How old were you when you first laid your hand on a chess piece?I was like,six when I played against my brother.I knew how all the pieces moved except for the bishop.

My dad was really into chess so he taught me starting at a young age, I don't remember how old I was. He is afriad to play me now because he does not like to lose. I think it is about time to teach my son, he is two and 1/2 so he will not eat the pieces. I hope some day my son will be better than me, I will be happy to lose to him.

My little sister taught me to play when she was in first grade. I was at the fairly advanced age of 8. These early addictions are hard to shake.

My dad taught me around 8 or so, but he quit when he lost to me for the first time! lol  I was heartbroken...I loved the game so much, I should have lost to him :-).  Anyway, I didn't even know chess books existed as a young'un (yes that is a word where I come from :-)), but here is an opening I designed for the White pieces to try to achieve, before I knew anything about openings - kind of cool, now that I look back on it

BirdBrain... that's interesting, I also used to think that setup was ideal, the exact same thing! I guess it's just that that is where the knights and bishops are developed to in lots of beginner-like openings...

My dad started teaching me when i was either 4 or 5, and when i was 9 i started beating him.... by the time i was 13, i beat him every time:).

redblack_redemption wrote: BirdBrain... that's interesting, I also used to think that setup was ideal, the exact same thing! I guess it's just that that is where the knights and bishops are developed to in lots of beginner-like openings...

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Well, technically speaking, those are good placements for the pieces!  It is just a bit optimistic to think to get that structure so quickly.  But the bishops are on nice diagonals, the knights are ready to pounce into action, and the center pawns are about to explode!

Alander97 wrote:

How old were you when you first laid your hand on a chess piece?

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 It started in the womb for me...

I don't remember my age clearly, but I think I was 7 or 8. And yes.. MY dad also stoped playing me when I started to defeat him . When I have a son I hope I won't do the same. Like jhuhniv said, I'd be proud te get my *** kicked by my son.. it's evolution.

 It's funny how Birdbrain and redblack_redemption mentioned that opening line. I used to play black all the time, with a very simmilar "defensive" version.

 

BirdBrain wrote:

My dad taught me around 8 or so, but he quit when he lost to me for the first time! lol  I was heartbroken...I loved the game so much, I should have lost to him :-).  Anyway, I didn't even know chess books existed as a young'un (yes that is a word where I come from :-)), but here is an opening I designed for the White pieces to try to achieve, before I knew anything about openings - kind of cool, now that I look back on it

 

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 That is a fantastic opening!  How did you manage to do all that before it was black's turn?!

Its really quite simple, xvirus, at the time black decided it would be a good idea to move their knights back and forth from their starting positions.

Alander97 wrote:

How old were you when you first laid your hand on a chess piece?I was like,six when I played against my brother.I knew how all the pieces moved except for the bishop.

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I was about 4 when I first laid my hands on a chess piece when I threw a Rook at my little brother in a fit of range.

A few years after that (around 6 or 7) I actually started using the chess pieces as they were intended - and I've been getting progressively worse ever since.

as similar to most of you, my dad taught me how to play when i was 5. now i am 15 and he wont play me anymore because he quit the first time i beat him about a month ago.

Do you think as kids we like things symmetrical? Just curious.

my dad taught me when i was 3 and i would almost always beat him by the time i was 6 or 7

hehe

30 years old.

shakje wrote: Do you think as kids we like things symmetrical? Just curious.

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 Great point! I remember when I was younger, I loved everything to be symmetrical because it seemed in order and just looked better. Now I can't stand a symmetrical game of chess and I've noticed that sometimes when it is too symmetrical, I will go out of my way to change it, more often than not making a stupid move. Very interesting though.  But back to the original question, I started at 7 and have played online since age 9.

When I was first laid I didn't have my hand on a chesspiece!