Shortly before 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, an unusual and tense silence reigns in the courtyard of a twelve-storey municipal building in Vienna. Two boys, known to all the neighbours as loud footballers, are suddenly sitting opposite each other in silence and concentration, their eyes fixed on the black-and-white chessboard between them. At the neighbouring board, an elderly gentleman with his arms folded leans over his game and nods appreciatively as his young Muslim opponent moves her knight to fork his king and queen. In the background, a woman sorts tea biscuits while the coach sets up another board to explain the rules of the game to two children.

Chess training in Donaustadt, a district of Vienna. In case of rain, the players will try to move indoors. | Photo: Christian Dusek

Welcome to one of the many vibrant chess events organised by "Wohnpartner Wien" as part of the "Neighbourhood Chess Game" project. Here, the moves extend far beyond the board...

Wohnpartner Wien – Building bridges in the social fabric

Wohnpartner is a City of Vienna initiative with 150 employees that promotes good neighbourly relations in municipal housing estates comprising around 220,000 residential units and home to almost half a million people. The project goes beyond traditional social work, focusing on dialogue, participation, and community in areas where people often live side by side, at best, or are embroiled in permanent conflict, at worst. Such conflicts may be caused by noise in apartments or communal areas, such as corridors or courtyards, or they may be culturally or religiously motivated. Such disagreements often persist for a long time simply because people do not communicate with each other, or are unable to do so for linguistic reasons.

Employees of Wohnpartner work in all 23 districts of Vienna. They provide advice and neighbourhood initiatives, as well as a wide range of social integration projects. Their aim is to empower residents so that they can live together with others in a respectful and supportive manner in their everyday lives. Origin, age, education and lifestyle do not play a role here; in fact, they are specifically used to promote communication. Particular attention is paid to creative activities that strengthen communication and mutual understanding. This is precisely where chess comes into play.

One board for all – chess as a bridge between generations

What may sound unusual at first has long been a reality: using chess as a means of social work. Since 2010, Wohnpartner Region Nord (Donaustadt) has run a remarkable chess project, which was conceived and initiated by Christian Srienz, a Wohnpartner employee and chess player. Initially, the FIDE master's main challenge was to convince his colleagues, most of whom did not play chess, to participate in the project. His experience with a chess project at a youth centre proved invaluable. 

The first chess outing to a municipal housing complex in 2010 with three Wohnpartner employees | Photo: Wohnpartner Team 22

What began as a small offering, following some successful persuasion, has quickly developed into a well-established part of Wohnpartner's range of services. A key figure in the development of this concept was Calija Snjezana, a Croatian native from the former Yugoslavia. She wanted to create something similar to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where chess is always played in public places, in order to improve communication in Vienna.

But what makes the neighbourhood chess project so appealing? “Chess is intergenerational and connects cultures. It is both challenging and calming. It requires concentration, promotes fairness and respect, and encourages people to talk to each other,” says Srienz, who believes that players should shake hands before and after the game.

Older residents also seize the opportunity to play again | Photo: Christian Dusek

Unsurprisingly, participants in these events, which usually last between one and a half and two hours, quickly become enthusiastic and find themselves not only playing together, but also striking up conversations that extend beyond the game itself. “In chess, we are all equal. It doesn't matter how old you are or where you come from — only how you think,” says a retired resident who regularly takes part in the afternoon games. The games are not just an opportunity to talk about where and when you learned to play or when you last played; they often involve very personal conversations and interactions with people who are still strangers, even though you may have lived next door to them for years without getting to know them.

One game – many stories

The chess project now runs regularly at several locations in Vienna. The target group is diverse and includes children, young people, senior citizens, people from migrant backgrounds, single parents, and curious neighbours. Some come to learn how to play chess. Others are experienced players who are happy to find new opponents. Others look out of their windows in surprise when the children playing football and shouting at each other suddenly become quiet and sit silently opposite each other, lost in thought over a chessboard.

It's not just football that's played in the green spaces of residential complexes — chess is played there too | Photo: Wohnpartner Team 22

"Magical atmosphere"

The team is particularly proud of the many young participants who are experiencing structured thinking, discipline and strategic action for the first time through the game. Sarah Maienschein, an employee of Wohnpartner, took over project management in 2014. Having previously met Srienz at the Tschaturanga chess club in Vienna, she has been impressed ever since: "Children who learn to concentrate and think ahead when playing chess transfer these skills to other areas of life. You can literally see their self-confidence growing. I find it fascinating to experience this almost magical atmosphere."

