Places to play chess for free 4

These are places where playing costs nothing: public stone tables, giant boards on the city's squares and a club that lets players in without a fee. Free here means free to play at the place described; lessons, club membership or a drink at a nearby bar are a separate matter.

The stone tables of the Sant Antoni superblock, on Carrer del Comte Borrell, have boards built in, and Sunday has been their meeting day; bar terraces sometimes take them over. At Plaça de les Glòries, the giant pieces for the board have been lent free of charge from a kiosk on the corner of Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Cartagena. On Plaça Vila de Madrid, street chess mornings on Saturdays bring open games, a giant board, simultaneous games and breakfast. In Castelldefels, the club lets players without a federation licence play at no cost. A free session can stop or move, so confirm it with the organiser before you plan around it.