Dewitt Green supervises chess players at the Veterans Park Recreation Center each week. Photo by Mel Toadvine

You say you used to play chess?

Well if you live in Lehigh, you’re in the right place because playing chess is getting a revival. It is one of the activities youngsters and adults can participate in at the Veterans Park Recreation Center every Wednesday.

DeWitt Greeen loves to play chess so much that he has become the volunteer at the Center, to teach others how to play and to play with others who’ll take him on.

“It’s like any other activity here at the Center. You sign up for $10 and then you can participate in any of the events here,” he said.

On Wednesdays at the Center in one of the meeting rooms, Green sets up several tables with chess boards and the 32 pieces set up ready to play. He begins usually at around 3 p.m. because a lot of students who played chess in the schools may come to the Center at that time.

Dewitt Green holds one of the many pieces on the chess board. He says the queen is the most powerful piece and must be protected.

And later after work, adults may come to sit down and play the game that once was for royalty.

Green says he loves the game and has been playing chess ever since he was a youngster.

“It’s not a hard game to learn. But it takes a lot of concentration. But what you learn by playing chess can take you through life and help when you make decisions … when to push forward and when to withdraw and how to plan ahead,” he laughed.

DeWitt is retired and chose Lehigh Acres as a place to live a few years ago.

He said one thing most people don’t realize is that students who can play chess well can earn college scholarships, just like basketball players and those who play other sports.

Nicholas Medhurst, left, plays a game of chess with DeWitt Green at the Veterans Park Recreation Park. Photos by Mel Toadvine

“I saw a 9-year-old win a full scholarship some years ago. He was that good and the college gave him a free ride. Now he has to keep his marks up in school, but there’s a scholarship waiting for him and it all because he is such a good chess player,” Green said.

Florida, Green said, is a state with more “grandmasters” than any other state.

“I want to get them to come out of the woodwork and come down here and play the game,” he said.

A lot of retired people who have played chess in the past and live in Lehigh are welcome to come and play with others on Wednesdays.

“It’s like riding a bike, you never really forget how to play chess. It will come back to you if you haven’t played for a long time,” he said.

“Playing chess gives you the opportunity to use your mind to think and make plans, sometimes using a strategy like in life,” he said.

He comes from Minnesota where he taught chess in one of the middle schools. He would like to see it become an elective course in Lee County schools, he said.

“You learn to make decisions by planning ahead when you’re playing chess,” he said. “It’s good to keep your brain stimulated.”

Green can explain the game in only a few minutes. He holds up the pawns, the rooks, the knights, the King and the Queen.

“She’s the most powerful on the board and you have to protect her,” he laughed.

He explained how each piece on the board can move over the black and white squares.

“I love to play and I can get beat some players. When I play, I play to win. I don’t play to let the other person win,” he laughed.

Green said a typical game of chess can last between 45 minutes to an hour and sometimes longer.

Every week on Wednesdays he sees more people walking by and looking inside and they see chess boards set up.

“Some of them will come on in and if and sit down for a game,” he said.

“Anyone can learn the game. In 20 minutes, anyone can sit down and play and the more you play, the more you learn.

“It’s a game where you use your reasoning powers. Your opponent may make moves sometimes that seem wrong, but the person could be setting you up,” he said.

There will be a tournament this fall on Oct. 15 at the Center and he is looking for at least 80 people to participate in it, he said.

“But what I really want to get across to young people is that chess can get you a scholarship to a lot of the top schools. They want the best chess players they can get … and not a lot of students know this,” he said.

Chess boards and the 32 pieces can be purchased for a low as $25 and the price can go to several hundred dollars with fine pieces and a board.

If you want to revive that game that you used to play in school or college, now is the time, he says.

“Come on out to the Center on Wednesday from 5 to 8. We have families that come out and play. It’s a lot of fun.

“And if you play chess with me, I’m going to do my best to not let you win,” he laughed.

“Chess is alive and well,” he said.