Chess in the Park

It never fails: bring out the chess equipment and you draw a crowd. That's what happened at the neighborhood 4th of July celebration in Nichols Park. We put sets on the park's two chess tables, plus an oversized set on the ground. The kids were on it like a cheap suit. Adults, too. More photos here.

Chess Comes In from the Rain

Our first “Chess Alfresco” outdoor meeting didn’t work out exactly as planned, thanks to a driving rain that opened up right around 4:00 yesterday, but it turned out well all the same. The six intrepid chess players who showed up on the dismal Saturday afternoon—three kids and three parents—ducked into the University of Chicago’s “C Shop,” got some snacks, and played a few round of chess indoors.

Most likely the weather will be better next week, and we’ll play outside. Will you join us?

An intense game of blitz that turned heads among the normally blasé U of C crowd

Adults play chess too. Coaches Qing Dai and Emil Sidky battle it out in an exciting game that ended in a draw.

Chess Alfresco

The outdoor chess season begins

Is there anything more fun than playing chess outside in nice weather? Maybe, but I can’t think of what it is. This Saturday afternoon, June 26, we’ll find out just how much fun outdoor chess is at the first meeting of the Ray School Chess Club’s summer season.




Will you join us? We’ll meet on Saturdays at 4:00 for as long as there is significant interest from club members. If the time doesn’t work for many people, we’ll consider changing it. But for now, here are the details:

What: Ray School Chess Club

When: Saturdays at 4:00 PM

Where: Hutchinson Courtyard, University of Chicago campus

Yes, I know, it’s Memorial Day weekend, and some people will be away. So if you’re out of town or otherwise occupied, skip this week’s meeting and come next week. If you are around this weekend and feel like playing chess, come join us. We’ll provide the equipment; kids should just show up.

We won’t meet on June 9, since there's a chess tournament at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club that day.

The U of C campus map is here. If you’re not familiar with it, the main campus, called “The Quads,” is bounded by 57th Street, 59th Street, University Ave., and Ellis Ave. It consists of one big, central quadrangle flanked on the corners by four small quandrangles. Hutchinson Courtyard is the small quad at the northeast corner of the complex. You can enter the campus from 57th Street (across from Regenstein Library) or University Ave. Write if you have questions. Otherwise, we’ll see you Saturday.