Thread: A game of chess

There is a family story from my grandfather’s generation I was reminded of recently, my father was a late child of a second marriage so we are talking about some time in the second half of the eighteen hundreds.

A great uncle who was a keen chess player used to travel to work in the City every day. He took the same train that passed through Tonbridge each day and took with him a small travelling chess set with red and white bone pieces that peg into holes in the centre of the squares and are held in place by a thin mahogany board when the box is folded shut.

Seats in those days would have been reserved, and he found himself sitting opposite another gentleman who, it turned out, was also a chess player. They naturally started playing and over the years came to know each other’s game quite well.

In his local chess club one day my uncle was describing a particular variation that this opponent favoured to a fellow member and the other member said that he thought he recognised it and asked the gentleman’s name.

“Good God” said my uncle, “The man is a total stranger, one wouldn’t dream of asking his name!”

I still have the set on my bookshelf, and it is promised to my step-daughter when I die, it is of no great intrinsic value, but my father taught me to play on it and it has considerable sentimental value.

A perfect delight. Thank you for this, Olly.

Fathers teaching sons to play chess is a time-honored tradition. I still have my father's set from the 50's, black and white marble board, and carved wooden pieces. I taught my son to play on it.

Cool story. Great to still have something like that connecting you with your father.

This is a cool story. My uncle taught me to play chess and I will always remember how I was a bit closer to him than any of my other uncles because of this. Thanks for the story

Colorful bit! Those older generations have a lot of choice tid-bits to share. I recently started playing chess with my new iMac, but it beats me every time. At least the games are short!