i want to change the image of chess - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

warrrreagl · 08-05-2007, 07:52 AM

Alabama's annual chess tournament was held in Montgomery yesterday. I wanted to post many of the pics they had of kids playing chess in order to boost the "image" of chess, but Grancey stopped me from it because you can't post pictures of kids on TFP. So pretend you're looking at a little freckle-faced guy in a ballcap with his tongue out while he's concentrating and another little guy with dreadlocks making a reach for his bishop.

For more images go to http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/...8040801&Ref=PH and take a look.

Telluride · 08-05-2007, 03:07 PM

I think that everyone's opinion of chess could be changed by spending one night in Bangkok.

Cynthetiq · 09-17-2007, 08:15 AM

Chess Hustlers, they make it have some street cred $5 at at time.

Quote:

September 17, 2007
In Street Chess Games, a Pedigreed Pastime Becomes a Gritty Sideline
By DYLAN LOEB McCLAIN
LINK
September is a time of rebirth for chess. With schools back in session, students are returning to their chess clubs. And in Mexico City, eight of the world’s top grandmasters have been competing in a championship tournament.

Some of those students may be dreaming of vying for the title, now held by a Russian named Vladimir Kramnik.

More likely is that they will someday vie for a few dollars in Union Square Park in Lower Manhattan against the likes of a man known as Russian Paul.

One recent night, Paul was studying the board before him, not far from the subway entrance. With close-cropped gray hair, arms covered with tattoos, heavy bags under his eyes and a faded and slightly tattered green T-shirt covering his paunch, he seemed out of place playing a game with such an intellectual pedigree.

But after a few seconds, Paul made a move and touched his side of the chess clock. His opponent quickly replied, and soon their hands were flying across the board, knocking over pieces and slapping the clock’s buttons.

Finally, Paul gestured at his opponent’s side of the clock, which was flashing a set of dashes, meaning his time had expired. He had lost. Paul’s side of the clock showed only seconds remaining. The players reset the board and the clock, and repeated the scene over and over, with Paul usually winning, well into the night.

Paul is one of a small legion of chess players in places like Union Square Park, Washington Square Park and St. Nicholas Avenue and 141st Street who make a living, or at least some pocket money, from hustling. Like basketball, chess hustling is a city game — fast and gritty and played on street corners and in parks with the throb of street life as a backdrop.

At the top levels it is polished, with high stakes. While the World Chess Championship, which began on Thursday, has $1.3 million in prize money, on the street the bets are usually $5 a game, and the quality of the opposition is unknown.

Another hustler, whose first name is Kenny and whose street name is Little Daddy (he is 5 feet 3 inches tall), said he could always tell how good his opponent was in the first couple of moves. For example, he said, if someone moves quickly but fumbles the pieces, or uses one hand to move the pieces and the other to hit the clock, which is against the normal rules of speed chess, then the person is not experienced.

Little Daddy, who said he started playing street chess in 1976, said he won about 80 percent of the time. A crucial part of the game is not to win too quickly, he said.

“You make the games close,” he said. “You don’t want to crush them. You want to leave their ego intact, because you want to keep them coming back.”

Russian Paul, who displayed the opening knowledge, speed and tactical ability of a master (but not the much higher grandmaster), said he had been playing in the streets for about 15 years and always tried to win. “If they get scared away, it is not my problem,” he said.

Like bartenders, the chess hustlers have names for people who keep coming back and coughing up money: regulars, or customers.

Little Daddy said that every hustler — there are about a dozen in Union Square, although the number fluctuates during the day — had at least a couple of regulars.

On this particular night, Carl Neblett, a regular, was taking on Junior, who always wears a baseball cap and keeps up a running commentary as he chain-smokes his way through games.

Mr. Neblett, who said he was an ambulette driver, said that playing against the hustlers helped him improve his game and that he had no illusions about his skill.

“Everybody here is adults; they know what they are getting into,” Mr. Neblett said, adding: “I like to think that I am smart. After losing $10, I pretty much shut it down. And sometimes you get lucky and you take these guys.”

Technically, playing chess for money is unlawful gambling, according to Jama Adams, a spokeswoman for the city’s parks department.

But a police officer at Union Square, who would not give his name because he was not authorized to speak for the department, said that he was not so sure, because the hustlers were not taking a cut of the stakes, which is how illegal gaming houses break the law. Even if what the hustlers are doing is illegal, he added, it would be hard to prove unless you watched them carefully and saw the money changing hands.

Hustlers said they had almost never had trouble with the police. Still, most were reluctant to give their full names, and were cagey when asked about their street earnings. Most said that on a good night, they might earn $150 to $200, but a slow night could produce as little as $30.

Russian Paul said he usually did not play for money. Instead, as he described it, he gives lessons for $45 an hour.

Paul is in his early 40s, younger than he appears, and is not actually Russian; he’s from Ukraine. And though by association his nickname would suggest a childhood spent hunched over a board, he said he picked up the game only after coming to the United States when he was 15.

He said he had a couple of jobs teaching chess in schools in the past, but he does not teach formally now. Fortunately, he said, he lives in a rent-stabilized apartment not far from the park, and he has no children, so his needs are minimal. Six years ago, he said, he and his wife “went separate ways.”

Not all the players give so much of their lives to the game. Leonard Rock (which he said was his real name; his chess name is Master Rock) said he worked in the billing department at Manhattan Total Health and sometimes played after work.

