Free Speech Alley is the epicenter of campus life at LSU. From student clubs to small businesses to political protests, this corner of campus is always buzzing with excitement. Frequently in the middle of all the hustle and bustle is one club that has become a familiar sight for all students passing through: Chess Club.
The LSU Chess Club is a student organization with two simple goals: to play chess and to share the game with everyone, even those who have never played a game in their lives. The club is best known for its tables in Free Speech Alley, where any student can stop by for a quick game of chess.
“The main reason we’re out here is because it’s easy to recruit for the club,” said Ethan DeLaughter, a senior chemistry major and president of Chess Club. “People see it, they’ll come up. We invite them with open arms, obviously, and maybe teach them a couple things if they have the time.”
The group usually meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Free Speech Alley and Tuesday and Thursday in the library. Hosting meetings in Free Speech Alley has both its pros and cons. On one hand, meeting in a public, heavily-trafficked place allows the club to reach as many students as possible; on the other hand, students are usually in a rush to get to and from class, leaving little time to actually stop by the tables.
DeLaughter believes people’s hesitation to join in on the chess games is most likely due to social anxiety around talking to strangers, but also because people assume they have to be exceptionally smart or have a lot of experience with the game in order to participate.
“We just want people to come out,” DeLaughter said. “We do not mind if you’ve never played a game. You could be the best player at the club — it does not matter to us.”
Ben Levy, a recent LSU graduate and former club president, also suggested that there may be a gendered aspect to students’ hesitation. He said that chess is often thought of as a masculine pastime, which can discourage women from putting themselves in these spaces. Like DeLaughter, Levy hopes that Chess Club can serve as a welcoming community for anyone interested in playing chess.
“Don’t need to be a man, don’t need to be nerdy, don’t need to be smart,” said Levy. “You just need to have fun and play chess.”
Because of its acceptance of everyone regardless of skill level or previous experience, Chess Club has cultivated a positive, supportive environment where anyone can come to make new friends and enjoy a fun game.
DeLaughter pointed to his own experiences as examples of how positive the community is. He recalled a time last year when he was up against a player with a 2100 ELO, 400 points above DeLaughter’s 1700 rating. Statistically speaking, the other player should have had the game in the bag, but as the two players contended, DeLaughter realized he had a shot.
“I remember that everybody that was playing realized that I had a chance, and they all crowded around the same board,” he said.
After a quick back-and-forth tournament, DeLaughter ended up winning the game despite the odds.
“It was cool to see everybody stop what they were doing, right, and then start to watch as one of their newer members had a chance to beat someone that was better than them.”
Ultimately, the most rewarding part is seeing people who may not know much about chess grow in both confidence and skill over time, DeLaughter said. With a little practice and a lot of enthusiasm, anyone has the chance to be great, and the Chess Club is the perfect place to step out of one’s comfort zone and try something new.
“It’s not really about the chess,” said DeLaughter. “It’s really more about the community. Chess is more like the cracker for the queso, right? It’s all about the queso. That’s what we’re here for, but the chess is just a vehicle.”
