CITY OF NEWBURGH It isnt the most personal way to play chess, but meeting online has become a temporary solution for kids in the Newburgh Armory Unity Centers Chessmates class stay sharp and connected.
I think its kind of fun, even though you cant see the person, the kids recognize each other, said Andrew Johnston, the class instructor and co-coach of the competitive Chessmates team.
Johnston uses Lichess.com, a popular, free online chess site where kids can play quick games or tournaments against their classmates.
Keeping as close to routine as possible during the coronavirus crisis, the class continues to meet online between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturdays.
Johnston has also used Lichess.com to hold Wednesday evening chess meetings, and just this week, he brought back the Monday evening meetings.
The competitive Chessmates team went to their last tournament in Albany on March 7 before coronavirus-induced social distancing rules called off the meets.
You dont get the whole interaction with the other person, and thats a nice aspect of the tournaments we go to in-person, Johnston noted. You sit down with a person you dont know, but you both know the rules of chess and, before the coronavirus, you would shake hands, sit down, play shake hands and the game is completed. You miss that interaction.
He is now considering ways the classmates can stream their gameplay through webcameras so they can see and talk to each other while they play.
All who join Chessmates have to be registered through the Armorys website.
The registration form is simple and can be found at newburgharmory.org.
The Armory has made some of its other Saturday morning programs available online.
In addition to Chessmates, online access has been created for the Scholars in Scrubs nursing classes, remote reading, and acting classes through the art program. The Lending Library is also staying open with a selection of e-books.
The reality is we need to keep our relationship with these families strong, said the Armorys Chief Operations Officer Jim McGee. The organization has to do whatever we have to do so that on the other end of this crisis were still here for the families.
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