The Last Gamesman: My Sixty Years of Hustling Games in the Clubs, Parks and Streets of New York

by Asa Hoffmann, Virginia Hoffmann

The Last Gamesman is the story of Asa Hoffmann, legendary New York Chess player and master of Backgammon, Poker, Scrabble, Bridge, and Horse handicapping. Born into a privileged family of two attorneys, Asa was sent to the best schools including Horace Mann and Columbia University, but after a year at Columbia left school and his Park Avenue family home to make a living “hustling” chess and other games in the streets, parks and clubs of New York City. His character is portrayed in the book and film “Searching for Bobby Fischer”.

Asa has made a living plying his skills in parts of eight decades, winning tournaments in every game he plays, his main game being Chess. Asa also teaches gaming theory, is the author of two Chess books and has been featured in movies and documentaries about Chess and in a feature article in the New York Times. He teaches chess in New York City.

A teenage friend of World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, Asa achieved the international chess title of FIDE Master and was ranked number 21 in the US at the age of 21. He has continued to play and win tournaments since the 1950’s and is now one of the top senior chess players in the country. In this volume Asa recounts the amazing and often humorous stories of the characters, the events, and the venues of the New York gaming world, many of which no longer exist but are worth memorializing.

Asa’s co-author is his wife, Virginia Hoffmann, formerly ranked number 11th top female chess player in the United States.

Genres: Chess, Games, Biography, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2022

Reviews

[Rob Kerth · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is not actually good, but it's a primary source of a bygone world I'd have liked to see. Hoffman hustled a variety of games around New York for 70 years that contained and exceeded the golden age of such street hustling. You get the sense that he served to some extent as a financial conduit between chess enthusiasts and horse racing bookmakers, but whatever. In a unique city, in a unique time, a very small cohort of men arose who carved out a real existence above the desperation waterline purely through their mastery of these games of skill.

Hoffman's legit bad at writing, but the anecdotes make it easily worth it if (for example) some tidbits about Miguel Najdorf tantalize you; maybe worth it of the description above appeals, and not at all worth it if all of this sounds boring.

[Thomas Ray]

There's only one game in the book, a blitz game he won against Fischer. But there's a section on fist fights at chess clubs. Reviewed in the July 2022 issue of Chess Life magazine, p. 55.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is an autobiography of a local chess hero I have come to know when I frequented Marshall Chess Club (MCC) in New York since 2008 or so, who by the early 2010s had gained a status of a “legend” among youngsters. Always seen as plotting a scheme in his own way or scavenging around, Asa is an eccentric character in his own right who would always relate a story with famous chess players from 1950s onwards.

The book is written in a humorous style, is easy and entertaining from start to finish, with the chapters on chess of particular interest to me. I did not know about the chess history in New York (Flea house, Manhattan club etc.) and most of the places mentioned were gone by the time I settled in New York. Still, I could relate to certain places such as the Chess forum and a few other places in west village, which made the book a bit more personal for me. Though a bit controversial among some of the MCC crowd, Asa always portrays himself in a positive light -- understandably so, since he, after all, is the author of the book!

The book suffers from some repetitions, and factual errors, but overall, I am glad Asa compiled some of the most iconic stories in this book.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book by a legendary figure in the NYC chess world (I'd known less about his experience in other games). The writing is not great, and the book could have benefited from more editing, but it's a worthwhile read for those who have heard of Hoffmann or are interested in the history of the NYC chess scene. The "general public" might not like it so much. I'd say 3.5 stars and will round up to 4 because I like the chess and NYC angles.

[David W. Cofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is a collection of anecdotes and stories compiled by chess master Asa Hoffmann. He has played chess, checkers, backgammon, scrabble, and poker, as well as bet on the horses, all for big money. He is a self-described hustler in all of these games.

The stories are interesting and amusing, but many are of his friends and acquaintances, not widely known, and difficult for the reader to relate to. However, having said that, he has many stories of well-known chess and poker greats. He discusses both the Manhattan Chess Club and Marshall Chess Club and the chess scene in general in New York, including Washington Square and Union Square.

The book is relatively short and a quick read. There is a great photo section containing photos of some of chess’ greatest players. I recommend it to both chess players and non-players alike.