12 Reasons Why I Love Chess
Bobby Fischer, one of the greatest chess minds who revolutionized the world of chess, once said, "You can only get good at chess if you love the game."
Unfortunately for him though, right after claiming the world championship title, his career soon began to plummet and he became unpopular and widely vilified in the latter part of his life to the point where he was often accused of being a "madman" and having a screw loose in his head.
But when everything has been said and done, there is no denying that Bobby Fischer has been a huge influence in many chess players of today and he is considered as a legend in the chess world.
Truly, for me, analyzing his games and reading about him has definitely helped improve my chess.
Where I Started
I learned how to play chess when I was four but it was only about a year ago that I became so passionate about the game almost to the point of obsession. I played against anyone at any strength whether online or on the board resulting in many battles won and many battles lost. But I desired to improve my playing style and I dreamed of becoming a master one day so I studied the concepts day-in and day-out and so, I learned to appreciate the beauty of chess. Now I would like to share that with you.
Here are the reasons why I love chess:
1. Requires minimal physical action.
Unlike basketball or football, chess is less physical and less strenuous which means that there is little to no chance of you getting injured. Well, except for the occasional hand cramps, eye sores, headaches, and jet lag but nothing major. Also your pride might get hurt a teeny tiny bit especially when you get crushed by someone younger than you. At least, you come out of it in one piece! No worries!
2. No issues with space or equipment.
Chess is relatively cheap in that you do not have to invest in a lot of resources for you to enjoy the game - no need for those big fields or courts. A chessboard and chess pieces are all you need and you can play the game anywhere you would like to! You could also improvise by using scraps in your house to make a board and pieces.
3. Stimulates the brain.
Chess is a battle of wits and wills. Your main goal is to find loopholes in your opponent's plan and disprove his whole strategy. To do this, you have to use everything in your arsenal - logic, memory, calculation skills, and psychology - to tear his position down and ultimately win the game.
Visualize how you want to demolish your opponent and execute your plans flawlessly. You might even find yourself having a very high IQ just like Mr. Fischer!
4. Boosts morale and esteem.
Especially when you beat a strong, elite grandmaster forty years older than you! Imagine the bragging rights! In any case, whether it be against an amateur or a professional, victory always feels good.
5. Easy and fun to learn.
Maybe it's just me but I like to learn more about chess because it's fun to actually be able to understand what's happening on the board so that you can enjoy playing (and winning) against someone.
Additionally, with all the books that have been written about chess and all the chess engines and programs available on the market such as ChessBase, you can pick up new lessons and concepts easily. GMs also offer lecture sessions online.
6. Accessible in various forms of media.
Chess has penetrated through almost all forms of media from books to movies, TV shows and especially the internet. You can now enjoy playing online and still have the same kind of satisfaction you get from playing on the board.
7. A relatively silent game.
On the surface, all you would hear would be the ticking of the clock and the friction between the pieces and the board. Yet underneath their skins, there is an ongoing warfare - a battle of intuition and reason, of will and intellect, of imagination and tradition.
We often don't hear the beat of their palpitating hearts, the grinding of their teeth, the drops of sweat, the agony that surges through their being as the cogs and gears of their mind twist and turn to triumph over this inner conflict. You see, the struggle happens deep within.
8. Improves on certain values.
Patience and perseverance are necessities in playing chess. Oftentimes, a single game can go on for five or six hours. In this span, you must wait patiently for the opportune time to strike your opponent with all the force you can muster.
Never give up and always keep pushing forward, slowly churning out your opponent until you have them cornered to deliver the final blow. Chess also fosters sportsmanship and humility. Remember to always accept defeat graciously and accept victory humbly.
9. Intricate psychological aspect.
As Judit Polgar, the strongest female chess player today, once said, "Chess is 30 to 40% psychology." Personally, I like the satisfaction from seeing my opponents squirm and agonize as they realize that their position is hopelessly lost and they heave a weary sigh of defeat. I also delight in baffling them with crazy sacrifices and tricky tactics!
10. Make new friends.
Chess is a universal game. It transcends boundaries. You can easily make new bonds with different people from different regions of the world over a game of chess. The passion for the game immediately gives two people a sense of connection.
From my observation, grandmasters would develop long-lasting friendships with those whom they compete with over time as they find their common ground in chess. In my opinion, just being able to meet other people from different backgrounds with the same appreciation for the game makes chess more enjoyable and worthwhile.
11. Power to influence people.
Perhaps one of the least obvious aspects of chess is that it allows one to influence people. In my experience playing the game, I have observed that people are often fascinated by players with a high caliber and a deep knowledge of chess which gives chess masters the image of being highly intelligent, super human beings. Of course, chess masters are ordinary people too. They just know how to play the game better than the average person. Even so, chess masters have a vast influence on many things.
For example, Garry Kasparov, who was the first grandmaster to break the 2800 rating barrier, ventured into politics and is now a renowned author, activist, and politician after retiring from chess. Magnus Carlsen, currently the world's number one chess player, is also listed in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2013!
12. You get to be king!
At least, just in the game. Essentially, in the mindset of chess players, the piece that represents the player would be the king since if you lose your king, you lose the game. Since you are the "king", you have the power to control a whole army and direct them toward achieving your goal of capturing the enemy king, oftentimes sacrificing most of them just to bring down the other monarch of the board. Well, there can only be one king in chess!
Getting Better
I believe that getting better at anything, whether it be at chess or any other sport or hobby that you are interested in, starts by having the passion and love for whatever you choose to do because it is this passion that will push you to strive harder to get better at it. It shouldn't matter whether you stumble one, two, or even a thousand times; what does matter is that you pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes, and keep pressing forward!
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