Hansen's Ice Cream

After high school (1970 - 71) I relocated to Missoula, Montana to further my education at the University of Montana. Eventually I learned that a master-level chess player (the strongest player in the state) was on the faculty. This individual had personally known former World Champion, Alexander Alekhine. He had played the famous child prodigy and former U.S. Champion, Samuel Reshevsky to a draw in tournament competition. He had played against the (already) legendary Bobby Fischer (and lost) at a U.S. Open. Of course, I had to meet this guy! I gave him a call. He suggested that on Saturday afternoon I go to Hansen's Ice Cream on the west side of Higgins Street, just south of the bridge.

Hansen's Ice Cream was a small 50s style ice cream shop. When I first showed up there was no sign of any chess players anywhere. I asked the gray-haired man in the red and white striped shirt and hat behind the counter about chess. He smiled and directed me to a door in the back of the store. Behind the door I found a small room with a long table -- and a couple of people playing chess!

I continued to play at Hansen's as long as I remained in Missoula. It's tough to describe the colorful chess personalities that frequented this hidden, little, recess; but I'll try. In addition to the master, another former Montana State Champion was a 'regular'. Those two individuals were perhaps the two strongest players in the state at that point in time. Rounding out the field was a handful of others including a musician and a gentleman from Greece who (due to a bad eye) had a knack for making illegal moves. Consequently, an illegal move made by anyone was instantly referred to as a "Dimitry Move"! My first game at Hansen's was with Ralf Hansen, the father of the gentleman I had met when I first entered the ice cream shop.

As time went on I racked up quite a large number of informal games at Hansen's, including numerous games against the master. In the end, prior to my moving away from Missoula, I had managed to draw one (maybe two) of those games. One game was lost by the master, but I would be hesitant to say that I had won that game. The game ended with the master sweeping all the pieces from the board! When I ask why, he was too embarrassed to show me.

My first attempt at blindfolded chess was made at Hansen's. My opponent, who suggested I give it a try, was normally a more or less even match for me. The game began with some very unorthodox opening moves on my opponent's behalf in an effort to confuse me. That strategy came close to backfiring! After perhaps twenty moves or so I was finding it too difficult to keep track of all the pieces. I gave up, turned around, and looked at the board. My opponent expressed surprise and said; "Why did you stop? You were winning!" Years later I played another blindfold game. Fortunately that game did not last very long before I managed to end it with a checkmate.

The last time I passed through Missoula I looked for Hansen's Ice Cream, but failed to spot it. To me, Hansen's will always be Montana's equivalent to the legendary Parisian chess haunt -- the Cafe de la Regence.