Â
At North & Wells in Chicago, sits a coffee house that has been the site for an avid if not rabid coterie of chess….enthusiasts? practitioners? maniacs? nuts? That’s it. Chessnuts. Almost exclusively males who exhibit a wide array of styles. Some are the cool, collected strategists. Some chatter continually. Boastful at times. Some get very demonstrative, oozing complaints and protestations most commonly during the raid paced games where a clock is involved and moves are made within a few seconds.
 
Â
One cat in particular catches my eye in part because he wears a yellow fedora, brim up, and pull down such that his eyes are hidden beneath the wave of his hat with gaze riveted to the maneuvering on the board.
Wagering occasionally takes place, and tempers are raised with contestants parting in a huff, the extended handshake ignored, Â but matches often appeared collegial with the appeal of the game and social interaction the primary payoff.
Fountain pen and Pitt Artist Pens on Clairefontaine Goldline Watercolour paper.
Love these! What a great place to draw, and the players would be sitting fairly still most of the time too. No getting up shortly after I start drawing like on public transportation. Wish I knew of a place like this. All the best/
Yes, it’s fun, but some can be quite animated, and if they’re playing speed chess with a timer it goes quickly and they can finish a game as quickly as 5-8 minutes. Keeps it all quite interesting.