All the Wrong Moves

There seems to be a stereotype of chess players being extreme nerds or feeling hopeless and depressed. Some see them as losers who fascinate over moving plastic (or wooden) pieces on a board. A lot of them are really intelligent and there are many studies showing that Chess helps in other areas of life. Of course, as with everything else, one has to have a balance in life...

Again, I've been meaning to post for awhile now. I just happened to find an opportune time to write and publish this. I'm hoping to regulate my posts, perhaps sharing content every Saturday.

This was the first book that I read and completed on my new Kindle.

I was gifted a Kindle for Father's Day. I really like using it even though I consider myself a more traditional reader, liking the feel of a physical book in my hands. Though nowadays, I mainly read in the evening when I go to bed, which is relatively early around 9:30PM. I appreciate the lighting and brightness settings of the Kindle as I try to avoid any blue light at night which could disrupt my sleep.

This book, as with other recent books, caught my attention when I was strolling in the library. It's a book about chess but it's not a chess book. It doesn't go into any theory, rather Chapin explains some concepts and history of the game while narrating the impact that it had on his life. I felt compelled to keep reading this book because I feel like I am in a similar situation as Chapin was in the book. He, too, was introduced to Chess at a young age and came back to it in his late 20's. Now I must say that I don't think I played it THAT much back then. I never belonged to any chess club or went to any chess meet ups, I just knew how to play the game and my mother enrolled me in one class at a community centre. That's about it.

Another thing that got to me is this obsession that Chapin had for the game and how he felt about Chess. He would chase chess by playing in tournaments in other countries (he is Canadian, too). He felt that he had to win and be good at chess to feel worthy. I'm curious as to what kind of relationship he had with his parents. He briefly mentions his childhood at the start of the book but I don't recall him talking much about his parents.

He also talks about the types of chessplayers and how he felt that he was better than he actually was. Chapin mixes historical references with current day Grandmasters' approach and mentality to the game. I read these parts with caution as I don't want to fall into an extreme obsession over Chess, even though I've already had some smaller scale moments with online chess.

There were some interesting quotes which I was able to highlight on my Kindle, such as Chapin quoting Paul Morphy:

"The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life"

These are some strong words which get me thinking. How far do I want to go with Chess? How does Chess play a part in my life? How has playing Chess benefited me? How has it hindered me?

February 23, 2024. Mexico City. ~7:45PM

I think that given the stage of life that I am currently in, there should be some sort of limit with Chess. I recall playing one game in Mexico City beside el Palacio de Bellas Artes. I played with an older gentleman and it was a good game up until the end. He beat me and I asked him for advice. He then proceeded to give me life advice as opposed to chess advice. I was almost flabbergasted listening to his spiel, but I decided to listen carefully as he was sharing his wisdom. He basically told me that he has been playing for years and has learned a lot over those years, but how there are much more important things in life and that Chess is just a nice distraction or activity on the side. It made me think about my life situation and made me put on the brakes to stop and reflect on the impact that Chess has had on my life. 

Even if I don't make it to being a grandmaster or international master or whatever, that's okay. I have accomplished other things in my life, and I should be proud of myself anyways. I have been playing Chess for less than a year and have progressed significantly, including winning 3/6 games at my first tournament. I played against adult "smurfs" and kids that learn at a Chess Academy. I should be aware of my priorities and just enjoy playing the game. That sounds like a recipe to be a gentleman.