CHESS LOVERS GATHER HERE TO APPLY SKILLS; WEEKLY MATCHES POPULAR EVENT

With the smell of espresso percolating through the air, the soft sounds of classical violin drifting down from the overhead speakers and the quiet, sandy rustle of turning pages, it is no surprise that chess players from all around the area have discovered Wednesday night's matches at Barnes & Noble Book Sellers.

"We felt like chess and bookstores went together," said Rebecca Meinke, Barnes & Noble children's department supervisor.

The book store has been inviting chess players in since January to their cafe, which is nestled in a front corner of the sprawling establishment. And the chess players have been responding. Meinke said all of the cafe's 15 tables have been occupied on recent Wednesday nights in concentrated matches.

Christopher Ervin, a clerk at the store, has spent a few chess nights competing in the cafe. He said the competition can be tough.

"Playing chess is all within the mind's capability," Ervin, who took up the game many years ago as a way of spending more time with his father, said. "The more you play the better you become."

Douglas Pokorny makes the drive from Piedmont to Cape Girardeau just for chess nights. He said he and a friend might occasionally drive a combined 150 miles to meet somewhere for a chess match.

"This is the only place in Cape Girardeau where people gather to play chess," Pokorny said. "There is a place in Farmington, which is closer to my house, but I'm used to making the drive to Cape."

Pokorny, who was studying opening moves Wednesday night by himself while sipping cappuccino, said the competition is strong on chess night as many people use this time to prepare for local tournaments.

"These games are what we call skittles, which usually means they're informal and talking during the games and maybe taking a move back. That's OK as long as both people agree on it beforehand," he said. "But by and large we try to play as close to tournament conditions as we can to get us in better shape for the real thing."

Pokorny said he has a chess program on his computer at home but it is nothing like playing against another person.

"It's hard to get psyched-up to play a computer," he said. "It really doesn't care if it wins."

Not only is it important for Pokorny to play people, it is good for him to play many different people. That's one reason why he'll make the trip to Cape Girardeau.

But while the competition can be tough at chess night, it does not have to be a competitive event. Ed Williams and his grandson Jacob Marberry, both of Cape Girardeau, are teaching themselves how to play.

"We got the set last Christmas. My wife, Jacob's grandmother, got it for us," Williams said. "This is something we can do together."

Last night, was Williams' night to babysit Jacob so he picked up his grandson after a Boy Scout meeting and came to chess night.

"I just found out about the group here about a month ago," Williams said. "So I've been here each Wednesday since then."

Meinke said the response to chess night has been so positive it has led the bookstore to devote other nights to different games. The store is also considering holding its first chess tournament.

"We have board games behind the counter and that seems to be going over really well," she said. "We've had bridge club. We've even had Scrabble night.

"There's some nights it adds to the cafe, the business, but a lot of times they're just here to have a nice place to play chess."