I was part of a great club in Ventura, CA. Many places I lived in though weren't very good for chess. Miami for example (there was a club but it was way too far from me to get to regularly) & North county San Diego, southern Utah forget about it (though to be fair they weren't many humans there, period, it is one of the most isolated still inhabited parts of the country).
New York City is good for causal blitz chess but terrible for tournament chess. The only club still remaining in Manhattan is the Marshall which is overpriced to the point of ridiculousness (in Ventura you could join a 4-week tourney for $8, at the Marshall it was $30 or $40 for one night of chess).
How would you rate your area in terms of chess?
Vegas seems to be pretty good. game in 10 on mondays and game in 90 on thursdays (which i've yet to play in) but the players are pretty good. and most are pretty friendly...
Where I currently reside things are not so good for chess playing. Else I would be there and not here!
I think the scene in Miami has picked up considerably the past several years and is now pretty happening.
Philadelphia still has a strong chess community (if you know where to look) and the Atlanta area is holding on. Parts of Texas are seeing some chess rennaisance due to Scholastics...let's hope it continues.
I think the best place for active US Chess play is still in the NE corridor from DC to Boston.
A comfy tavern, pub, or bar. Best thing is- they're everywhere.
Chicago used to have a downtown chess club that was easily accessible by public transportation, and also had several Masters as regulars, but that is long gone. The Chicago Open and other tournaments are in distant suburbs which is fine for many people, but I don't drive and can't there in any reasonable way.
I played my first real chess game at the "Chicago Chess Club" when it was on Wabash, around 1970. Are you talking about the same club?
Yes, Dick Verber (BIG Dick Verber) was the President, it was at Wabash and Jackson and the El used to SCREECH around the corner every 15 minutes or so!
The best place is Guantanamo or Haiti , because there is warm
What part of NYC? I didn't see info on uschess, do you have any more details?
The best place to play Chess in USA is White House, but access is limited and the Fee is non-disclosed...
I've been pleasantly surprised at how active Tennessee is for chess. There are at least 6 clubs within 30 miles from my house, and a tournament within 200 miles more weekends than not.
I can pretty much find a game any night of the week I want.
Now the trouble is getting my self described "chess widow" wife to let me go play more.
there is absolutely nothing at all; disappointing...
I'd like to visit that new chess center in St. Louis that hosted the US Open. The guy who started just won the auction of Bobby Fischer's chess book collection. That would be cool if he put it on display at his chess club.
http://www.saintlouischessclub.org/About/Profile
I like the Mechanics Institute in SF --the nicest club in the US with a blend of good events, strong resident players and a good sense of history. NY has lots of scholastic events but not many other tournaments as hotel costs are quite high. The best tournament is the Bermuda Open.
What about the U.S. Chess center? They used to have a rated event every month, and it looks like they just had two grand prix events.
And for unrated games there's always Dupont Circle.
Tennessee is actually a fairly good chess state.
KillaBeez, tell us more about why TN is a good place. I am from KY and family moved to TN awhile back.
Join Chess.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.