Charles Bloom, a friend of mine and author of an excellent blog, among other things, recently explained that the problem with board games is that "there is no pretense for taking off your shirt".

Charles prefers to do the majority of his recreational activities without a shirt, such as shirtless biking and shirtless Frisbee. But when a more strategic endeavor is on tap, clothing is almost always expected (if not required). For example, our board game nights are often held at establishments that carry an implicit "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy.

So in today's Piano Practice, I attempted to give Charles what he has been dying for: a shirtless board game experience.

At the opening, we join a game of Parcheesi already in progress. Frankly, the players are not up to Charles' caliber. All the table talk! Back and forth and back and forth. Is there no end to the chatter? Why can this be a man's game, without all the whining?

And then, clarity. He knows what the game needs. Or rather, what it doesn't need. Shirt off, game on!

But things don't go as planned. After the first few moments of topless elation, Charles finds the other players reacting more with confusion than delight. He retreats, emotionally, and wonders if he has made an error in judgment. Maybe not everyone is ready to take Parcheesi to the next level, physically?

Then Charles remembers something. Parcheesi comes from a gaming lineage dating back to Indian royalty. And in those days, the high society of the day played the game on life-sized boards with muscular dancers as pieces. His mind travels back in time to the majesty of it all. Surely their elaborate costuming was designed to accentuate the male form. Surely they would be shirtless at the very least! This is how board games were meant to be played.

Confidence thus renewed, Charles stands defiantly and leans over the board. Hello ladies, it's time for me to make my move!

Recommend this page on: Twitter, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Facebook