Over the Board......Sort Of

[ChessSpawn]

I visited a chess friend yesterday for an over the board game. We sat about 15 feet apart under shade trees sipping iced drinks. We each had a table with board and chessmen set up for our game. Forming an equilateral triangle, at the apex if you will, was my demonstration board. As we made moves, we walked to the demo board, made our move and sat down. I chose to move the demo board pieces with a gloved hand followed by use of hand sanitizer. My friend used hand sanitizer after making his moves. We were able to chat during the game and had a lovely time. We’ll probably do this on a weekly basis.

[Smythe_Dakota]

Interesting. A demo board, for an audience of zero.

Bill Smythe

[tmagchesspgh]

There are a bunch of players who stare at a demo board or a wall projection of a game rather than the board and pieces while they are analyzing a position at a tournament. This may become a new method for playing OTB. Our chess equipment will now include needing to bring a demo board with us. That will also require bringing a bag with an easel. You can buy this at an art and crafts store. Plus some hooks.

Q. Were you sipping a Long Island Iced Tea? A mint julep would be refreshing, too, while you were playing.

[ChessSpawn]

@Smythe Dakota

Interesting. A demo board, for an audience of zero.

Bill Smythe

For two. It’s a way of getting exercise, too.

[ChessSpawn]

@tmagchesspgh

There are a bunch of players who stare at a demo board or a wall projection of a game rather than the board and pieces while they are analyzing a position at a tournament. This may become a new method for playing OTB. Our chess equipment will now include needing to bring a demo board with us. That will also require bringing a bag with an easel. You can buy this at an art and crafts store. Plus some hooks.

Q. Were you sipping a Long Island Iced Tea? A mint julep would be refreshing, too, while you were playing.

I wish. I’m eleven days post-surgery. No alcohol for another two weeks, maybe three.

I’m looking for an adjustable height table for the board to adapt it to a variety of park seating. I think I found it with an adjustable TV tray table.

[dennisk]

@ChessSpawn

I visited a chess friend yesterday for an over the board game. We sat about 15 feet apart under shade trees sipping iced drinks. We each had a table with board and chessmen set up for our game. Forming an equilateral triangle, at the apex if you will, was my demonstration board. As we made moves, we walked to the demo board, made our move and sat down. I chose to move the demo board pieces with a gloved hand followed by use of hand sanitizer. My friend used hand sanitizer after making his moves. We were able to chat during the game and had a lovely time. We’ll probably do this on a weekly basis.

I did something similar a week or two ago, but we just called our moves to each other verbally. No need for a demo board, and since there was nothing that we both touched, no need for gloves or hand sanitizer. Seems a lot simpler.

[Smythe_Dakota]

@I

Interesting. A demo board, for an audience of zero.

@In response

For two. It’s a way of getting exercise, too.

Or, if you’re outdoors on a busy street, you can attract some spectators, and get them interested in chess.

Bill Smythe

[ChessSpawn]

@Smythe Dakota

@I

Interesting. A demo board, for an audience of zero.

@In response

For two. It’s a way of getting exercise, too.

Or, if you’re outdoors on a busy street, you can attract some spectators, and get them interested in chess.

Bill Smythe

Not during a pandemic, thank you.

[ChessSpawn]

@dennisk

@ChessSpawn

I visited a chess friend yesterday for an over the board game. We sat about 15 feet apart under shade trees sipping iced drinks. We each had a table with board and chessmen set up for our game. Forming an equilateral triangle, at the apex if you will, was my demonstration board. As we made moves, we walked to the demo board, made our move and sat down. I chose to move the demo board pieces with a gloved hand followed by use of hand sanitizer. My friend used hand sanitizer after making his moves. We were able to chat during the game and had a lovely time. We’ll probably do this on a weekly basis.

I did something similar a week or two ago, but we just called our moves to each other verbally. No need for a demo board, and since there was nothing that we both touched, no need for gloves or hand sanitizer. Seems a lot simpler.

I agree that you can just call out the moves, but it’s more fun, IMO, to put them up on the demo board. I think next game we’ll start alternating who puts the moves up so that there’s no risk of us both touching the pieces.

I’m also finding that I like seeing the game in both three and two dimensional representations. The two dimensional representation allows me to see the diagonals better. My aging brain at work…