But for others, playing chess in the streets leaves room for nothing else.

“Chess is my life,” Little Daddy said. “You can’t play chess and have a girlfriend, because they don’t want you playing chess all night.”

debaser · 09-17-2007, 02:13 PM

To change the image of chess:

Right click on the chess folder icon.

Select "Properties".

Choose the "Customize" tab to the far right.

Under folder pictures click on "Choose File..."

Point the browser to the image you wish to use.

ladiesman24 · 09-21-2007, 06:10 AM

you shouldnt have to try and change anything..that would be pretty much impossible to change a perception thats been around for years..just do it, because you like it nerd or not

Ustwo · 09-21-2007, 06:21 AM

I played a lot of chess as a child but I'd rather play a game like company of heroes than chess these days.

Chess is an amazing game but its also simple enough that a computer can play it close to perfect. Something that can't be said for modern RTS games, too many variables and thats where a human mind makes the difference.

Besides Knight takes Rook is fun, but Tiger takes Sherman is a bit more visceral

varrybarry · 09-21-2007, 06:24 AM

I think it's dumb to think that you want to change the image of something you like to do. It shouldn't matter what image something has, because if you like doing it, then it doesn't.

squeeeb · 09-21-2007, 06:56 PM

i love chess, so much that i wish more people saw it as i did and loved it as i did, that is why i want to change whatever pejorative image it has..besides, if more people loved it, there would be more people to play...right now, i live in a place where no one plays (that i know of)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by debaser

To change the image of chess:

Right click on the chess folder icon.

Select "Properties".

Choose the "Customize" tab to the far right.

Under folder pictures click on "Choose File..."

Point the browser to the image you wish to use.

that's some of the best advice yet...awesome, thanks...

Sion · 10-22-2007, 06:05 PM

hey...chess players...check this out:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...71#post2330771

LazyBoy · 10-22-2007, 11:00 PM

I don't think chess is referred to as a "nerd" sport so much because of those who typically participate, as it is to make those who are not talented (read intelligent) enough to participate (and significantly compete) feel better about themselves...

They may call you a nerd, but they're just sitting there waiting for a 6 move checkmate

-Will

SSJTWIZTA · 10-23-2007, 04:56 PM

haha us punks sit out side of the local ice cream shop and play chess from time to time.

pogoing bishop takes skanking rook. check, you emo piece of shit

08-05-2007, 07:52 AM	#41 (permalink)
warrrreagl pinche vato Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton	Alabama's annual chess tournament was held in Montgomery yesterday. I wanted to post many of the pics they had of kids playing chess in order to boost the "image" of chess, but Grancey stopped me from it because you can't post pictures of kids on TFP. So pretend you're looking at a little freckle-faced guy in a ballcap with his tongue out while he's concentrating and another little guy with dreadlocks making a reach for his bishop. For more images go to http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/...8040801&Ref=PH and take a look. __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed.

08-05-2007, 03:07 PM	#42 (permalink)
Telluride Browncoat Location: California	I think that everyone's opinion of chess could be changed by spending one night in Bangkok. __________________ "I am certain that nothing has done so much to destroy the safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice." - Friedrich Hayek

09-17-2007, 02:13 PM	#44 (permalink)
debaser Sir, I have a plan... Location: 38S NC20943324	To change the image of chess: Right click on the chess folder icon. Select "Properties". Choose the "Customize" tab to the far right. Under folder pictures click on "Choose File..." Point the browser to the image you wish to use. __________________ Fortunato became immured to the sound of the trowel after a while.

09-21-2007, 06:10 AM	#45 (permalink)
ladiesman24 Upright	you shouldnt have to try and change anything..that would be pretty much impossible to change a perception thats been around for years..just do it, because you like it nerd or not __________________ "Id rather die enormous, than live dormant."

09-21-2007, 06:21 AM	#46 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	I played a lot of chess as a child but I'd rather play a game like company of heroes than chess these days. Chess is an amazing game but its also simple enough that a computer can play it close to perfect. Something that can't be said for modern RTS games, too many variables and thats where a human mind makes the difference. Besides Knight takes Rook is fun, but Tiger takes Sherman is a bit more visceral __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

09-21-2007, 06:24 AM	#47 (permalink)
varrybarry Upright	I think it's dumb to think that you want to change the image of something you like to do. It shouldn't matter what image something has, because if you like doing it, then it doesn't. __________________ I'm currently trying a 10 day body detox and I feel great.

10-22-2007, 06:05 PM	#49 (permalink)
Sion Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.	hey...chess players...check this out: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...71#post2330771 __________________ He's the best, of course, of all the worst. Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...

10-22-2007, 11:00 PM	#50 (permalink)
LazyBoy Insane Location: Memphis Area	I don't think chess is referred to as a "nerd" sport so much because of those who typically participate, as it is to make those who are not talented (read intelligent) enough to participate (and significantly compete) feel better about themselves... They may call you a nerd, but they're just sitting there waiting for a 6 move checkmate -Will __________________ Life is nothing, everything.....and something in between...

10-23-2007, 04:56 PM	#51 (permalink)
SSJTWIZTA Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator. Location: Windiwana	haha us punks sit out side of the local ice cream shop and play chess from time to time. pogoing bishop takes skanking rook. check, you emo piece of shit __________________ First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller