Check Out First Saturday Chess

If it’s the first Saturday of the month, you’re guaranteed to find lots of strategy and game tactics being practiced in Doylestown.

During the summer months, First Saturday Chess moves outdoors to Doylestown Historical Society’s park off of Arabella Alley.

The program, sponsored by Doylestown’s Park and Recreation Department, is open to all skill levels of chess players.

Want to learn? Drop by anytime from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the next first Saturday of the month – July 2. They’d love to teach you.

Chess sets are provided. Bring your own enthusiasm.

On this Saturday, a handful of chess aficionados were playing the board game while enjoying the perfect summer day and each other’s company.

Thirteen-year-old Sam Taylor of Doylestown was honing his techniques while his dad, Stan, watched. The youngster had been playing chess since third grade.

“I think it’s exciting,” he said of the game, which is thought to have originated in India as early as the 6th century. “It’s kind of fun to beat people, but even losing sometimes is fun – if it’s a good game.”

Tom LoCasale of Doylestown Township had been a longtime enthusiast but hadn’t played for a while until he found First Saturday Chess.

“I can no longer blame that I’m rusty,” he said. “Now, when I lose, it’s because the other guy’s better.”

The buzz on this day was that one of those frequenting First Saturday Chess, Jose Fernandez of Stockton, N.J., was featured on last month’s cover of Chess Life magazine with teammates that won the U.S. Amateur Team East Championship – a regional competition that featured about 1,200 amateur chess players.

Knox Bickford of Buckingham recalled one of the games he played against Fernandez – one that had him on the losing end.

“I played one of the best games I played, but it was like being pecked to death by a duck,” he joked.

“Well, I beat Jose, so I feel like I should be on the inside cover (of the magazine),” joked John Connelly, chess director.

“I think he had a fever that day, John,” dead-panned Gary Harris, Doylestown’s park and recreation director, drawing laughs from the group.

Aside from bettering your skills by playing against others, Connelly said the camaraderie that the group provides is also what keeps people coming.

Ray Young of Yardley said the game “crosses all boundaries,” regardless of culture.

“You can go anywhere in the world and when you open up a chessboard, you can always find somebody to play.”

His words of wisdom: “Practice, practice, practice.”

First Saturday Chess will meet in the park through September. In case of inclement weather, the group will meet at Saxby’s on Main Street – also its indoor location between November and April.

Harris said this is the sixth year of the program.

For more information, call Doylestown Borough at (215) 345-4140.