PSK.002a: Chess in Prison / Bonus Content
In this episode, we explore the lighter side of incarceration, most notably the sport of Chess in prison, and the joy that music brings us, even in the darkest places.
Full Transcripts:
In solitary confinement, we made our own chess sets (which were confiscated regularly, and then we had to make another set). What does a homemade prison chess set look like? Many things, from flimsy sheets of hand-torn paper, to full sculptural masterpieces made of bread, soap, and dried toothpaste.
This is a fair example:
Once the porters saw my carved soap chess set, and compared it to their scribbled “K, H, B, P” on little scraps of paper, they coveted it. They wanted me to make them one. But nothings for free in prison. I made custom chess sets for a limited clientele, for the general price of 5 extra dinner trays per set. It was a lucrative business while it lasted. And for once, I was well fed.
What was my favorite book / primer to teach me Chess in Prison? Well, one day in solitary, a Russian came onto the tier. He had already done 3 years in the Feds, and was not shy about his chess prowess. As with every piece of “new meat” that came onto the tier, Champ and I immediately got down to business: “You play chess? Awesome! Make a board! Let’s go!”
But whereas Champ was arrogant, I feigned humility. Easier to learn that way. Russia pulled no punches: “I don’t need a board. I can play in my head. What piece do you want me to spot you? I’m warning you, on the Yard at Lompoc, nobody could beat me. Nobody in the whole prison.” I found this a little hard to believe. But he quickly put his money where his mouth was. In the course of the next 30 minutes, Champ lost 3 meals to Russia. I was next.
I told him he could spot me a rook (meaning he would play without a rook), but he didn’t even need it — he didn’t need either of his rooks, in fact. He beat me with horses. I played — and lost, hard — two more games, and then I asked him for advice. He yelled “hold on! I write it down for you!” under the door, and i waited patiently. 10 minutes later, a kite flew in under my door. I yelled “got it!” and he yelled back “pull!”
Which I did. and tied to the line was a full sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 paper, with a series of letters and numbers covering both sides. Subheads said cryptic codewords like “the Dragon” and “the Reverse Sicilian.” And at the very bottom, it said: “AND READ THIS BOOK: COMPLETE CHESS STRATEGY, by SILMAN.” I took his advice. You should too. I had my people send me in the book, and it fundamentally changed my game. One of the best chess books I’ve ever read. And continue to read. Its elegance, organization, and depth is astounding:
Chess was really fun in prison, because it was often a spectator sport, esp. when two players of known excellence or rivalry went head to head. This photo pretty well communicates the vibe of a lot of chess matches in prison. I only wish it had been taken on the precipice of checkmate rather than at piece setup 🙂
Once I got to USP Beaumont, I found that certain VIP inmates actually possessed real chess boards and pieces — an insane luxury, and truly a tactile game changer. The sets had not been available from commissary for more than 8 years, and people kept incinerating the pieces to make tattoo ink, so they were extremely rare, coveted — genuine treasures on the tier…
I got gifted one by none other than Boy George himself (the notorious Bronx gangster, not the musician), which made me a baller on the tier. Probably the chess board owner who had done the least amount of years. To give you an idea of how sought after the boards were, I once declined an offer of $500 to buy mine. $500 is a lot in the Free, but its a small fortune in prison.
Luckily for you in the Free, you don’t have to spend that much. This (below) is pretty much identical to the boards we played on, minus the wear and tear of 20 years of playing chess in prison.
This is the bonus content for the PirateSoldierKing podcast (audio | video) e002a: Chess in Prison.
The podcast is a series of interviews that explore and expound upon the themes from my book of the same name: Pirate Soldier King.
