Last week the American University student paper The Eagle ran a decent story on the chess culture at Dupont Circle. The article discusses some of the personalities and conventions of the chess players who have met at the circle since the permanent boards were installed in 1968. Here's a taste:

If Dupont Circle is the heart of D.C., then the chess crowd is that mysterious force keeping it pumping. Ten stone tables follow the circle's gentle curve. At them sit retirees and college students, lawyers and doctors, bums and transients, locals and foreigners, disguised grandmasters and brazen amateurs, regulars and curious tourists. Each fights a battle of wit and intellect. Passersby and players settle around a game like at a campfire, and move on to another if the level of excitement and banter begins to dwindle.

James Taylor, an award-winning chess player who oversees chess instructions Circle players refer to as "Chess University" suggests to the Eagle the city should install boards in D.C. schools, waxing philosophic about the game:

"It's not just chess," said Taylor in his quiet, distant voice, stroking his salt-and-pepper goatee. "If you talk to a grandmaster, they'll tell you, you have to be spiritually, morally and mentally right. A lot of people play chess to be perfect, but it teaches humility."

Although intrigued, we've here at DCist have never joined in a game, and there seems to be a dearth of information on the web about Dupont chess. Have you played?