Internet chess playing rooms are wonderful, but some players feel that they are impersonal and cause some of the magic to seep out of the game. The problem that these players face when they leave the chess rooms is that it is difficult to find another person who is both interested in playing and has the time to devote to playing entire games. A possible solution is joining a chess club.
What is a Chess Club?
A chess club is exactly what it sounds like, a club that is completely made up of members who share a common interest in the game. In addition to playing chess, members share strategy tips, hold scrimmages with each other, and compete in competitions.
The History of Chess Clubs
Although chess clubs have most likely been around longer then most people realize, they started drawing attention to themselves n the 1970s. The reason for the sudden surge in popularity was obvious, the match when Bobby Fischer triumphed over Boris Spasky was widely publicized and somehow it managed to make playing chess cool. Almost overnight, it seemed like everybody started playing chess. With so many people openly playing, forming a club was logical. During the seventies, it seemed like there was at least one chess club per city block.
Right now, chess isn't as popular as it was thirty years ago. Many people believe that this is because, while he is considered one of the greatest players ever, Gary Kasparov lacks the boisterous personality that helped Bobby Fischer make the game so popular. Since fewer people are playing chess, there are fewer clubs. Although, just because clubs aren't as common, doesn't mean that they don't exist, you just have to look harder to find one.
Finding a Chess Club
The phone book is an excellent place to start looking for a chess club. It isn't unusual for a club to advertise for members in a phone book. Other sources to find out if there is a club in your neighborhood is to look on local bulletin boards and online ads. If you have exhausted all of your ideas and still have not found a club, you might want to consider the possibility of starting one.
Starting a Chess Club
Starting a club isn't difficult. In the beginning a club doesn't need much, just a couple of members, a chess board, and a place to meet. The biggest challenge is letting people know of your club's existence. The simplest way to do this is by putting an advertisement on Craigslist, posting some announcements on local bulletin boards, and maybe placing an advertisement in the local newspaper. Another great way to advertise the fact that you are starting a chess club would be to spread word in the chess playing rooms.
When people start expressing interest in joining your club, you will have to decide on how frequently you should meet and if you should charge a membership fee. If you do decide to charge a membership fee you need to make sure that it is clear what the money will be spent on.
In addition to being a great way to hone your chess playing skills, being a member of a chess club is also an excellent way to meet people who share your interests.
Article by "History of Chess Clubs"
