Soviet, Tal and Bobby Fisher Lardy Chess Sets! -Chess Collector Hangout #2 (feat. Chuck Grau)

[@thechesscollective]

updated show notes are found at: www.thechesscollective.us/2023/03/chess-collector-hangout-episode-2-chuck.html

[@wiselizard6-vg5ih]

Being a Staunton collector, I really appreciate seeing other people are very passionate about the design and history of the Staunton patterned pieces. Other type sets from Barley corn to the Simpsons are entertaining but, Chess it truly the experience in which "A gnat may drink or an elephant may bathe!" Thank you both very much for sharing!!

[@Kubooxooki]

So happy to get to know the legend himself through this interview. This is a historical interview. Thanks for making it possible!

[@thechesscollective]

Thank you so much for the kind words and feedback! I'm looking forward to having similar interviews and making additional videos, stay tuned...

[@nicksaint-erne]

Nice to finally “meet” Chuck Grau. Nothing better than a beer and chess, especially with such beautiful sets.

[@thechesscollective]

Thanks for the kind words Nick.

[@philpinto6473]

Great interview Stephen. Chuck's love of chess Collecting comes over with amazing anecdotes, research and design appreciation. Chuck always enjoys the relevant beer with his demonstration sets. I am a Facebook friend of you + Chuck, and a fellow collector, from Hampshire in the old country.

[@thechesscollective]

Thanks Phil! I agree Chuck had some amazing anecdotes.

[@kalashchessaddict]

Great content , nice to see Chuck in person and hear his wonderful stories . Even though I'm more in Soviet chess sets and clocks like him ( most probably because of Chuck ) the Lardy storie is amazing . The story and joy of finding this extremely valuable information is priceless.

[@thechesscollective]

Thanks for the comment and kind words. Agreed…Chuck was awesome! More interviews are being planned so stay tuned/notified…

[@chesscollector7199]

I immensely enjoyed watching this, Chuck and Stephen! Thanks for a great interview!

[@thechesscollective]

Glad you enjoyed it! After speaking with Chuck I am now looking onto adding a Soviet/Russian Chess set to my collection, with a newfound appreciation.

[@zznovak1601]

Great one Chuck!

[@thechesscollective]

Indeed!

[@yakkyuu12]

When Chuck describes his sets as he holds a piece as---ART that you can actually hold, the tactile feel starts to actually set off MORE deep thought at what you come to learn as craftsmanship, art and as Chuck said--- geometric and practical design! The understanding of how set design were ALL DONE -- with so much PURPOSE AND ARTISTIC THOUGHT! What I have learned in my limited collecting is a wonderful combination of History, design- practical and artistic, all wrapped up in Chess pieces! Its actually amazing, and the best part is the tactile and FULL PLAY that you can do every single time you play that set! Art as we typically know it, for the most part, is something we fully enjoy--looking at, that is good, BUT--- taking time to LOOK even just a LITTLE DEEPER and spend more time--- brings a WHOLE NEW perspective and respect-- IF and ONLY if ,you are willing to THINK and take the time to study it! One of the most pleasurable different aspects of chess sets is------------ your ability to HOLD THIS PIECE OF ART and craftsmanship design! As you LOOK at even the most magnificent art in galleries, your limitation is, you can only LOOK at it, its still a great experience-- but, again, when you have that TACTILE experience, you have NOW added another ---major dimension to your experience! In my opinion those who are SO much into to the "GAME" aspect and their ELO ranking, actually have LOST a very valuable opportunity to appreciate that deeper experience that Chuck CLARIFIED so well! We all have plastic tournament sets that is needed, as we fear our wooden sets getting some kind of damage to them. I have CONTINUALLY been surprised how MANY VERY good chess players, who have played FOR YEARS---they own just -1- or 2 wood sets, worse, they know LITTLE beyond the NAME of their set, and little to nothing about the purpose of its design! Chucks comment on how a SIMPLE, but beautiful design of a FRENCH LARDY set was SO TELLING--- he and his friends spent a LOT of TIME in recreating what he saw as an ACCURATE design in the LARDY set! Think of ALL the SETS that he has that are SO ORNATE or complex in design--- yet- he said this was probably his favorite set!! IT was because of the TIME and purposeful design WORK they put into this set! I really think it would be a great idea to have what I would call ---- "wood Chess set night" at clubs. You wouldn't need to bring your "best sets" ( even though I think that is a GREAT idea), just try to bring a wooden set that you own! At the historical Mechanics institute in SAN FRAN and so many other clubs that have been around for years--- all they EVER PLAYED was wooden sets! That was a great interview of Chuck, nicely done!

[@thechesscollective]

Thank you for your detailed thoughts on the interview! I love the idea of a wooden chess club bring your own sets!!!

[@eddyoquendo3065]

Great video! Keep ‘em coming!

[@thechesscollective]

Thanks! Indeed I will.

[@PiezasdeAjedrez]

Woa the famous chuck Grau ! Cooool

[@thechesscollective]

Indeed. Chuck did a great job and one of the OGs for the interviews.

[@matzleeach]

Chess God

[@thechesscollective]

Yeah I don't know too many people with such an extensive collection. Thanks for watching!

[@broken1394]

The Fischer story was incredible!! Fancy getting that set for that cheap... Amazing. Bobby moved those pieces!! Gotta love Donaldson's books on Bobby. ⚘️

[@thechesscollective]

It WAS as great story. Thanks for chiming in!

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

Good morning, may I email you a pictures of my 4.5 wood Soviet? It’s a bad replica, or maybe original, idk. +25 years old, very beat up, one replacement blk rook. I don’t know it’s origin

[@hermanjohnell2717]

Guiness in the fridge???

[@marcweeks9178]

Just about every Lardy set I ever saw had bent pieces, usually the king but sometimes a bishop. Don't know what caused that, but I shied away from purchasing them.