When we're you first hooked on chess; as a child particularly? I visited Amsterdam when I was 10 and in one of the town's public areas was a giant chessboard w/ pieces that we're at least a half-meter each in height. Even at my young age I got the idea that this must be a great game....

I didn't pick up the game until I was in graduate school.  I didn't have time for my more complex games, so chess seemed to fit the bill nicely.  It was easy to learn, could be played at a move a day, and had all the depth of the world to keep it interesting.  Best of all, I got into the game just as the internet was coming into its own (mid 90s), and was amazed at how quickly chess players had established a presence on it! 

All that, along with the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer, got me hooked.