Isn't it kind of sad?

+1

 Now you mention it, yes, it was uphill both ways. I remember a lamp-post that I used to lean against on the way home, to get my breath back again. The hill was so steep that I'd just lean back against it and gravity would hold me in place. :-j

For a young adult who just got into chess recently, internet chess is the only place I can access chess players. My local chess club is rather inactive and no coaching or the like maintained. A strong club must be an ideal place to develop good chess players I believe.

I started playing OTB tournament chess in the 1970's and even though I live between Baltimore and Annapolis there have not been any real adult chess clubs in my area in those 40 years.  A half-dozen of us teachers volunteered in the 1990's-2000's to sponsor high school chess clubs - usually unpaid the first year or so, I made ours part of the Science Club I sponsored.  I volunteered to be a non-paid USCF Tournament Director and we ran five Swiss System tournaments per year with $5 entry and 14 trophies per tournament.  The small profits all went to clocks, sets, and books distributed among the clubs.

But now that we're retired, for-profit "scholastic" events are held with fewer players who are much less skilled than they typical 1000-1400 rated players we had.

Today, I've learned of a club in a neighboring county a 30 minute drive from my home that I want to check out.  There's a fairly large "Yuppie" one that meets weekly at a restaurant in Baltimore's chic "Inner Harbor" where there's $15 parking.  That, plus the restaurant mean $30/meeting.

University or college campuses , failing that library , there with a few others take in boards and pieces and play see what interest there is if any , make it a regular thing it will more than likely be informal ie not fee or registered but its the first step to that

The choo choo train is "The little engine that could "  all the big engines fail to climb on top of the mountain because their bitboards and depth perception malfunctioned !!

Chess clubs were FULL of activty back in the 80's and early part of the 90s - until Internet chess came along. Then the number of club members dwindled as chess became more accessible without leaving one's home.

Human interaction was part of the joy of playing chess. A total shame that it is nearly extinct. 

Thats why i am still like a kid on Christmas morning when a tournament gets close.  I am so looking forward to Reno Easter weekend.  

Nope.  IT's the wave of the future

The proliferation of online poker hasn't kept people away from 'OTB' poker joints -- if anything, it has increased the number of non-digital games popping up.

I know, i know -- apples and oranges.

I guess the facts that there's no real money to be made in chess and that poker is more 'social' and audience-friendly keep OTB chess from being able to keep pace with OTC(omputer) chess.

Maybe some sort of monetization scheme would give chess clubs a boost, like Blitz games where each piece has a certain bounty on it.  And varying prize amounts for mates, time-outs, etc.

(Put your knives away, all of you purists -- i'm just thinking out loud here.)  

I have played chess online, here and a few other sites, and do not enjoy playing nearly as much as I do playing chess over-the-board.  In my area, mid-southern Michigan, there are no local chess clubs.  The nearest club that I am aware of is over two hours away one-way.  I learned chess while in high-school, early 1970s, and found very few people interested in playing chess.  Life happens. I have not had an over the board game for over 15 years.   I tried to start a club, but not a single person (other than myself) was interested.  Not a single query when I put the advertisement in the local paper and library.  So, I have played some games online; but, as I have said, I did not really enjoy them.  I do not do that anymore. (Play online.)  It is not that I do not have the time; but, when you play online it seems as if you are playing against a computer; feels  completely impersonal.  Something that I can do without going online.

Have to agree with you.  Playing online for me is to pass the time.  Playing OTB at the club, with friends, at tournaments is where the real pleasure comes from.  Im at work right now, just going to lunch and i say ot myself "I guess ill play some chess online" It doesnt get me excited, its just to pass the time.  

I was surprised to see on my first OTB tournament and OTB games as well (had little or not practice OTB)  that experienced people were actually way more nervous than me... Maybe it was because they travel long distance and want to play good or they were simply not that friendly and helpful.. players wanted to show dominance over others... they did not want to make much friends... But the ones with little or no  experience where much more friendly.

Now that i dont take the game that serious anymore, i can watch the other serious players, and enjoy the stress that i dont have to deal with.  Some friends asked if i was preparing for reno, and i said "By preparing, do you mean actually studying?"  That answer would be no, unless occasionally doing tactics is considered studying.

Even kids and teens.. if the tournament is FIDE classic rated... they mean business.. and when they lose they feel terrible almost ready to cry... yea i understand chess is not easy but being so young with plenty of opportuneties.. Or those old veterans o-m-g... didn't they had enough chess for decades already... still angry...

"Now that i dont take the game that serious anymore, i can watch the other serious players, and enjoy the stress that i dont have to deal with.  Some friends asked if i was preparing for reno, and i said "By preparing, do you mean actually studying?"  That answer would be no, unless occasionally doing tactics is considered studying."

Now *that* is a great attitude!  Good luck in Reno!!  I can't wait for you to tell me how it was, and how you did, and how strong the players are.  

We will see..IM on a roll in Reno.  Lost all my games in October.  So we shall see if i can keep the streak alive!  On the plus side, we had a great time at the Silver Legacy Buffet, and i saw GM Enrico Sevillano in Concord.  He asked if i was going to be in Reno and told him of course.  He wants to get some pai gow in again this tournament.  Last year we were playing tll the sun came up.  

Its kinda cool...I will play a kid in a tournament and get my butt kicked.  Ill see that same kid a few months later, and they are already a section ahead of me.  I view it as...I got pummled by that kid when he was just a...