The Dispatch from Moline, Illinois • 50

I I I IU1 AI 'rfj V-P i jtf I ifd. 0 Typical meeting night of the 4th Street Chess Club, East member, C. J. Lehne so far has a perfect score of 20 wins and no Molinc, finds the boys gathered in the Gene Curry basement us losses but he admits there are several members in the club that Curry calls out moves. The boys proceed at their own speed in could beat him.

The boys also learn the history of various plays taking tests on the various patterns they have been playing. One and when they were first used in tournaments. Friendly Game Grows Into Chess Clubt they first started learning lol print the chess moves," Curn laughs. These moves bee. correctly written or the game isl lost, he says.

Ii I If they a wrong move; that is part of the they may finish the game but the boy does not pass his test, The have a club bulletin board on which they keep tract of country singer Bobby Fischer' an-d chess happenings. A native of S'oui gton. Curry came here from Chicago where he had been in management training for a large firm. He and his wife also have a daughter, Kelly, 9, who is an Indian Princess in the YMCA. Mrs.

Curry is organist for the First Christian Church, which the family attends. "Some of tlie biys could hardly print their name when By BAKHAItA BKUKY Dispatch Writer "What began as a liltle chess game between two Iwvs lias grown into the 41 St. Chess Club of East Molinc," explains Gene Curry. 3413 4th East Molinc. Curry's son.

7. and the neighbor boy. C. .1. Incline, talked their dads into playing in a tournament last summer.

When it came time for the tournament, about 20 little boys came bringing their chess men and boards. "Naturally we had the tournament which was climaxed by a cookout and I thought that was the end of it. "But the boys started coming to me for help with their chess and the whole fiing mushroomed into their club." Their second tournament will be next month. All who participated in the first competition received certificates and trophies and are in line for this year's tournament. But the club has become a serious group with the boys really studying the patterns of chess play.

"Every Wednesday night from 7 to 8: 3d. when 1 am in town, the chess club meets. If I am out of town, there are some disappointed boys." states. His job with the H. W.

Paulsen firm. Davenport, does take him away from home at times, but when he is able, he is giving tests or helping the boys. "We picked out the patterns that chess champions use. There are nine defense patterns and we spend about six weeks on each pattern. "The boys may wh eh kind of test they take.

It may be strictly by memory or ihej may play but must correctly write down each move. "They must abide strictly by chess rules, as to touching a piece, timing and the whole bit," he notes. As they study various patterns, Curry gives a lecture with the pattern, explaining the why and wby-nots of the plays The boys may only take a test on a pattern once a day and a club member serves as the official for rules. "They really take pains to be fair with each other as the next time they may be taking a test with someone else as the official. "The boys decided to have small dues to buy trophies and then I match whatever is in the treasury.

They are divided into two teams and they a studying the Queen's Gambit Declined a i a 1 1 he explains. One of the mothers types up the lessons and they are put into a loose-leaf book for the boys. Some of the boys have even made their own chess sets. Wlien a boy is ready to take a test, he is permitted to use the gold and silver plated set that belongs Qirry. Otherwise they use their own boards.

In addition, there is a large board set up in the basement room at the Curry home. The memory achievement is the most difficult as they must retain in their mind the position of each chess piece as the game is played. "I really play for relaxation," Gene admits. He stalled while in college but rccen ly began to play again. "The best game I ever had was with Join Varr.n." Gene recalls.

The game went on for hours and the former Daily Dispatch writer sent out for coffee and sandwiclies to i the exhaustion that a in a i es. the mental exertion. "If a boy chooses to play an open board no pattern, he may win one half a point. But if they play and use a pattern, they win one point. If an error is made, they get a demerit.

"When they are not taking a test and playing orthodox chess, they may play give away chess, speed chess or Chinese chess," Curry states. "The boys call their mothers when they leave the house and the club has been well received by the neighborhood. We don't have a discipline problem as they are guests in oYir home and they are learning a gentleman's game. A boy may reprimanded twice. If it is needed a third time, he is asked to go home, which is tough to explain to his mother.

"If a boy should win two years in a row, he must retire as an honorary club champion. The traveling trophy has room on it for each boy's name. They cannot see the trophies until they are half done with their lessons. "The idea is not to be great chess players, but to participate to the best of their ability. They learn self-discipline, how to win skillfully and how to lose gracefully." 1 'ff5PK In -w "Do you all know the reason for the next asks Gene Curry, as he nses his pointer at his king size chess board, while j-club members play along on smaller boards.

Trophy for the winner of the next tournament is a handsome chess "king" which is mounted on a block of dark wood. Some of the boys have even made their own chess sets. Showcase, June 17, 1972 A16.