Almost every Monday evening from 6-9:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office, a group meets to engage in one of the oldest and most revered intellectual pursuits in the world — the game of chess.
Chess, in some form, is said to have been played since the 6th century. It originated as a game known as “chaturanga” or “catur” in the Gupta Empire of India. Through global trade, the game spread to Europe in the 12th century and became similar to what is played today. In today’s slang, chess then went “viral,” spreading throughout the world with the first international chess tournament being held in London, England, in 1851.
Finding a home in Frankfort
The Frankfort Chess Masters was organized in January 2024 to provide a local space for Central Kentucky chess players to gather, grow and sharpen their skills. The club, open to men, women and adolescents, has quickly become more than just a place to play chess — it’s a community of thinkers, teachers, learners and friends.
“Chess is a game that anyone can learn to play for fun or competitively … it’s inexpensive and can be played just about anywhere.”
— Frankfort Chess Master member Jerry Baker
“We want to help enrich and enhance people’s lives through the game of chess,” Julio Mendoza, founder and organizer of the Frankfort Chess Masters, explained.
Julio settled in Frankfort seven years ago and couldn’t find a good place to play chess. “There was no place for a group to play chess in Frankfort without disturbing someone,” he said.
“I was so happy to connect with the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office,” Julio remarked. “They offered us space to meet, helped us with publicity and have just been very helpful.”
A meeting place for state champions to beginners
Today, the club boasts 23 members who range from beginners to very experienced players. For a $10 fee paid to the Franklin County Homemakers Association, players have the opportunity to participate in the “Golden Knight Fights” held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, complete with prizes for first and second place. On the third Monday, the club hosts casual, clock-free play.
Jerry Baker, who has won numerous state chess tournaments, has been organizing tournaments for decades. He recalled how COVID has actually brought more people to the game. “
The last tournament we ran before the shutdown was in March 2020,” Jerry said. “We actually gave out toilet paper and hand sanitizer as prizes and called it the ‘End of Times Chess Tournament.’ When we returned more than a year later, there was a whole new group of chess players.”
What is the Queen’s Gambit?
In chess, it is one of the oldest commonly played opening strategies where White sacrifices a pawn to gain control of the center and potentially launch an attack.
Among that new wave of players was Jesse Martin, who discovered the club through a Facebook post.
“I’ve always been into online games, but chess was the first one-on-one game that really hooked me,” Jesse said. “It was just me and the opponent. The Queen’s Gambit (the movie) taught me there was so much more to the game.”
For Ronald Bolden, chess evolved from a casual interest to much more.
“I always knew how to move the pieces, but I never really understood the game,” Ronald explained. Now, he marvels at the many layers of chess: tactical versus strategic play, open and closed positions, and the ability to visualize moves without a board.
“It’s more than the moves. It’s understanding the power of each square. Chess resembles medieval warfare,” he commented. “It’s like two armies, pure strategy. When you begin to understand the complexities, that’s when the beauty of the game really reveals itself.”
Julio explained that there are two very high-level components to chess, knowledge and understanding.
“It’s not always the more knowledgeable player who wins, but the one who understands the game better,” Julio said.
That understanding, and the pursuit of it, is a central goal to the goals of the Frankfort Chess Masters. The mission and primary purpose of the club is to offer chess players in Central Kentucky a place to play in Frankfort, introduce chess to more people, and help club members develop and improve their chess skills through practice, whether competitive or casual play.
Frankfort Chess Masters
When: Second, third and fourth Mondays from 6–9:30 p.m.
Where: Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office, Maple Room
101 Lakeview Court, Frankfort, KY
Contact: Julio Mendoza | juliomendoza@yahoo.com
Membership: $10/year
Tournaments: Third Saturdays monthly
The club doesn’t teach formal classes but they coach each other and offer insights and support. And thanks to the support of the Franklin County Extension Office’s, including providing a sign language interpretor for deaf player Robert Friend, the environment is both welcoming and adaptive.
“Chess can be a powerful educational tool. It teaches decision-making, patience, memorization, visualization, and problem-solving,” Julio said.
Jerry added, “While chess is simple enough for a beginner to learn, it’s complex enough to study for a lifetime. There are people who play their whole lives and never achieve master level. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun playing the game.”
On a Monday evening in June, Billy Woodward, a multiple-time Kentucky Chess Association Champion, began a game seated across from a fairly new player.
Julio remarked, “We believe that when you play, you learn and grow.”
On the third Saturday of each month, the Frankfort Chess Masters host tournaments that are open to the public. For example, in May, they held the Pink Floyd Open featuring competitive play along with a Pink Floyd playlist that provided an atmospheric backdrop. The club has also recently hosted the Kentucky Women’s Open Championship, showcasing the state’s growing diversity in chess.
That’s the allure of chess in Frankfort — young or old, male or female, anyone can play. There’s no need for fancy equipment. All that is required is a board and the willingness to think a few moves ahead.
