Chess

My dad loves chess, so since I was a little kid, he had me learning it. But for an 8-year-old kid, there were way more exciting and fun games out there than those dull black-and-white chess pieces. So, for me, chess was just a game I knew the rules of, but I was never really interested in it.

After growing up and moving out, every weekend, I’d visit my parents, and I’d play a few games of chess with my dad. Back then, I wasn’t playing chess because I really enjoyed it. It was more like a way for my dad and me to bond since we didn’t have many other activities to do together. And of course, with a difference of over a thousand elo points, I never even came close to tasting a victory.

Then, one day at work, out of nowhere, there was a chessboard, and all my colleagues started playing chess after work. Since I’d only played with my dad before and I always lost, I thought I was terrible. But when I played with my colleagues, I realized I wasn’t that bad.

Turns out, all those losses to my dad weren’t for nothing. Even though I kept losing, after each game, I’d learn something. And after losing hundreds of games, all those lessons added up, and I became a pretty decent chess player.

My interest in chess started to grow too. I began studying different positions, learning some openings, watching livestreams, and following tournaments. Just like that, I became a chess lover without even realizing it.

Since I started playing chess, there are probably two moments that I remember the most. The first one is when I reached a 1000 Elo, and the second is when I beat my dad for the first time.

Why Chess?

Since I started playing chess, I’ve also realized that the quality of my games depends on just two things. First, it’s all about focus, where a clear and sharp mind leads to fewer mistakes in your moves. And surprisingly I found how hard it is to be super focused and concentrated every game.

Second, it’s about preparation, when your opponent follows a known opening or a position you’ve seen before. This requires lots of study and experience, which is a process that takes a lot of time.

The other reason I like playing chess is simple: I really enjoy learning and playing chess. I love competitive things, I love mind games, and I love winning. Each game of chess requires serious thinking, and the feeling of winning a tense game is fucking satisfying.

The Philosophy of Chess

Chess is a game that simulates battle, where each move requires careful calculation. Once you make a move, you can’t take it back, and every choice leads to different outcomes. When you place a piece, no matter how unfavorable your position may be, you can’t change it. All you can do is find the next “best move” (or resign 😅).

This is where decisions in chess and life are alike. When facing a fall or a tough challenge, it’s not about regretting past choices; it’s about taking them as lessons and calmly striving to find the next “best move.”

Winning one move doesn’t mean winning the entire game, or winning a single game doesn’t mean winning for an entire life. So, life is somehow similar to chess, is a journey of constantly winning, losing, and learning. It’s full of challenges and chances for us to make our brilliant moves.