The talented cast of Cirque du Soleil has developed a great passion for the game of chess. With 23 nationalities represented among the 150 people who travel with the Corteo show, chess is their most popular hobby.

"Chess is a really popular part of circus life, especially with the Russians," says Suzie Gagnon, an accordion/keyboards player for Cirque du Soleil for more than 10 years. "Cast members are constantly playing chess before shows - they put on their makeup and go play more chess. Chess boards are set up all over the circus grounds, especially in the kitchen."

Another cast member, Robert Stemmons, the professional whistler who plays Mr. Loyal, the ringmaster and owner of Corteo, learned chess as a child and is rated around 1300.

Stemmons, who enjoys playing chess to relax and pass the time between shows, mentions the mind/body connection of the game: "Because of the mind-stimulating qualities of chess, we all tend to be quicker on our toes on stage . . . I certainly know that I am sharper."

On July 14, I had the honor of giving a simultaneous exhibition to cast members who wanted to play chess against a master. The lunchroom was filled with cast members watching the exhibition. Being treated like royalty by the gracious Cirque du Soleil cast, seeing the show backstage and talking chess with cast members between their performances was an amazing experience.

Here is the exciting endgame I played against Volodymyr "Vova" Klavdich, one of Corteo's best chess players and one of the strong men who throw and catch the women as they fly through the air.

Bardwick

Klavdich

Position after 32.Qxd3(p)

This complicated endgame with both kings exposed continued, 32 . . . Rad8 33.Qg6 Rd2 34.Rxg7+ Qxg7 35.Qe6+ Kh8 36.Rg1 Rf1 (36 . . . Rg2! is stronger) 37.Qe8+ Qf8 38.Qe5+ Rf6 39.Qc7 Qf7 40.Qe5 Qd5+ 41. Resigns

Maybe at our next meeting, Vova will teach me how to catch a woman!

Todd Bardwick is a National Master and runs the Chess Academy of Denver. He can be reached through his Web site, ColoradoMaster Chess.com.