Bob's Chess Page

Links:

US Chess Federation

House of Staunton Chess Equipment

Indiana State Chess Association

Southern Arizona Chess Association

World Chess Federation

I have played chess since Jerry, the boy down the street, taught me the moves when I was about 9 years old. I was a casual player for many years, but after the Fischer-Spaski match my friend Bill got me started playing in USCF tournaments. I was actively involved in chess play and organization for several years including a stint as the secretary of the Indiana State Chess Association and a delegate to the USCF annual meetings. I quit playing competitive chess for several years because of the time I spent with my 2 sons while they were growing up. For many years I used a chess table I had made right after I married my wife. It was a good chess table made from cedar and maple. My lovely wife had gotten me a very nice Rosewood and Boxwood set to go with the table and I spend many hours playing chess on it with my friends Dennis and Bill. When I retired I gave the table and set to Bill and retained my tournament set which consisted of plastic pieces and a Drueke linen board. After 3 years of travel in our RV I found that the computer games I was playing all seemed too much alike and started to play more chess online. When we were in Tucson, AZ for the winter I started playing at the East Side Chess Club in Tucson. About that time I decided that the plastic set that had served me well for so many years, (perhaps 30) was just falling apart and I ordered a new set from the USCF. I ordered the wood Championship set. It was a very nice, playable set and fit the Drueke board very nicely.  I sold that set to be used as a Christmas present for a friend and bought a nice plastic set patterned after the set used by Fischer & Spaski during thier match in 1972 in Reykjavik, Iceland. During that time I had discussed fine chess sets  with my friend Mike who is a collector and importer of fine quality chess sets. Much to my wife's dismay I became interested in heirloom quality sets. I have purchased 2 additional sets which I have detailed descriptions and pictures here.  I really don't need both of these sets and would like to sell one. If you are interested, please contact me at: bob@mccorkles.org.

January 2012 -- I was able to help with the Corpus Christi Championship chess tournament last weekend. I wan to thank Dan and Chris for allowing me to be an asst Tournament Director. I have been playing chess online but I'm struggling with the game when I'm playing good players. I need to concentrate better and to work on my openings.

May 2011 -- We are spending the summer of 2011 following IndyCar racing around the country. To keep up with the game of Chess I play online at LetsPlayChess.com. In addition I play correspondence chess thru the US Chess Federation. I recently completed my first USCF correspondence tournament which  I won with a 6-0 score. I expect my next tournament will be much stronger and I'm hoping that I do not embarrass myself. 

We spent the winter of 2010-2011 in Arcadia FL,  I have been playing chess at the Big E Coffee House in Sarasota, FL. The people are very friendly and the level of chess is very good. Greg, a local master and tennis pro, gives a lecture each week and is always available to analyze games or give advise.  Here are a couple of pictures of Greg at Big E's.

Click on the icon below to check out a game I played on www.letsplaychess.com a while back.