Archive for February, 2009

U.S. Presidents Who Played Chess

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

I know, President’s Day is past and gone – but as I watched the Presidential Address to Congress last night, I was reminded of all the U.S. Presidents who have spent time in front of a chess set, enjoying a good game of chess.

I came across a great article a few weeks back that talks about many of our U.S. Presidents and their relationship with Chess. I’ve highlighted some points from the article below. You can read the full article by Bill Wall at his website: Bill Wall’s Chess Page.

Former U.S. President Bush with World Chess Champion Kasparov

Former U.S. President Bush with World Chess Champion Kasparov

Former U.S. President Bush may not have played chess – but met with former world chess champion Garry Kasparov on one occasion. (See photo at left, also found at freerepublic.com).  Current U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle both play Chess – he mentions the game in his book Dreams from My Father.

Chess also runs clear back to the beginning of our nation – it’s rumored that George Washington played chess, and owned an ivory chess set.

One of my favorite stories about chess and U.S. Presidents comes from the life of Abraham Linclon, our 16th President:  One time he was playing chess with Judge Treat. Lincoln’s son, Tad, was sent by his mother to say dinner was ready. When his father continued with his chess game, Tad went over to the game and kicked the chess board off the table or laps of the two players. The judge was speechless, but Lincoln said mildly, “Come, Tad,” and they walked away together to have dinner. Lincoln bought a chess set for his son Tad, which is on display at the National Museum of American History.

Fun stuff!  If you’d like to learn more about Chess and U.S. Presidents, you can read the full article by clicking on the link provided at the beginning of this article.  See if you can figure out which of the Presidents below played chess!

Which of these Presidents played Chess?

Which of these Presidents played Chess?

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Presidents Day Sale: 10% Off and $20 Gift

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Rest assured! If you’re a participant or instructor for a chess club or scholastic program looking to save money on chess equipment before the end of the school year – - we have you covered. Today is the start of our 2009 Presidents Day Sale and $20 bailout special. This first time offering features a number of top selling chess sets, chess clocks, and chess tournament supplies on sale in addition to a 10% discount on all orders plus the opportunity to receive $20 store credit on your next qualifying chess purchase as a gift from Wholesale Chess.

We know times have been and will continue to be tough throughout the year as chess clubs and school chess programs feel the pinch of the economy. While we may not be able to bring an end to the economic difficulties our country faces, we know we can help chess students and beginners in the United States and throughout the world by making chess sets and tournaments supplies affordable for everyone.

For the next two weeks, we’ll be discounting many of our top selling chess sets, chess clocks, and other chess equipment to help chess clubs and programs stretch your precious chess budgets.
Through February 22nd, Wholesale Chess members and customers will receive a 10% discount on your purchases by using a special promotion code at checkout: PRESWSC. In addition, those whose orders are over $100 will receive a $20 ‘bailout’ discount code that can be used on their next qualifying purchase of over $50 at Wholesale Chess in the month of March. See the promotion detail page for important information.

This sale features discounts of 50% or more on select chess products including our top selling tournament chess sets. Among the top tournament chess sets on sale is the Majestic Tournament Chess Set Combo, a chess set ideally fitted for chess tournament standards. This chess set combo includes weighted chess pieces, a vinyl chess board, and a padded carryall chess bag.

In addition to the Majestic Tournament Chess Set Combo, you’ll find a number of high quality chess tournament supplies on sale this week. The Quality Chess Scorepads are a must for any tournament and can be found at discounted prices. In addition, other items ideal for prizes and awards are on sale including the Checkbook Magnetic Travel Chess Set.

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Human Chess with Elementary School Students

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
Human Chess Board

Human Chess Board

Kelly Wyatt may not be a chess player herself – but she knows the value of the game of chess and what a chess club can do for the students at her school. “I really wanted this chess club at our school for our kids,” says Kelly, the chess club organizer at Flatirons Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado.

Kelly’s hope for the students at her school is something I’ve seen in hundreds of chess club volunteers across the United States while working at Wholesale Chess. Chess club organizers call in every week looking for chess equipment, resources, and help for their chess clubs. What’s wonderful is seeing the community pitch in to make a difference for young chess players. “I’ve learned that having more adults at each club session is huge. They come and play games with a child and really help them. I also was able to find a college student from the area university that volunteers to come and play chess with the kids,” adds Kelly.

Human Chess Set

Human Chess Set

The students at Flatirons Elementary School have found that chess can be fun in a number of different ways. Recently, the chess club had fun creating a human chess board out of dark and light colored 2′ X 2′ carpet tiles for a game of human chess. Each of the students became chess pieces by using printed t-shirts with a chess piece name on them. Who would have thought you could have so much fun with a human chess set?

You can see the Flatirons Elementary School Chess Club listing, along with other chess club listings, by checking out our Chess Club Directory in the Chess Club Corner.

Human Chess!

Human Chess!

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A Few Signs You Might Be a Chess Addict

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

I came across a great article today that had all my friends laughing.  I thought I’d share a few points from it.  These are a few signs that you might be a chess addict.  You can read the full article by Bill Wall at his website: Bill Wall’s Chess Page.

A Few Signs You might be a Chess Addict:

  • you bump into someone or something and say “J’adoube.” And you don’t even know French.
  • you set up a chess set with salt and pepper shakers and food items when you sit at a checkered tablecloth.
  • you calculate 8×8 faster than 7×7 and navigate like a knight – one block up and two blocks over.
  • you have more chess clocks than watches or normal clocks and you use the chess clock as a kitchen timer.
  • you buy the biggest, fastest, most expensive computer and monitor just to play blitz or bullet chess on it or use it as a chess database.
  • you meet someone, your first question is, “What’s your Elo rating?”
  • every week you downloaded every game from The Week in Chess, in ChessBase 6, ChessBase, and PGN format.
  • you buy a newspaper only if it has a chess column in it.
  • you have more chess books than any other book or magazine combined.
  • the Olympics has always been every two years.
  • you spot the chessboard set up wrong in every movie with a chess scene.
  • you who know exactly what James Bond movie the above scene was taken from.
  • you name any of your pets Fischer, Tal, Karpov, Kasparov, Fritz, Chess (not Checkers) or Alekhine.
  • your favorite movie is “Searching for Bobby Fischer” or “The Luzhin Defense.”
  • your favorite snack is Pepperidge Farm’s Chessmen cookies.
  • you take a test, and 5 minutes before you run out of time, you mentally tell yourself that your flag is about to fall.
  • when the cashier says, “Check?” you wink and say “mate.”
  • you have a chess logo on your letterhead or shirt.
  • going to a chess tournament and can’t wait in saying “Look at those chess nuts boasting by an open foyer.”
  • you own a Harry Potter or Civil War chess set.
  • you played in over 100 chess tournaments all your life and have almost made $100 (spending thousands on entry fees, hotels unless you slept in your car, travel, and cheap food).
  • You have read all of this. And didn’t laugh!

Posted in Chess Club Corner, Chess Learning Center | 3 Comments »