Chess

I’ve written many articles about Chess already, but I wanted to write a formal review so that it can be formatted appropriately for other websites and to serve as a one-stop shop for all of my articles on the subject.

Chess: 2 Players, Ages 6+, Play Time Varies

Chess is the only board game that I’ve played professionally. I was a member of the United States Chess Federation in my early years and won quite a few tournaments. I was once ranked second best in Western Pennsylvania for my age group…not too shabby. I also tutored and taught other kids in the fine art of Chess for a short period of time, so if you have questions about the game, feel free to ask them in the comments section below.

The object of Chess is to attack the enemy king piece in such a way where it cannot escape capture on the next move. This is known as “checkmate.” It doesn’t matter how badly you are losing…if you manage to checkmate the enemy king, then it’s game over.

Only one will prevail.

Rather than repeat all of the rules and strategies I’ve covered in previous articles, I’ll just briefly go over why I enjoy playing Chess and why I recommend it to others. For your reference, I’ve included links at the end of this article should you wish to learn more about the rules and various strategies.

The Review

I’ve always been attracted to Chess, mainly because there is absolutely no luck factor involved. There are no dice, no cards, no random mechanic that can send you back to “home” despite playing flawlessly. How you play determines whether or not you win. Losing a game of Chess means that you made more or worse mistakes than your opponent did, with no room for excuses.

Protip: Chess isn’t a race, so take your time and THINK. On the other hand, the occasional game of speed chess can help players think more quickly on their feet.

I am always happy to teach Chess to others because it encourages critical thinking. Chess forces players to think ahead and to accept the rewards or consequences of their actions…a valuable skill to have when presented with a real life dilemma.

Chess has multiple tiers in terms of skill level. Beginners are still trying to get used to how the pieces move, intermediate players have the basics down but haven’t explored their current game beyond their next few moves, and expert players have no trouble playing both sides of the board and arriving at scenarios many moves ahead. No matter your skill level, there is always room to improve…and no matter how good you think you are, there is always someone else out there that can eat you up for breakfast.

Protip: Never underestimate your opponent, no matter how young they are. They may surprise you.

If you’re new to chess, you can start by picking up one of those cheap plastic chess sets you often find at a dollar store. If find yourself without anyone to play with, you can play online or find a cheap digital chess set or video game and have at it. AI players are usually customizable to fit multiple skill levels.

I highly recommend Chess for both its replayability and its positive influence on a person’s overall mindset. On top of that, Chess is perfect for almost any age. If you like strategy games and hate games based on luck, you can’t do wrong in learning to play Chess. It’s popular, it has a lot of positive qualities, and best of all…it’s fun.