Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Kramnik's Kafe

Order for H6!
  (+24, -8)(+24, -8)
(+24, -8)
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against]

Vladimir Kramnik is the current world chess champion.

At this restaurant the floor is an 8 x 8 grid of black and white squares. Decor is also black and white, with two tablecloth colours and contrasting crockery and napiery.

Tables number 32, with varying prices paid for a table, depending upon how long you intend to stay. The cheap tables are the pawns and therefore suffer the most disruption. There are four kitchens, all mobile, represented by the four rooks, or castles. They don't move as much as most other pieces.

Bookings are essential, if you want to be a player. On occasion there will be a Grandmaster visiting, and you may wish to play a show game against him. These are usually short games. The players sit at a table, high above the action, so they can keep the board in view.

As soon as a piece is moved a team of waiters rush out and relocate your table and party to the destination square, then silently retreat to their station. Any pieces taken are moved to the sidelines, to watch.

You may leave during a game, if you wish, so long as there is someone waiting to take your table.

The King and Queen tables of the winning side get their meals for free.

No, it's nothing like the Chess Restaurant, at the Bali Nusa Dua. You may play chess while at the table, if you wish, but your game is likely to be upset each time you move.

UnaBubba, Nov 29 2004

[link]






       Finally, something to do at dinner besides eat. Do the waiters have to retreat in silence? Can't they heckle diners as they make their way back to their station?
bristolz, Nov 29 2004
  

       They can heckle you, if you wish. Likely as not they will spill your soup when your table moves.
UnaBubba, Nov 29 2004
  

       I will say, with all impartiality, I'd better get an extremely steep discount if my meal is disrupted all night for someone else's enjoyment (steep; i.e. they pay for my meal.) Elsewise, I'll just eat somewhere quiet. :-D
contracts, Nov 29 2004
  

       Hah! Order a hamburger and specify pawn table f7, then ask to be moved to f6. You'll be on the sidelines in no time. Fool's Mate!
UnaBubba, Nov 30 2004
  

       Patrons can send antsy kids to jump on the big teeter-totter on the chess clocks.
FarmerJohn, Nov 30 2004
  

       I would fork out for a table here!
Jinbish, Nov 30 2004
  

       The knight tables frequently would need to be physically lifted over other tables.
waugsqueke, Nov 30 2004
  

       Better that than shooting a horse on the restaurant floor, every time one is taken, I suppose?
UnaBubba, Nov 30 2004
  

       Depends what's on the menu, [uB]. I like my meat fresh.
contracts, Nov 30 2004
  

       Who is controlling the game? Are the games timed?   

       I can see endagame being very painful for rook, queen & bishop tables.
energy guy, Nov 30 2004
  

       Would there be any scope for having specials on the menu depending on the opening of the game - Like a theme night?
eg.
Sicilian == Pasta,
Spanish (Ruy Lopez)== Paella,
King's Indian== Curry,
Scotch== Haggis & also Malt Whisky on drinks menu)
Jinbish, Nov 30 2004
  

       is it customary to knock the losing King's table over?   

       oops sorry, Tabs.
po, Nov 30 2004
  

       Yeah, I think the game will be difficult to play if, for example, you're dining on a pawn table that suddenly resignes. Does the staff have to kick you out of the restaurant just because somebody else decided to sacrifice the table/piece where you were halfway through dinner?   

       A hi-tech Kramnik's Café could be designed with strong metal cubic structures for each table, with the table and chairs firmly attached to the platform of the structure, which is lifted up independantly by a crane to slowly re-locate the tables to their new position. A screen near the kitchen displays the coordenates for each table, to help the waiters locate them.   

       When a piece is lost, the crane moves the table to a spot outside the board, where another pieces/tables that are now out of the battle can stay to finish their meal and find out which side won.   

       This way patrons won't be disturbed. Amazing idea. Love it!! Cuernito for you [+]
Pericles, Nov 30 2004
  

       I'm getting annoyed just thinking about eating somewhere like this.
Machiavelli, Nov 30 2004
  

       I'll have what D1 is having
theircompetitor, Nov 30 2004
  

       Surely the people in the top table would only ever have the opportunity to play endgames, since you'll never have enough people in the place to populate all the pieces.   

       Also, it's likely the bishops and knights, rather than the pawns who are going to be disrupted the most. Best get the stats right or you'll be annoying all your higher paying customers.   

       This really is a very silly idea.[-]
zen_tom, Nov 30 2004
  

       Check. [+]
Letsbuildafort, Nov 30 2004
  

       Pass us the en passalt and pepper.
spiritualized, Nov 30 2004
  

       Wow! We certainly have a polarised audience when it comes to dining habits, don't we?   

       I think it would work quite well if sited close to the Maths Dept of any major university.
UnaBubba, Nov 30 2004
  

       "Aww, crap - the chess club is having another function."
Letsbuildafort, Nov 30 2004
  

       Knight to b6.
UnaBubba, Nov 30 2004
  

       "How long does it take to get service in this place?"
"I'm sorry sir, but the kings pawn is blocking the path of the waiter."
RayfordSteele, Nov 30 2004
  

       I'll have the skewered p(r)awns please.
Jinbish, Dec 01 2004
  

       Security! To sector b6, please.
UnaBubba, Dec 01 2004
  

       b6!?
Jinbish, Dec 01 2004
  

       Yeah, there appears to be a fight in progress there.
UnaBubba, Dec 01 2004
  

       Blimey! It was probably caused by accusations that the chef poisoned a prawn.   

       I also think there should be 'En Prise' glasses of wine for regular customers.
Jinbish, Dec 01 2004
  

       (shudders at prices on the menu) Let's go check out the checkers place next door.
Worldgineer, Dec 01 2004
  

       "Waiter can you close the door please - there's a draught coming in".
stupop, Dec 01 2004
  

       I'd eat here, however not on my Knight off.
skinflaps, Dec 01 2004
  

       UB to waiter: "Check, mate."
FarmerJohn, Dec 01 2004
  

       [FJ], I'll pick up your tab for that one.
normzone, Dec 01 2004
  

       UB to self: "Fools, mate."
UnaBubba, Dec 01 2004
  

       This joke is getting stale, mate. (Couldn't help it.)
contracts, Dec 01 2004
  

       Not so [contracts]. These fine fellows, why of puns they are scholars, mate.
Jinbish, Dec 02 2004
  

       Looks like mating season...
energy guy, Dec 02 2004
  

       I could shag a horse and chase its rider.
UnaBubba, Dec 02 2004
  
      
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