AskaNewYorker: What are you up to today?
Ted: Today I’m going to sit out here and hustle some games for the next
two or three hours, and then head back to Brooklyn and relax and enjoy the day.
Ask a New Yorker: How long have you been playing chess?
Ted: I’ve been playing chess since I was four years old; that’s
when Pops taught me the game. Do you want to start a game?
Ask a New Yorker: Sure, but I’m going to feel bad taking your money. Hopefully
you’ll teach me a few new moves.
Ted: I’m going to put ten minutes on the chess clock. We’re both
going to start with ten minutes. So if you run out of time you lose the game.
I make my move and hit the clock and then your time starts to run. The longer
you think the more time you lose. You run out of time you lose the game or checkmate,
whatever happens first. It’s called speed chess.
Ask a New Yorker: I love chess but have only played a few times in the last
couple of years. I know how the pieces move and that you want to control the
center of the board but other than that I’m clueless. (Ted charged five
bucks to play and was very helpful showing me some mistakes I was making. We
finished the game and Ted was very gracious in talking with me.)
Ask a New Yorker: Here we are at Union Square. Ted, how would you describe this
part of the city?
Ted: Union Square I guess in some respects is what Washington Square Park used
to be, in the sense that all the chess hustlers use to be in Washington Square
Park. The original chess hustlers are still actually down there. People come
see them. They’re well known. Well known? Whatever that means. A lot of
people are gravitating to Union Square where there is a lot of hustle and bustle.
There’s music and concerts– it’s a good vibe.
Ask a New Yorker: So Ted, how would you rate my chess skills?
Ted: The honest or nice opinion?
Ask a New Yorker: The unvarnished truth.
Ted: On a scale of one to ten, you’re a one or a two. Basically I’m
rating you on the level that you would have to be at to actually beat someone
at the park. That’s the thing about chess hustling you come to the park
and people play down so you think you can win and then you spend more money.
But the truth of the matter is, most of these guys out here are close to master
level. There is rating
system called ELO, a mathematical system which classifies the level of various
chess players, which is named after a Hungarian physicist. It’s often
written ELO but actually it’s not an acronym, it’s his last name.
Ask a New Yorker: Thanks Ted. What are you reading there?
Ted: I’m checking out The New Yorker’s latest issue. I’ve
got a little subscription. I’m not totally always blown away by the articles,
especially recently. Whatever. There was one article about a disorder that infants
have during their first six months, some
kind of crying disorder where they can’t stop crying and when they
measure the frequency of the baby’s cry, it’s at a higher pitch
and a higher frequency, the volume is higher. It’s a serious disorder
and the medical community is clueless to why.
Ask a New Yorker: So when was the last time you cried?
Ted: That’s an interesting question. I don’t know if I cried. But
I will give you a very teary eyed story. Yesterday I went up to where mom lives
and had to put our puppy dog to sleep, a dog which we had for ten years. So
that was very sad.
Ask a New Yorker: Sorry to hear that….So what part of this great city
do you live in?
Ted: I live in Clinton Hill, which is definitely an interesting neighborhood.
I suppose it’s up and coming in some respects. It’s right next to
Fort Green. Pratt is right there. So it’s got a college vibe, guys and
girls, interested in art. I live on the outskirts more on the boarder of Bed
Stuy which I guess is up and coming. I don’t know if it will ever be like
places like Williamsburg and Brooklyn Heights have already become. It’s
still nice and affordable.
Ask a New Yorker: Any restaurant recommendations?
Ted: I’ve got to tell you I’m just not into the gastronomical world.
I don’t know anything about food. I go to restaurants and I don’t
remember their names. I go to bars and can’t remember their names. I’m
just not really interested in food, restaurants and such. I like that stuff.
I just don’t put a lot of weight on it for some reason.
Ask a New Yorker: Back to the subculture of the chess world; it fascinates me.
Ted: A lot of these guys you find out here are former chess players at very
high levels, former tournament players. I know this one guy who traveled the
world. If you’re going to come play with the chess hustlers, come and
expect to lose. You’re not playing to gamble really. You’re playing
to gain experience. That’s the idea.
