Which club is the best in the country ? What club do you think deserves this title ?
My own opininon is that the Marshall Chess Club deserves this title because of their tournament status and playing enviroment.
It’s clearly the Marshall. The Mechanic’s Institute in San Francisco deserves mention for its long history, and St. Louis is probably the best of the new clubs.
Define “best”.
– Randy Shane
I dunno… since (a) I pay about 80 cents a month for my local USCF-affiliated membership, and (b) I can play a rated game against quality opponents every week (in a 4-week Swiss format), with (c) additional access to other similar quality weekend quads in the same place or vicinity, and (d) I really enjoy most of the people at the club… hmmmm, I think I can make a logical argument that we have the best chess club in the country.
That’s slightly facetious, but not completely. The last poster made the right point: you have to define ‘best’, and further I’d say that to do that, you have to define what you value. Which brings me back to my list in the first paragraph.
IMO, there is no such thing. The Marshall is of little use to a resident of San Francisco who does not travel. The same for the Mechanics Institute if you are city bound in NYC. St. Louis is nice if you are near enough to use it. There is no best, but there are many good clubs, some of which have a permanent home while others do not.
plants tongue so far in cheek people may think I have Mumps
No, no, no!!! Mine is the best! I heard yours is (@%(&@# 78%&@&# 8_%@)_#@% )(%#%(!!! 
I’m sorry, just couldn’t resist that. Actually, I agree with most of the other posters. Best is subjective at best. Best, to me, is where one can best enjoy one’s chess (whatever that means to the individual.)
I have to throw in a sympathy vote for the Boylston Chess Club – many well-known and powerful players, yet this patzer newbie never felt anything but absolutely welcome there. Granted, the digs could be more swank (it’s in the basement of an office building, with a lingering locker room aroma), but the chief TD runs his tournaments like clockwork, in sharp and unfortunate contrast to the Massachusetts Go Association, down the hall.
I think the Marshall is the best chess club for a serious player who wants to improve by getting tournament experience against strong players.
Or if you just like to hear about what they played in the Good Ol’ Days, you can ask Asa Hoffmann, Jay Bonin, Bill Lombardy and Renato Naranja.
I am sure there are several truly great clubs, such as the Marshall CC in the nation. But, in the
South, the Dallas Chess Club has been a beacon for all levels of chess, fostering events from
scholastics to high-level master play. From the smallest scholastics, to major Texas and
national events.
Rob Jones
Region III Director
Texas Chess Association
I took best to mean having the best players and schedule within the club. Being the premier club in the country’s best chess city, it’s hard to top the Marshall.
As far as promoting off-site tournaments and newcomers, the Rochester Chess Center is as good as any in the country. I’ve never been there, but friends in Texas tell me the Dallas club is great at that too.
Now, in the “small clubs with character” division, I should offer a mention to Colley’s Chess Café in Bloomington, Ill. Check out the photos of the interior!
I am reminded of the facetious exam question: “Define the universe and give three examples.”
42
Dear Chess Friend:
Please join us at the Marshall Chess Club on Tuesday, January 26th 2010 for a special lecture by Grandmaster William Lombardy on “The Origin of Traps.”
The event will start at 7:00 PM and is free to MCC members. Non-members are welcome to attend for a $10 fee. Please refer to the attached invitation for further details.
Regards,
Your Marshall Chess Club
Steve,
I don’t see an attachment. I hope it is not my browser …