English Chess Forum

I've never had the privilege of watching a game of living chess, by that I mean where people are the pawns and pieces. I wonder if anyone has and how long ago it was. Must be quite interesting to participate and watch one? Is it now nothing more than a once in a blue moon spectacle or has it died a death already? Curious to know if anyone has ever seen a game unfold so. I know I most certainly haven't.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2020 6:08 am

I've never had the privilege of watching a game of living chess, by that I mean where people are the pawns and pieces. I wonder if anyone has and how long ago it was. Must be quite interesting to participate and watch one? Is it now nothing more than a once in a blue moon spectacle or has it died a death already? Curious to know if anyone has ever seen a game unfold so. I know I most certainly haven't.

At the 2016 Olympiad opening ceremony in Baku. I suspect that the moves were pre-arranged though

There was one at the start of the British Championships in Hull a couple of years ago. It was outside the venue in the City Square and attracted attention from passers-by. I expect they have one at "Prisoner" celebrations in Portmeirion.

I believe that there were at least two of these at Hull.

Glasgow Museums used to have a set of clothes which could be worn for the pieces. The last time I know of these being used was at the Garden Festival over 30 years ago. If the outfits still exist they may not be in the best condition.
I thought of this about a month ago, when considering how to promote the restart of chess.

I think that these live exhibitions have been replaced by displays using the larger plastic sets available in some public places. I know Hastings was going to do such a display.

Picking up on Kevin and Alex's replies, as part of the celebrations around the 2018 British in Hull, several living chess demonstrations were made on a giant board outside. Initially a famous game was just played through but several attempts were made to get an actual game going. Eventually one of the county's top juniors took on a local Hull player in a game played in good spirit and involving a few nice touches (for example spectators got to see an underpromotion which you don't get in every game).

I can imagine living chess isn't the easiest thing to arrange as you need 32 volunteers to begin with.

I'm told they've been seen in Hyde Park on the odd occasion. Portmeirion certainly used to and may still do so since one of the episodes features it. SPeaking of which I do wonder whether any of Patrick McGoohan's games exist anywhere.

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2020 11:05 am

I can imagine living chess isn't the easiest thing to arrange as you need 32 volunteers to begin with.

Plus, axiomatically, chess players do not talk to their pieces as much as they should.

I wonder if you did a poll and said you will be a pawn in a living game of chess but can choose which pawn to be, which pawn would top the list and which be at the bottom of the pile. Start from the middle and work outwards I suppose.

I certainly wouldn't want to be a rook pawn - chances of royalty are much more remote I suspect.
None to keen on being a queen's pawn - they often get isolated.
Quite fancy a knight's pawn - it would be fun to be part of a fianchetto.

I've been trying to get some mileage out of "No bishop, no king" to deal with the remainder but it doesn't quite work.

Michael Farthing wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2020 1:57 pm

I've been trying to get some mileage out of "No bishop, no king" to deal with the remainder but it doesn't quite work.

You've lost me there.