Paducah, KY Chess Club

Chess Clubs
1

This is from Jan. 8th Paducah Sun.

Column: [size=200]"This Weeks’s Reason to … GET OUT![/size]
Title: [size=150]Paducahan looking for chess club members[/size]

Got an itch for chess that needs some scratching?
Rachel Biel-Taibi of Paducah and friends offer thier help.
Biel-Taibi is starting a weekly chess club that plans to meet from 1pm to 4pm each Saturday at the “Just English Antiques”, 212 Broadway.
She said bring your own chess board and curiosity/interest in the game.
“It’s not about the competition so much right now.” Biel-Taibi said. “We just want to get people together practicing and building the group up.”
All experience and talent levels are welcome.
One advantage: Biel-Tailbi said they will play on the large antique tables in Barry Clark’s shop.
If you like the table or it becomes your winning spot, you can buy it and take home.

STAFF REPORT

This looks to be someone just wanting to start a casual chess club in Paducah, but I thought I’d pass it on. I know I’m going to check it out, when I’m not working overtime.
You never know, maybe someday it will be an affiliated USCF chess club.

212 Broadway is in downtown Paducah. There is plenty of parking available, when there isn’t anything special going on downtown. During the summer, they have alot more going on downtown on weekends.

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I think I’ve been in that store. I have family near there and we always stay in Paducah.
Now I may have something else to pass the time!

3

I got a chance to check it out. Looks like they’re having growing pains: only one other person showed up.

The person I did play was pretty good. He’s not USCF rated (or member), but he was pretty good.

I played 5 games with him. I won 3-2 no draws.

Pretty interesting. His play rather reminds me of the street hustle type. Go for wild positions designed to put your opponent off guard, with loads of tactical possibilites.

After I got thrumped in the first 2 games, I hunkered down, and played a bit more conservative in the opening. Other than that, I had to look for counter-attacks. I’ll tip my hat to “Reasses Your Chess” for explaining how to counter-attack.

Can’t wait till I get a chance to meet him again. :smiley:
I’m scheduled for overtime for the next few Saturdays. :frowning:

4

I would like to bring my son down there to play, I live in Marion, IL.

5

Congrats, Paducah! Everywhere needs a good chess club. If you all seem to gather some steam, send me a message. I’m still trying to get some gears turning on an Amateur Chess League, with rated either OTB or online matches. Initial discussions have been started with towns like Jackson (TN), Little Rock (AR), and of course where I am in Memphis (TN). We’d love to get a southern/western KY group involved, too.

6

I finally got a chance to go a couple times. First went in Jan, but then the Ice Storm '09 hit, and after that, I ended up working almost every Saturday so the factory could make up lost production.
So when I finally got a chance to go, I jumped at it.

Had a great time, and indeed, one of the regulars at the club has an established 1800 rating. :smiley:

I did very well against him: 1-1-1. (one each: win-draw-lost).

Its good to get out of the house and meet some real people to play some OTB chess once in a while.

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Good to hear!

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Maybe I"ll see you there sometime. Sadly, I don’t get to go very often. So its kinda hit or miss if I’m there.

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I’m bringing my son Ian down to play with me on Saturday May 30. I would love to see as many people as possible there. Come one…come all…

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Good location, lot’s going on in the area. It’s the old part of town, some cobblestone streets nearby. Plenty of antique shops, eats, etc.
Good playing L.D. Wood. I hope Jimmy Patterson is there next time.

Dave and Ian

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Do you guys have any plans for tournaments? If so I’d like to know. I still have alot of family in Paducah and would definitely plan my next visit around the tournament. I hope it’s soon. I just thawed out my last pound of Starnes’ BBQ. :laughing:

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Down to my last bottle of Starnes sauce so I have to back down there from Louisville soon too.

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I’m a bit of a BBQ lover, so what avenue of BBQ flavor does Starnes reside on?

14

The business that was hosting the Paducah Chess Club moved to a smaller location, and will no long be able to host the chess club.

With regrets, the Paducah Chess Club no longer exists.

Sadly, I only got to visit the club a few times.

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The organizers should try moving it to the local community college. That’s what we did up in Freeport, and it’s worked out amazingly well for us.

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Every situation is different, and it sometimes helps to have connections to the (potential) host site.

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Local bookstores are good places. Especially if they carry chess books. If I’m not mistaken, there is a Books-a-Million across Hinkleville Rd. from Kentucky Oaks Mall. Last time I went in there (A couple of years ago.) they had a decent collection of chess books. They might be a good spot to look. I’d imagine the Joe Muggs inside the store would like to sell a few extra lattes.

18

I don’t live in Paducah, and only got an occasional chance to visit. There is a chess club that meets in my hometown, but meets on Wednesday night, and I work 2nd shift.

No biggie.

I did get a hold of a couple of players that used to frequent the club, and we’ll prolly end up playing over the internet. Maybe we’ll be able to get together for some OTB play, but not likely in the near future.