A group of Hell's Kitchen locals have started a new weekly tradition: an evening chess club that brings neighbors together over pieces, craft beer and lively conversation, building a community where strategy meets friendship.
Club founder Tifa Alsheikh doesn't consider herself a chess expert, but she learned the rules of the game last August and has been playing it almost daily ever since.
“Chess appeals to me because it's incredibly intellectually stimulating,” they say. “The possible moves are limitless, and you have to anticipate your opponent's next move to a great extent. When I'm playing chess, that's all I'm focused on.”
All of the social chess groups Tifa had found in the city were in far-flung areas like Brooklyn and Queens, but there wasn't a single one in Hell's Kitchen.
Tifa wanted to learn from the chess master and share her passion with others. At the same time, she also wanted to make more friends in her hometown, especially queer friends. So they took matters into their own hands and held their first meetup at Craft+Carry Hell's Kitchen (9th Ave bw W50/51st St) on May 27th, just a few days before Pride Month.
“I was very persistent and kept posting, encouraging people to join my new chess club,” Tifa said. They shared the date on the Hell's Kitchen Neighbors Facebook group and created an Instagram account.
“The first time it was literally just me and a friend. The second time, one person came and I think watched me and my friend play, but they weren't very good. That person never came back.”
But they weren't discouraged. By the third week, 10 people had shown up, and since then, a steady stream of local residents, mostly in their 20s and 30s, have shown up, building friendships and community.
“A lot of people say they don't know anything about chess and don't know how to play,” Tifa added, “but once I start teaching them the chess moves, they get really into it. It gets their brains working.”
The club typically meets on a Wednesday or Thursday at 6:30pm. Craft + Carry provides the ideal setting with a laid back bar featuring live music and a large selection of craft beers, ciders and non-alcoholic drinks. Tifa brings along 8-10 chess sets she has purchased for the club in a reusable shopping cart.
When W42ST visited last Thursday, July 18th, 10 players (including this reporter) were gathered around two long high-top tables huddled in the center of the bar, all playing and chatting about what their next move would be, long-term game strategy, how their day at work had gone, and so on.
For some players, this will be their first or second time picking up a chess piece, while others have been playing chess for decades.
“Chess is a conversation, and it's interesting that you need help understanding what's being said,” says Andy, who played competitive chess in high school and now serves as a mentor, teaching other players, even his own opponents, how to think several moves ahead.
“It reminded me that chess should be enjoyed in a healthy, non-competitive way,” he said.
Last week, I teamed up with some other inexperienced players to play against Andy, and we ended up winning, thanks to Andy's great guidance.
In contrast, Michael is relatively new to the game and joined the club to make friends.
“There's no stakes here. I'm not playing for the ratings,” he said. “It's a social thing. But you're also playing a game. It's a good, healthy mix.”
The club is frequented by Casper, a five-month-old cat who likes to rest on players' laps and sometimes even on the chessboard – his name is short for world chess champion Garry Kasparov.
Tifa is excited to see the chess community grow.
“We welcome people who don't even know the names of chess pieces, and even people who want to learn more about chess,” they say. “This is a gathering that's open to people of all levels, so we encourage everyone to join.”
Hell's Kitchen Chess Club meets every Wednesday or Thursday at Craft+ Carry. Follow @chess.hk on Instagram for details of upcoming meetings.
