Queer's Gambit

Queer's Gambit is a chess club in Brooklyn, New York, serving the LGBTQ community. Founded in 2023 by Niki Cross, Queer's Gambit combines chess with anti-imperialist political activism. Events feature chess sets in pink, white, and blue---the colors of the Transgender flag---alongside support for local and international political movements. The club was founded as a space for queer and gender-minority chess players following widespread reports of sexual assault against women in chess and FIDE's ban on transgender players in women's sections. Their events have a "no mansplaining" policy and discourage hierarchical competition.

The club publishes the zine Forking Trans Women, a chess publication containing records of blitz games played at the club, tutorials on how to play, and works on queer and trans sexuality among chess players. The title is a pun on the fork tactic in chess and Fucking Trans Women, a 2010 zine on trans sexuality. As of August 2026, three issues have been published.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nita, Alexandra Adelina (May 20, 2025). "The Queer Chess Club Making the First Moves Toward Revolution". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved October 28, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ Jameson, Micah (December 5, 2023). "Joy and Pleasure Don't Detract from the Movement". Bushwick Daily. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  3. ↑ Kenny, Tara (September 13, 2023). "'No mansplaining' and bisexual lighting: New York's new chess clubs make it hip to be square". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ Black, Audrey (August 12, 2024). "The Queer Chess Club Saying Checkmate to Imperialism". Autostraddle. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  5. ↑ Queer's Gambit [@queers.gambit]; (July 29, 2026). "Forking Trans Women 3 Launch Party". Retrieved October 28, 2026 – via Instagram.