It’s your move: Ready to challenge the master?

THERE are only 40 active grandmasters of chess recognized in the U.S. Valley-dweller Varuzhan Akobian is No. 11. And he can read you like a book.

“I can tell by a person’s body language what they are thinking, who is more confident, who is scared,” says Akobian, who at 23 is a 20-year veteran of the game.

This week, a score of amateur players will earn the privilege of being psychoanalyzed by Akobian when he provides the finale to Santa Monica: Got Chess? -- a weeklong celebration of the game featuring expert-taught lessons, an invitational blitz open to all spectators and, finally, the grandmaster taking on 20 opponents at once.

It’s not just aficionados who get excited at the prospect of a maestro like Akobian on display. A truly interactive competition and a battle of intricate ideas, chess is also appreciated for its personality-driven style. It’s certainly no video game.

“Video games ask kids to solve adult problems based on power and magic and violence, things that are not available to children,” local librarian Mel Bloch says. “Chess is about asking ‘What resources do you have?’, ‘Where are they?’ and ‘How much time is left?’ It’s more like life.”

In his previous life, Bloch worked for Frank Sinatra’s company, wrangling high-profile musicians on tour. At the moment, he’s pitted against Naveen and Praveen Bandarage, ages 8 and 6, respectively.

The pair tracked down Bloch on a Sunday morning at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, where he sets up his weekly stand hawking chess. Usually Bloch can be found in his natural habitat, the Fairview Public Library, where he helps run a weekly program that spawned this week’s festival.

Classical music hums in the background, and the atmosphere is tense as players plot their strategies.

In the three years since its founding, the library’s program has grown steadily, thus far giving about 30,000 lessons, all without using a dime of taxpayer money. Like the free festival, it runs on enthusiasm.

“It’s fun,” Naveen says as he deftly lines up his pieces for another foray. “That’s as simply as I can put it.”

-- Mindy.F[email protected]

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SANTA MONICA: GOT CHESS?

WHERE: Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.; Ocean Park Branch, 2601 Main St.; Fairview Branch, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd.

WHEN: Various events Monday through Nov. 10.

PRICE: Free (registration required for some events)

INFO: (310) 450-0443; www.smpl.org