Friday, September 4, 2009

Chess and the City

Chessboard integrated in a Stone Bench in a Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Besides football, chess is a very popular leisure activity in Argentina. For those who love to do this mental sport in public places, there are plenty of possibilities in Buenos Aires. In many parks you will find chess boards placed on park benches or tables. So all you need to play this subtle game of kings and pawns are the chess pieces, a ruthless strategy and tactics and most importantly a chess mate. Also worth mentioning is that Argentina has spawned several notable world class chess players like grandmasters Oscar Panno and Julio Bolbochán that brought fame to the country and popularity to chess.

7 comments:

Lowell said...

Now that is very interesting! It would seem to me, that chess being a game of mental concentration, it would be a difficult game to play out in public...

But what do I know? Nada!

In Miami, many of the older Cubans spend their days playing something - ah, checkers, dominoes?

Bob Crowe said...

New York has many similar places. However, here in Delhi, it's cricket, cricket, cricket. On to Kathmandu today.

AB said...

"So all you need to play this subtle game of kings and pawns are the chess pieces, a ruthless strategy and tactics and most importantly a chess mate."

And perhaps, some sun?

EG CameraGirl said...

Sounds like a great was to spend leisure time to me. So all the players need is to carry a box of playing pieces around. Cool.

Kiwi said...

That's so cool!

Andreea said...

I've seen chess tables in a few parks before but never a chess bench. Very ingenious.

Mike said...

I played chess since 1997. My rating has gone done a little as I am older now.