Evans On Chess. June 14, 1996. Copyright Chesstours. All rights reserved.

                              CHESS GOES TO JAIL

When the famous bank robber Willy Sutton was asked why he robbed banks,
he said, "Because that's where the money is. The book he was reading when
they caught him was HOW TO THINK AHEAD IN CHESS.

Dr. Karl Menninger hailed chess as a healthy outlet for aggression, and
the game is now used for mental therapy in asylums, hospitals and
prisons. Chess, like music, hath charms to soothe the savage beast.

Alas, crime is a malady that can't be cured by chess. Yet studies show
that inmates who learn chess in jail are more likely to stay out when
they get out.

I once accompanied Bobby Fischer to an exhibiton at Riker's Island, a
crowded jail in New York City. As we walked past a cell block flanked by
the warden and a reporter covering this for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Bobby
wondered if the guards would shoot if you didn't stop when they told you
to.

"Don't try it," I said.

"No, seriously," he insisted. "Suppose you just kept on going and didn't
stop. Would they shoot you? I mean, would they really kill you?"

We were all amused, though not quite sure what would happen. After a
moment of silence, the warden said gently, "They would not kill you."

A prison band was playing when we reached the site, which was jammed with
2400 inmates for this festive occasion. Without further ado, Bobby zipped
from board to board and mowed down their best 20 players.

As the day wore on, most of the prisoners returned to their cells.
Finally only a few trustees were clustered around the remaining boards,
fascinated by that curious bond exerted by a good chess game in the world
of the free or the unfree.

Some local chess clubs routinely compete against prison teams despite the
occasional inmate who escapes during a match. Many years ago a letter
from an inmate described conditions at his Virginia prison:

      "Our chess club meets two nights a week. It has more members
      than any other team or sport, 52, and 30 are non-white.
      Nobody talks. These men have respect for the wonderful
      opportunity to play chess, and it's so quite you could hear
      a pawn drop.

      "None of our players gets into trouble by breaking prison
      rules. Those who learned chess behind the large grey walls
      stick with it when they get out. Very few break their
      parole or commit another crime. The rate of recidivism is
      almost zero. Not only at Norfolk, but at other penal
      institutions as well."

An inmate at another prison reports: "Because of our different schedules
and jobs it's nearly impossible to arrange a tournament. Our solution is
to play round-robin style, with a week for each player to track down his
opponent and play his games. Works great!"

We get many requests from inmates for chess sets or books. Anyone who
wants to make a donation is urged to contact the prison chess program of
the USCF, 186 Route 9W, New Windsor, NY 12550. Or phone 1-800-388-5464.

(A revised past column)
