manhattan chess club. They leave one empty and set up for visitors.

They have a lot of food also available and it's a great place to eat and play chess. They do not charge.

Those are the tables in NYC Manhattan chess area. Hope you find them.  It is three blocks from the Empire State Building.

@ Namssob wrote:

I will be traveling to New York this summer also, and would love to see this.  I also told my wife it would be cool to play a game of chess against one of those park players, even if they charged me, it would be like paying to see an attraction.

Anyone know which park is the "one"?

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Hey did you go to NY and played a game?

it's been five years ago . . .

DENVER

Denver, hope all is well your way, its been a while!

Hi guys. . . Kay and ghost

I'm still around . . . 80 in December . . .

I'm still teaching kids at the local library and I bowl three times a week . . .

How about you guys?

DENVER

How would your wife react if you told her "Oh you are going to do shopping?? No way I am going to be waiting for you 30 minutes in every store. If you do shopping I will go and play some chess"?

if my wife shopped in New York it would cost me an arm and a leg . . . Then had to pay extra to get it home in California . . .

DENVER

Denver, now you are making me feel young lololo, I am going to turn 78 this Dec, but my wife is going to turn 81, and I feel so very sorry for her, because of what age does to us. Think I will start bowling again, just alone once a week during regular bowling season.  Don't forget to visit here once in a while, you are another one of those long time members, with always words of wisdom!!

I would love to join the group of kids at the library you are teaching chess to!!

I just cancelled the chess class for tomorrow . . . In Santa Rosa California . . . fires all around us . . .

I and wife Barbara had to evacuate our home because of the fires in our city . . . There is no electricity and the fires stopped 2 blocks Way.

We are staying with one of my son's home that is in a safe zone . . . We only have the clothes on our back . . . in the car I have 8 bowling balls and 20 chess set. and meds. I saved what was important . . .

DENVER

They never said what started those fires? With winter coming, and colder temps should help, and some rain.  We have been getting smoke all this summer from Mont. WY, ID, and Canada, plus WS and  OR state. But California seems to be getting more fires then ever I can remember!

We haven't gotten many fires yet but PGE has been giving us blackouts . . .

Bobby Fischers's card, maybe it wasn't

I’m pretty sure that doesn’t say Fischer.

Edit: quick bit of research reveals there was a guy called Bruce Fuchs that was playing around that time in that area. I’d say it’s more likely to be someone like that.

I deleted the card. I never could read the name.