Touching Grass: Rediscovering Connection and Contemplation Through Chess

The phrase “Go touch some grass!” has become a popular colloquial expression, often used to urge someone to step away from their digital devices and reconnect with the tangible world around them. At first glance, this advice may seem insulting and it may have been meant to. However, I have found that embracing the metaphorContinueContinue reading “Touching Grass: Rediscovering Connection and Contemplation Through Chess”

Happy Halloween (Gambit) 2

October is a very nice time of year to spend an afternoon outdoors playing chess in San Francisco. Back in 2009, Market Street had a vibrant chess scene. Hector Torres (no relation to me) would put out tables and chairs near the Powell BART Station and rent the spaces to chess hustlers. Whenever I wasContinueContinue reading “Happy Halloween (Gambit) 2”

Making New Chess Friends at Dolores Park in San Francisco

As a chess professional, my life has often revolved around the intense world of competitive chess—tournaments, training sessions, etcetera . However, recently, I’ve found a refreshing escape from that labor intensive environment: casual chess games at (Mission) Dolores Park in San Francisco. Chris Torres hard at work reviewing games at a youth chess tournament. OnContinueContinue reading “Making New Chess Friends at Dolores Park in San Francisco”