Chess training – exclusively for girls and young women at the Grätzl (=neighbourhood) centre in Kaisermühlen | Photo: Christian Dusek

More than just a game – chess as a school of life

The project goes far beyond simply offering games. Tournaments are held regularly, bringing excitement and pride to the community. At these events, beginners sit alongside experienced players, grandparents sit alongside young people – a social mix that one can only wish for.

In addition, there are introductory sessions, workshops and partnerships with schools, as well as special chess training for more experienced players. Some game afternoons are combined with small celebrations featuring music and food, and are open to everyone. Highlights include simultaneous performances by world-class Ukrainian players Anna and Mariya Muzychuk, and by Austrian national player Eva Moser, who sadly passed away in 2019. Incidentally, these events also help to dispel the prejudice that chess is only for men. Sarah Maienschein, the 2011 Vienna State Champion, reports from her own experience: “When I play with the children as an organiser, many look at me strangely because they expect a man to be the coach. But when I tell them that I was state champion, the boys want to beat me and the girls want to achieve the same success."

The charming Mariya Muzychuk with Chesswoman and Chessman; photographed at the first Alfreda Hausner Chess Festival in 2022. | Photo: Christian Dusek

Of course, these events are not training camps that lead to such successes. However, they could be the first step towards better neighbourly relations and club membership. “Unfortunately, we haven't yet managed to attract large numbers of participants to the clubs,” says Srienz, acknowledging this minor drawback, which pales in comparison to the project's overall success. Every now and then, however, there are exceptions:

"I never thought I'd play in tournaments," says a twelve-year-old girl with sparkling eyes. "Now I even practise with my dad."

To encourage this to happen more often in club settings, the Betriebsschachklub Lokomotive Wohnservice – Dynamo Wohnpartner was founded. Drawing inspiration from the workers' sports clubs of the 1920s and 1930s, its mission is to foster a sense of community and togetherness, transcending social classes and backgrounds. Its 20 members now regularly support the "Neighbourhood Chess Game" project, which is only logical. According to Srienz, they invest "a lot to maintain and promote an interest in chess".

Chess culture as part of urban culture

The project has now made a name for itself beyond the borders of Danube City. It is recognised in professional circles as an innovative example of low-threshold educational work and social integration in urban areas. It uses chess as a "common language" to overcome existing language barriers. The "neighbourhood chess game" successfully combines play and social vision, helping to bridge cultural differences.

If there are not enough tables, people also play on the benches at Donaustadtstraße 30. | Photo: wohnpartner Team 22

For Srienz, however, the best moment is still when two strangers suddenly find themselves pondering a chess position together. “Sometimes real friendships develop from a game,” he says. "And that's worth more than winning any game."

Despite increasingly scarce resources, it is hoped that the financial resources invested by the city will continue to be available in the future, as they are well worth it. According to the two driving forces behind the project, it would not be possible without these resources. After all, there are always at least two employees on site, accompanied by one or more professional — and, as Srienz emphasises, "fairly paid" — trainers. Standard equipment includes a wheeled case containing a standing table, five complete sets of games, and information material from the Wiener Landesverband, which supports the project. A demonstration board and/or outdoor chess equipment can be provided if required. Additional staff and helpers, tents, children's activities, etc. can be added for larger events. Combining the project with other Wohnpartnerinitiative projects has also proven successful. This enables children to play chess while their parents receive advice from SIBU (Social Information, Counselling and Support) on dealing with official matters and filling in complicated forms.

Such a project can only be realised if it is set up for the long term, of course. This was the only way to cope with the severe setbacks caused by the ban on gatherings during the pandemic. We are now well on our way to reaching the number of events we held before the pandemic, some of which ran into triple digits. The several thousand enthusiastic participants and enquiries from Graz and other places, including abroad, demonstrate the significant impact that the Wohnpartner have made with this fantastic project. While it is hardly surprising, it is nevertheless regrettable that these enquiries have not yet been turned into permanent projects due to a lack of reliable financial resources.

Chess in the courtyard, Chessman with a game set purchased for a girls' chess project. | Photo: Christian Dusek

Final move: The power of play

What remains are impressive images, such as a simple wooden table, two chairs, a chessboard – and the encounter between two people. In the Wohnpartner project, chess is not just a game. It is a tool for understanding, a space for dignity, a place for small and big successes. It shows that community arises where people listen to each other – even when they are silent.

Or, as one long-standing participant puts it: "At the chessboard, I am not old, not poor, not a stranger. I am simply a player. And that is a good feeling."