The Village Chess Shop is one of those only in New York places. Opened in 1972, its history is written on the faces of its long-time members and on the yellowing newspaper articles that decorate its walls. The Village Chess Shop is one of those places that is a world unto itself. When a regular enters, they are greeted like Norm at Cheers. Pick-up games are played day and night (until midnight!), every day of the week. I mean really, where but New York would you to able to support an all-night chess den, let alone two. The Chess Forum opened six years ago across the street and runs a similar schedule, if only slightly less steeped in history.