A Hub for Chess

Weekly gatherings at Eatonville Community Chess Center open to all

Story and photos by Rick Stedman

Every Wednesday for the past four years, the game of chess has been offered to any
and all in Eatonville who are interested in playing or learning.

The Eatonville Community Chess Center is the home of all things chess from 2–8 p.m. each week. The building at 185 Mashel Ave. North also serves as the home of Eatonville United Methodist Church.

The brainchild of Pastor Bernard Preston Ritchea and his wife, Bonnie, the chess center offers a laid-back setting and is open to all comers. Bonnie says between 25 and 50 individuals show up every Wednesday.

“We never know exactly who will show up, so it’s a different crowd every week,” she says.

“The chess center atmosphere is more like a library instead of a gymnasium,” Bernard says.

Bonnie says the chess center was started in memory of Michael Boettcher, a member of the Eatonville Lions Center and a talented chess player who died recently. She describes the center as a welcoming community hub.

“There are no meetings, no officers or dues,” Bonnie says. “It’s simply a place to learn and share chess skills.”

Weekly participants are from all walks of life. Whatever their skill level, they have one thing in common: a love for the game. To help newer players, there is a guide on every table. It describes the board setup, the responsibility and importance of each piece,
and the basics of playing the game.

Bonnie points out the good attitudes attending kids have about the game. “I hear them regularly cheering each other on,” she says.

Sonny Stroud, a local 12 year old, has been playing chess for the past four years, and is a regular at the chess center.

“I improve my skills by playing against those that I know are better than me,” he says.

Improving skills is a two-way street here. As Sonny played against a relatively new player, he displayed a great sense of respect for his opponent, who was about to make a huge mistake. Sonny gently questioned his move by asking, “Are you sure you want to do that?” His opponent immediately saw the error of his intended move and quickly
adjusted.

This example of respect and sportsmanship is a hallmark of the center’s weekly participants.

After each match, the players shake hands and ready the board for the next contestants,” she says.

The center also helps kids learn and improve their skills.

“Watching others play makes me a better player,” Sonny says.

Church member and chess enthusiast Charna Rouse is also a Wednesday regular
at the chess center.

“Some of the better chess players actually think ahead up to four moves,” she says.

Members of the high school chess center sometimes stop by and play or teach others
as well. Adults who are knowledgeable and experienced chess players sometimes share their knowledge of the game by playing and teaching others, too.

Chess knows no boundaries and is a game for all ages to intermingle, learn and enjoy.

“The one thing I learned is to do your best and to not give a game away,” Bonnie says. “You are not teaching the other person how to make correct moves if you are giving them the game. Yes, it can be frustrating, but when you win because of the skills you possess, you feel like you have really accomplished something.”

The beauty of observing chess at the Wednesday gathering is the kindness and respect that all players display. Whether they are 8 or 80, they maintain the same
decorum and respect for one another.

Eatonville Community Chess Center at the
Eatonville United Methodist Church is open
2-8 p.m. on Wednesdays. The center is at 185
Mashel Ave. North, Eatonville, WA, 98328. If
you have questions about the weekly event,
call 360-832-4021.