Chess

[Tufty]

Can anybody point me in the direction of a chess club in Pattaya and more to the point where can I buy a chess set

[Ajarn Kimau]

Is it real that buying a chess set and finding a chess club in Pattaya is a problem, since there were no answers?

[Mobi]

Is it real that buying a chess set and finding a chess club in Pattaya is a problem, since there were no answers?

l

Interesting observation.

The last time I dared to denigrate the intellectual pursuits of Pattaya residents I got shot down in flames.

So I shall leave that issue alone - the last thing I need is a slanging match on my first day back from the wilderness. Anyway, now I know better. Pattaya - the cultural centre for the masses.

I just asked the wife if she had seen any chess etc for sale in Pattaya - and she laughed at me.

I reckon I've seen them in fancy souvenier type/ local crafts shops, but wouldn't swear to it.

If we can find any chess sets, I'm ready to have a game - even start a club.

Strange how tufty posted his request at 3.03 am - you'd think he'd have better things to do at that hour of the morning.

Edited April 4, 2006 by Mobi D'Ark

[Noel]

I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere an age back about expat's informally meeting in the Royal Garden Plaza to play chess.

Ring any bells anyone…?

[chingching]

Can anybody point me in the direction of a chess club in Pattaya and more to the point where can I buy a chess set

I saw a post back in 2004, that asked the same thing, and it got zero replies. Maybe a bar owner out there would volunteer his place for a few hours a night, when his business is slow. The chess players would buy a drink or two, and maybe a meal, so it would be something during a normally slow time, and be good publicity for him.

[Noel]

Can anybody point me in the direction of a chess club in Pattaya and more to the point where can I buy a chess set

I saw a post back in 2004, that asked the same thing, and it got zero replies. Maybe a bar owner out there would volunteer his place for a few hours a night, when his business is slow. The chess players would buy a drink or two, and maybe a meal, so it would be something during a normally slow time, and be good publicity for him.

Opportunity knocking again, davethailand...

[tommi9]

Can anybody point me in the direction of a chess club in Pattaya and more to the point where can I buy a chess set

Hi, there is a shop where you can buy chess sets : entering walking street, app. 200 meters on the left hand side there is a shop selling games and other things, they have chess sets in different sizes.

[monty]

Well I guess us who live at the Mabprachan area are located in the more intelectual part of town (although Kurgen does live here as well )

At Charly's bar (entrance of VJ land, Siam country club road side of the lake) I very often see games of chess being played in afternoons.

A chess set is available to use for the customers...

[Chopper]

I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere an age back about expat's informally meeting in the Royal Garden Plaza to play chess.

Ring any bells anyone…?

You are quite correct a few years ago every afternoon a few of the local intelligentsia would meet up on the top floor where the food stands were and sit at a table with a Chess Board and pretend to go through the motions. Though I suspect that was more to mask their other activities...

...I am not suggesting that pawn was their ulterior motive with all the freelancers that used to hang around up there. Knights they were not. They thought they were King of the Castle until I saw one of them pick up a Queen who made a straight-line for his bishop. After that sorry episode that got the check mate and I have not them since.

[Tufty]

Is it real that buying a chess set and finding a chess club in Pattaya is a problem, since there were no answers?

l

Interesting observation.

The last time I dared to denigrate the intellectual pursuits of Pattaya residents I got shot down in flames.

So I shall leave that issue alone - the last thing I need is a slanging match on my first day back from the wilderness. Anyway, now I know better. Pattaya - the cultural centre for the masses.

I just asked the wife if she had seen any chess etc for sale in Pattaya - and she laughed at me.

I reckon I've seen them in fancy souvenier type/ local crafts shops, but wouldn't swear to it.

If we can find any chess sets, I'm ready to have a game - even start a club.

Strange how tufty posted his request at 3.03 am - you'd think he'd have better things to do at that hour of the morning.

Finally found one at Made in Thailand on 2nd road, looks quite nice, made of resin in a box with the board on top of the box which at 12" square is quite small and concequently pretty cheap

Chances are the g/f had gone to her mum's and I had been out on the beer which explains the 3.03 posting time

[Mobi]

[Finally found one at Made in Thailand on 2nd road, looks quite nice, made of resin in a box with the board on top of the box which at 12" square is quite small and concequently pretty cheap

Chances are the g/f had gone to her mum's and I had been out on the beer which explains the 3.03 posting time

Guess what? He who finds nothing stumbled upon a variety of chess sets and other board games in the toy section of Tesco in Pattaya Nua. Whilst being bombarded by two Thai kids kicking balls around that they hadn't bought, I found a variety of cheap, pretty naff looking chess sets, mainly of the magnetic variety.

After humming and ha-ing and swearing at the bloody football kids, I checked the Mobi budget and invested in a '3 in 1'. Chess, draughts and backgammon, all in one package. This was on the basis that if there isn't a chess club, I can teach and beat the wife at backgammon and get beaten by our son at draughts, all for the princely outlay of 195 Baht. What a bargain!

[Weho]

I would think that with all the Russians here, there should be at least a little interest... perhaps asking at one of the Russian restaurants, like the one on Second Road near "Boystown" area...

Perhaps if you considered a somewhat LESS intelligent hobby, like arm-wrestling or beer drinking, you might get more interest in Pattaya... or maybe a meeting of tank-top wearing, beer bellied types might attract more replies. But look at the bright side, you're getting at least some replies here... had your topic been "Wanted, Poetry group in Pattaya", you probably would get even LESS interest.

[Mobi]

I would think that with all the Russians here, there should be at least a little interest... perhaps asking at one of the Russian restaurants, like the one on Second Road near "Boystown" area...

Perhaps if you considered a somewhat LESS intelligent hobby, like arm-wrestling or beer drinking, you might get more interest in Pattaya... or maybe a meeting of tank-top wearing, beer bellied types might attract more replies. But look at the bright side, you're getting at least some replies here... had your topic been "Wanted, Poetry group in Pattaya", you probably would get even LESS interest.

..Or Brass Rubbing?.....

[teletiger]

Brasses are rubbed in Pattaya 24/7, (for a small fee naturally)

regards

[Noel]

Brasses are rubbed in Pattaya 24/7, (for a small fee naturally)

regards

[CGW]

I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere an age back about expat's informally meeting in the Royal Garden Plaza to play chess.

Ring any bells anyone…?

You are quite correct a few years ago every afternoon a few of the local intelligentsia would meet up on the top floor where the food stands were and sit at a table with a Chess Board and pretend to go through the motions. Though I suspect that was more to mask their other activities...

...I am not suggesting that pawn was their ulterior motive with all the freelancers that used to hang around up there. Knights they were not. They thought they were King of the Castle until I saw one of them pick up a Queen who made a straight-line for his bishop. After that sorry episode that got the check mate and I have not them since.

Well observed Chopper, very droll, for some reason (aircon?) the upstairs of Royal garden has always attracted some strange types

[johng]

I quite often see some elderly gents playing chess in Burger King. ( Royal garden Plaza )

[cobra]

No problem finding a chess set, they're a staple at any gift / souvenir stand,

Finding a convenient venue to play is another story.

I play against a computer (game software on my machine), but have been tempted to set up a board on beach road sometime, maybe across from Starbucks,

(problem is I insist on do-overs, talking constantly to the other person when they're trying to think and finally knocking all the pieces of the board when I lose, )