I WAS PRISON CHAMPION IN 3 YARDS: SIERRA, CASCADE & ARNOLD UNIT

In Susanville correctional facility, Lassen county, CA 

This was way back in '99. It's been 18 years and I haven't been back so I'm proud of that. Played a lot of chess. Thay have 4 yards SY, CY, AU ,and M1 (murder one) of course I didn't play in M1, I wasn't there for murder. In sierra and Arnold I did not encounter much opposition but cascade has tough afros, and I conquered them all in regulation style play.

This is all true my chess friends, I was a stubborn, angry adolescent. Not to Bragg so much but since I conquered tournaments in all 3 yards,  it is the prison equivalent of GM. Ask anything, feel free.

Did becoming champion get you anything?

(Respect, privileges, cigarettes, anything?)

notmtwain,

There are no prizes involved,but winning gives you a great pride in personal achievement. And of course there's more respect. Inmates say 'See that guy over there, he's the champion in chess of the whole prison." Oh, he must be very smart, things like that. 

Basically no one saw me as a low life scumbag.

Do you play as much since you got out ?

bikerpeavey,

Not so much in the first four to five years after release. I focused all my time in working hard an finding a missy. Which I did, in 2006 I married. Then went to bartending school, worked a few gigs in bars, then worked in food processing, then I played in a few tournament. Today, not so much. I take it easy and enjoy some time here at chesscom.

Great!

Muffins1,

The prison library actually some decent chess books. Not a big collection, mostly beginner books from anonymous donors. But the intermediate-advanced ones were not bad. I brushed up good on my middlegame attacks. 

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I hope you're staying out of trouble and the adult system. I am a therapist working with adolescents in a long-term juvenile detention facility. A lot of them -- more than most outsiders would think -- go on to live productive lives, but I've had former clients die of heroin overdoses, suicide, get murdered, commit murder, and go to adult prison. It's nice to see "stubborn young adolescents" figure things out and make it in the free world. Good luck to you and keep playing chess.

I know the amateurs you speak of, they would come to me all time seeking improvement. Sorry, I stayed away from the beginner group, and I'm sorry to hear you played for sopas, you had it that bad huh? I NEVER PLAYED FOR NOODLES I PLAYED FOR SOULS.

Playing for noodles, Pffffffft, Disgraceful.

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Oh and I forgot something, you certainly choose your username right, I'll give you that,

Lmao, Homie!!

i played you in M1 back in Sept. 99, beat you in 27 moves, and you took your gun and stormed off - I was expecting a rematch.

imsighked2,

Thank You Sir, for that very positive comment.

I really appreciate you not posting negative bullshi* like some ignorant high school drop-out.

Just a joke, mate!

You must have me confused, homosexuals were not allowed to challenge me.

:-) Equally a joke, right back atcha, mate!

I too found chess to be very rewarding doing my time, albeit my motivation was strictly escape. I hollowed out the 32 pieces and filled them with debris from a tunnel I dug in my cell under the wall at Leavenworth, Ks. Each day I'd empty the pieces in the yard right under the screws watchful eyes. Took me 12 years, but here I am today, a better chess player for it.

   SOooo,  can we say that Erik & Staff are helping to rehabilitate prisoners..??

I love Dufresne You Son of  A Yitch!!! You're not Turro my bunkmate ,are you?

What say, fuzzy briches...