given that RHP has such a vast and diverse collection of chess players from all over the world, i think it is probably the best place to ask this question: what are some of your favorite over-the-board places to play?
where i live -- boston, ma. usa -- the best place around is in harvard square, cambridge. there is an au bon pain cafe just outside an entrance to harvard university where chessplayers can be found year round. in the spring & summer the place is buzzing with activity... plenty of chess playing (mostly blitz), live music from street performers, people reading, talking, having fun, etc, etc... it's a very nice place to spend an afternoon. in the winter, the chessplayers cram into the cafe... not quite as nice, but still fun.
whenever i travel to another country, i try to find places like this, but i am usually not successful... granted it's not always my top priority, but still it would be nice.
of particular interest to me are: outdoor locations, cafes & bars, places where there are always people enjoying chess... preferrably not in a chessclub setting.
Originally posted by hazerI haven't found many good places to play (in Northern CA), but there is one spot near me (a coffee shop) where people get together every day and play (usually) blitz games. The coffee shop attracts some pretty strong players from 1600 up to 2000+. I win a few games, but mostly, I get crushed.
given that RHP has such a vast and diverse collection of chess players from all over the world, i think it is probably the best place to ask this question: what are some of your favorite [b]over-the-board places to play?
where i live -- boston, ma. usa -- the best place around is in harvard square, cambridge. there is an au bon pain cafe just outside ...[text shortened]... places where there are always people enjoying chess... preferrably not in a chessclub setting.[/b]
There's another spot that a little closer to me where there are sometimes people outside playing chess. Unfortunately, those people completely suck at chess, don't play timed games and don't resign when they should.
I don't think I have ever seen anyone play OTB here. There's a chess club (which I haven't been to), but otherwise I don't think there are any chess playing places. But many years ago, long before I started playing chess, I was in Stuttgart (Germany) and walked through the central park in the evening, and there were a lot of people playing chess and other games (like boule). I enjoyed the atmosphere.
Originally posted by hazerAlien spacecraft would be a killer place to play. In the west wing of a really big mansion that I live in would be nice, you know a Irish setter warming himself by the fireplace where I would burn $100 bills to ward off the draft. Playing in a secret lair "the bat cave" is neat too.
given that RHP has such a vast and diverse collection of chess players from all over the world, i think it is probably the best place to ask this question: what are some of your favorite [b]over-the-board places to play?
where i live -- boston, ma. usa -- the best place around is in harvard square, cambridge. there is an au bon pain cafe just outside ...[text shortened]... places where there are always people enjoying chess... preferrably not in a chessclub setting.[/b]
Most of the people I know when they hear I play chess tell me they play checkers. So when I heard there was a coffee shop near where I live that had a lot of college players, I hurried over there. There was a guy holding court at one of the tables whom I guessed to be the top dog. After getting a cup of coffee & a sandwich, I went over to watch the game he’d just started. He played pretty badly and when he got to a R&K vs. K ending he offered a draw. Told his opponent, “There must be a way to win, but I don’t know how to do it.” This explains why I play postal & internet chess.
Originally posted by hazerWoman's Toilet. Queen's Gambit...Never fails.
given that RHP has such a vast and diverse collection of chess players from all over the world, i think it is probably the best place to ask this question: what are some of your favorite [b]over-the-board places to play?
where i live -- boston, ma. usa -- the best place around is in harvard square, cambridge. there is an au bon pain cafe just outside ...[text shortened]... places where there are always people enjoying chess... preferrably not in a chessclub setting.[/b]