International Chess Park

Pretty cool spot whereby people can play chess, overlooks the beach and muscle park.

Planning to go to chess park tomorrow (¹⁰⁄₁₇) with my girlfriend if anyone wants to meet up for a quick game.

Came here since my son is an avid chess player. Granted it was Friday morning and I was not expecting this place to be packed with chess players, but there were only two players and a bunch of homeless people.
The two players got into a spat and started yelling and cursing at each other. This kind of freaked my 11 year old out a bit since they were getting very animated.
I am sure this is a great local resource to have at appropriate times and for events. Our experience was not very good.

My gf wanted to stop by the park because she had heard of a giant chess board and chess pieces. Since we were in the area, we walked over. The park is nice and quaint. Unfortunately the giant chess pieces were locked up. But it was okay by me because I didn’t know how to play chess.
Strangely, we were beckoned by some regulars who were looking for their next victim. Though initially I was skeptical, the players turned out to be nice and showed me how to play and gave us some pointers. Looks can be deceiving.

Chess does not capture the public’s attention like it used to. Instead everyone plays Poker. Probably because poker enables amateurs to dream of being on TV and getting rich quick by playing a game the complexities of which can be readily explained by a TV personality: «Oh look he has a possible straight.»
The people who run the chess industry, or Big Chess (ha!), need our help to reinvigorate the game. Absent another child prodigy like Bobby Fisher, or chess tournaments with Ring Card girls between the opening and middle game, I shall continue to visit the International Chess Park and give companionship, encouragement, and (regrettably) victories to those who play me.

Been playing chess actively for about 12 years now and used to play on the boardwalk in Laguna Beach. This would have to be second to that in terms of beauty and scenery. There are amazing restaurants all throughout this area of Santa Monica and the chess park is nicely located. There is a parking lot behind it to the right with great rates and it usually has spots. Bring a board and a clock if you have it. Players who come here range from amateur to professional, which I am sure of because some of my friends are professional and I have played them here. It’s a great place to soak up the sun, grab a bite, play some chess and people watch! You can also get some fun exercise on the apparati that are located in front of the park. Any time I can waste a day here is fine by me. Check it out if you are in the area, it is to the left of the pier.

Close by to the Hot Dog On a Stick stand at the Santa Monica Pier, this place lures some characters. One particular character sitting front and center was shouting towards the crowded boardwalk «Who is the Chess Master here!?» as if he were a knight in The Middle Ages looking for a brave soul to dual with. As my cousin and I sat at a table across from him he started to bellow out to the masses «Who is the chess master here!?» while pointing down at his board and fallen pieces.
We courage I stood up I answered his challenge «I am the chess master!»

I don’t play chess (not brainy enough; those chess champs would school me), but this cute little park is a perfect picnic spot if you’re down by the Santa Monica pier. No more sand in your sandwich and you get a great people-​watching seat to sip your lemonade and read a book or catch up with a friend.
In fact, I urge you to do what we did and grab some yumlicious takeout from Cha Cha Chicken and dine al fresco. Seriously, beachside dining at it’s finest! Just be sure to clear your own table as yo’ mama don’t work here.

Feelin smart huh? Then take your edumucated ass down to the chess park and get destroyed by derelicts! Lots of fast play here, very good competition… chess nerds rejoice!

As an active tournament chess player and fanatic — this is an AWESOME place to play and even just hang out if you like chess. Great view, great breeze, lots of things to do if you need a break and so on.
Any of the regulars here bring their own vinyl boards, but there are boards secured into the table for the rest of you. If you just want to play a game, ask someone for pieces and they will probably give them to you.
Unlike the previous review, there are NO «world class» players that play here, but there are strong masters, experts and club players. Even though I have been around the chess scene for a very long time — I still get amused, and you will too when you hear some shit talking like «How about that sweet tits!» or «Yeah, I’ll mate your mother too» — there is not end to it. These guys can get into it.
Have fun watching some speed chess and observing the many characters that hang out here regularly.

An outdoor chess park a few feet from the sand, slightly south of Santa Monica Pier. Rumor has it that Bobby Fischer once hung out here. There is always an interesting array of folks playing chess here (world-​class & amateur) at the 25 or so tables accommodating about 65 players. You are right at the ocean where it feels and looks simply beautiful.