Chess in Times Square, NYC - Chess Forums

Queeg500

Mar 8, 2016

0

#1

Hi all,

On holiday recently in NYC from the UK and was walking through Times Square and came across this guy sitting alone at a chess board. Couldn't resist the temptation to play although he charged $5 a game for blitz. He was a pretty cool guy and a good player by my own strength, beating me twice and one draw. I was wondering if anyone knew his name as I wanted to write an article about it on our club website.

I didn't think to get his name at the time and although I did see him again the missus wasn't too keen on me going back to play more chess whilst on holiday! Ha...

Thanks...

Queeg500

Mar 8, 2016

0

#2

Zeetex-Jr wrote:

I have seen many chess hustlers, but never played one or talked to one. They have been known to cheat in their games, so watch out!

Yes I was told to watch out for cheats but this guy just charged to play which at first I thought was a bit of a cheek but I wasn't really in it for the money just the nostalgia so played anyway!

LotsofSnuff227

Mar 8, 2016

0

#3

Here in NY we're not allowed to gamble in parks anymore. Apparantly the mayor got sick of these guys ripping off tourists and forbade it outright. They cleverly changed their business model so that they now ONLY rip off tourists by charging for games beforehand. Funny how that works.

Drawgood

Mar 9, 2016

0

#4

They all charge to play. I think it's ok for them to charge and from what I've seen in videos $5 is a normal going rate in New York. Think about it, these guys usually have no jobs, are poor, and they try to make that $5 if someone comes by once in an hour.

Can you describe the guy's appearance? I wonder if I had seen him in a YouTube videos about New York street chess players. There is one who is very poor, maybe homeless, he is from Asia either from Burma or Laos. He is skinny and short and has somewhat tan skin. He looks sad usually as well.

GnrfFrtzl

Mar 9, 2016

0

#5

The problem is not that they're cheating, really. It's when you catch them doing it.
I've heard stories where one guy protested because the hustler made an illegal en passant capture (from the 3rd rank, not the 4th), and when the guy got up and refused to pay up, the others circled around him and took his wallet.

Queeg500

Mar 9, 2016

0

#6

Drawgood wrote:

They all charge to play. I think it's ok for them to charge and from what I've seen in videos $5 is a normal going rate in New York. Think about it, these guys usually have no jobs, are poor, and they try to make that $5 if someone comes by once in an hour.

Can you describe the guy's appearance? I wonder if I had seen him in a YouTube videos about New York street chess players. There is one who is very poor, maybe homeless, he is from Asia either from Burma or Laos. He is skinny and short and has somewhat tan skin. He looks sad usually as well.

Hi, I posted a picture of the guy in the first post - is that not showing on your screen? I should have made it clearer in the post that this was the guy not me.

I was OK with the $5 per game win or lose, I've got no problem with them making a few extra dollars and after all if a tourist is unhappy with the price they can always say 'no'!

LotsofSnuff227

Mar 10, 2016

0

#7

Queeg500 wrote:

Drawgood wrote:

They all charge to play. I think it's ok for them to charge and from what I've seen in videos $5 is a normal going rate in New York. Think about it, these guys usually have no jobs, are poor, and they try to make that $5 if someone comes by once in an hour.

Can you describe the guy's appearance? I wonder if I had seen him in a YouTube videos about New York street chess players. There is one who is very poor, maybe homeless, he is from Asia either from Burma or Laos. He is skinny and short and has somewhat tan skin. He looks sad usually as well.

Hi, I posted a picture of the guy in the first post - is that not showing on your screen? I should have made it clearer in the post that this was the guy not me.

I was OK with the $5 per game win or lose, I've got no problem with them making a few extra dollars and after all if a tourist is unhappy with the price they can always say 'no'!

He's not poor or homeless but he doesn't have a great life. His name is Sarahvut. He was brought here from cambodia(one of the two "rescue babies" from that country) but was given to an abusive foster family. When he reported the abuse, the government refused to do anything about it so he ran away. From what he has told me, he's a schoolteacher in New Jersey now, though his pay is dismal. He would come to New York in the summer when he was off from work and basically make a living (and live) playing chess. I can't imagine its an easy life. He sleeps in the park, he has to pray it doesn't get cold. He looks worn and withered but he doesn't go down easily, either in life or over the board. It's probably a LOT easier for him now that you don't have to gamble. He's a lot easier to approach than the black players that surround him, and as far as I know he doesn't seem like the type who would(or needed to) cheat.