Chess in New York City

To begin the lack of neglect I spoke of here; A piece I've had collecting dust for awhile is offered. I also have a three part series of posts on the Missouri Chess Festival planned. General commentary, annotated games, and a take on the Missouri Chess Association bulletin report will be posted.

Its often been a habit of mine to call New York City the chess capital of America. A recent family trip to the city left me with this favorable impression intact. From risking cash or wagering push-ups in Union Square to visiting the Marshall Chess Club, a good time was always had. Next to the above, a stop at the infamous Washington Square Park of Searching for Bobby Fischer fame was also made. My results in all three of these venues was mixed. On the first stop in Union Square, a lost match of first to win six games left me 30 dollars less in spending allowance. The opponent I faced was a very friendly guy who provided enjoyable conversation. In a second trip, he was kind enough to play me with the time odds of 3:1.40 in my favor. Enough games were won to garner 4 dollars but there was no repeat of this in Washington Square. Here, I lost both of two attempts to triumph over a local player. While these excursions into NYC park playing were fun, visiting the Marshall turned out to be the real highlight of my chess experiences. Being able to catch glimpses of chess history captured in many photographs was worth the visit alone.