“The most famous meeting place for Chess players for over a century”

  First opened in 1670 in Paris when players moved here from the Cafe Procope and frequented by Voltaire, Robespierre and Napoleon. Ignazio Calvi, (1792-1872) taught traditional Chess here and earned 40,000 francs during a four-year period.

  Coffee houses were popular meeting places for Chess players in the 18th and 19th centuries and even today you can play Chess at the Cafe Mozart in Hampstead in old Viennese-style surroundings (73 Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, London). 

  Ms. Edith C. Price of the Gambit Chess Rooms had the following notice displayed on her premises:  The Gambit Chess Rooms are open to Chess players for the enjoyment of social games. Visitors can usually obtain an opponent by applying at the counter for an introduction.

  Playing for money stakes is quite unnecessary and the management strongly discourage the principle. Should any visitor be pestered or annoyed by strangers asking them to do so, information to the management will be much appreciated.

  Other clubs in London in the past have included:  London: 01 Slaughter's. 02 Parsloe's. 03 White's Choclate House. 04 Tom's. 05 Salopian. 06 Huttman's Garrick Chess Divan. 07 Gatti's. 08 Cafe Caro. 09 Kilpack's Divan. 10 Starie's Philidorian Chess rooms. 11 Purssell's. 12 Gliddon's Divan. 13 Gambit Chess Rooms (Budge Row). 14 Dr. Butler's Head. 

  Other countries:  01 Amsterdam: Roode Leeuw. 02 Berlin: Bauer, Belvedere, Konig. 03 Geneva: Cafe de la Couronne. 04 Madrid: Cafe du Levant. 05 Leipzig: Hanisch. 06 New York: International. 07 Rome: Palazzo de' Cinque. 08 Vienna: Rabel, Central. 09 Riga: Reuter.