Chess, the beginning

Chess, the beginning

It started with an unassuming statement. While playing a board game with some friends during lunch , a coworker casually dismissed our choice of game, commenting on their proficiency in chess and how we should instead play “a real game”. Irritated by the pretension, I made a pledge to start a long con: I would quietly practice and study chess and when I felt I was ready I would agree to a game and crush him.

That was November of 2018.

And now I’m in. Oh boy, I am so deeply in. Chess has become more than a practice or study, it’s a passion and an obsession. The depth of this game is staggering. I remember in 4th grade I went to my dad with a claim that I had mastered mathematics: “I already know addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. What else could there possibly be?” As I stare up at the Chess learning curve I feel like I did in 1991 when I was exposed to the vast cavern of my own ignorance.

Learning chess isn’t for a destination, it is not to achieve mastery. It is to pursue mastery and that’s what I love about it.

I’ve set up this section of my website to talk about chess. I don’t know if this is a short term thing, or a long term thing. But I like it, so I figured I’d give it a try. Stay tuned for more.

2 thoughts on “Chess, the beginning

  • 4/19/2020 at 7:56 am
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    “I already know addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. What else could there possibly be?”
    The Dunning-Kruger Effect at work right here boys!
    What is the latest with the long con??

    Reply
    • 4/21/2020 at 9:12 am
      Permalink

      Great question! After about 14 months of chess study, I casually challenged my peer to a game of chess. He said he was too busy. I’m thinking the boasting of 2018 may have been all talk.

      I would consider all the study a waste of time except that I have a newfound love of the game.
      All is well that ends well!

      Reply

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