Chinese chess, an elegant pastime.

(Baonghean) - Chess is an intellectual sport with a long tradition in our country. Currently, the appeal of chess remains undiminished; in fact, it has become more popular in the form of sidewalk chess, contributing to the vibrancy of the chess playing movement in Vinh City…

It's unclear when exactly chess became a part of the cultural and spiritual life of the people of Vinh City. Compared to other sports with their ups and downs, street chess has a completely different character. Even during times of war and turmoil, or the hardships of the post-war period, many chess boards were still set up... For the people of Vinh City, playing chess is not just a simple form of entertainment; more importantly, it's a traditional cultural practice, a refined and intimate pastime that helps cultivate intellect, perseverance, and patience. Chess players come from all walks of life and age groups, all captivated by the moves, the rhythmic sounds of "capturing" pieces – a strangely alluring experience! Chess is both intellectual and simple; it seems few sports have such a straightforward and unpretentious approach.

A chess "playing area" in a cafe in Vinh City.

Chess enthusiasts now often gather on Nguyen Canh Chan Street, Ngu Hai Street, Hong Bang Street, and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. From around 9 am or 3 pm onwards, the streets become noisy with dozens of chess boards set up. Experienced players sip their slowly warming coffee or fragrant lotus tea while huddled around the board, playing chess. Even with only two players in silence, a few people sit nearby, pointing and offering advice. They sympathize with players who make wrong moves or express admiration for unusual and skillful plays. This tense and exciting atmosphere, mixed with the hustle and bustle, creates a unique and captivating charm for sidewalk chess. Mr. Dang Van Tam (Quang Trung Ward, Vinh City), who has been involved with sidewalk chess for nearly 30 years, sincerely said: “For decades I’ve been playing chess, regularly, morning and afternoon, at the same time, I sit under this tree waiting for someone to play with. Without making an appointment, someone always comes to play a few games. Some are acquaintances, some are strangers. But as soon as I set up the chessboard, it’s like an invitation; whether they’re familiar or unfamiliar, they all smile and sit down.”

Those familiar with this form of play call it "sidewalk chess"—a shortened term for street chess. Sidewalk chess venues in Thanh Vinh are now not only the domain of the elderly, but also attract a large number of young people. Playing sidewalk chess has many rules and regulations, not the casual, easygoing game many people think. Pham Anh Tuan, an architect and long-time "sidewalk chess" player on Hong Bang Street, said: "Sidewalk chess is completely different from professional chess. Firstly, there are no time restrictions on moves, and secondly, it doesn't apply the rules of the game. It's quite free in terms of moves, but if players aren't alert, they can easily fall into overly reckless, uncontrollable moves. Sidewalk chess is both easy and difficult, and that's why it's so addictive."

No one denies the enduring vitality of this intellectual sport, but for a long time, Chinese chess has existed and developed as a spontaneous phenomenon. And with such a spontaneous development, who can be sure that the quintessential values ​​of Chinese chess have been properly preserved? Evidence of this is the emergence of many unconventional rules, and new players, without regard for the traditional rules, have naively followed these "new rules." This has led to misconceptions about chess, even distortions such as "gambling chess" or "rigged chess"—terms referring to forms of chess played with betting and various tricks, primarily for the purpose of making money. Furthermore, street chess players are also facing numerous problems such as pickpocketing, theft, and gambling, all of which are infiltrated for profit, negatively impacting this refined pastime. The hope of those who play chess on the sidewalks is to receive attention and intervention from local authorities at all levels, to deal with and deter those who engage in misconduct, in order to restore the inherent beauty of chess and preserve the essence of this traditional national culture for future generations.

Hoang Vu

Vinh City