There are two related threads I just read:  How did you learn to play; when did you learn?  I learned to play from an older cousin in the second grade (age 7?); could beat the older kids in my neighborhood, but not my cousin and his friends.

Chess was like my stamp collection:  very little attention through school - college - law school - marriage - family - work.  Now I have time and, I think, an interest in playing more.

If you learned when you were younger, why has your interest re-kindled?

     taught my kids to play

     and as the saying goes,

     "have a sip of whiskey, it will make you thirsty for more"

I am teaching my kids.

As for Whiskey I took one sip 35 years ago and have never had, nor desired, another.

Even when you get to be my age there are a lot of things that are still interesting or stimulating. The worst part of course is even though you have the time and/or resources necessary other issues creep in, mostly physical, that interfere. But so long as there's mental capacity chess can go a long way to keeping life fun.

chess is a timeless game...

I learned from my older brother, who use to beat me , I went to college and picked up a cheap set at a garage sale and me and a buddy would skip class and play our afternoons away, it got to the point where I was dreaming chess moves at night, from that time I was able to beat my brothers which can get stupidly intense when we play. I started to teach my daughter who is now 8 and I have encourage her to join her grade school club.

I first learned the basics from my mom when I was really young, fifth grade maybe. Then I played every once in a while for a couple years, but didn't play more than once a month until junior year in high school, where I joined the team and started to analyze and seriously play chess. Needless to say, I can beat my parents now :)

I learned the game at 5 years old.  Picked it up again in grade 10 (at the age of 14) when the school opened a chess club.  Been hooked ever since... which I suppose is only 3 years :P.

My dad taught me how to play chess when I was around 7 years old, and then I started to beat him after a few months so he stopped playing chess. I stopped a few months after that.

I started playing chess after I stumbled onto this website about 2 years ago. Now, I don't know if I'll ever stop playing!

friends at work used to play chess and I picked it up to keep up with them. Once I started beating them all, they stopped playing. I tried Yahoo chess, but it was full of problems with cheaters and with people who would just abandon their games (this was a problem for me because I like to play either long time controls or no time controls). I got involved again when a friend introduced me to this website. It's pretty much better in every way to any other chess websites ive seen. If i get tired of getting stomped on live chess i can just switch over to online chess or one of the training programs. There is a lot to keep someone interested.

im bored

MY dad taught me when I was 6 or 7, I played mostly for fun till I turned 20. Then I started studying and playing in a few tourneys.

 I stoped when my first daughter was born. Still played for fun, but stoped studying and playing in tourneys.

 Now that I am middle aged. I was missing competition of some kind. I knew having 4 kids and a wife. I wanted something I could still try and get good at, but not take alot of time away from the family to practice.

I realised chess was it. No matter how old or bad you are. there is a category for you at most bigger tourneys. That is one of the great things about chess. You can still win trophys and some coin, even if you dont have a GM next to your name. Plus  if I live to be 90, I could still roll up to a tourney and play if I wanted to.

My dad taught me when I was real young. He moved away when I was around 11 or 12, which is when I stopped playing. I started playing Chessmaster about a year ago (i'm 35 now) and came across this site a few months ago. I got my dad to join this site too, and after 25 years or so, we are playing chess all the time again.

I first learned back in the '70s and studied quite a bit through the '80s. I played very little during the '90s. About a year ago I bought a chess program in the bargain bin at Staples. I played it off and on for a while but only to pass the time. Then I dug out my old set, cleaned it up, and started really playing. That's when I remembered how much I love the game. Now I'm back into serious study and enjoying every minute.

A friend of mine challeged me after years of non play. and Like Victhestick said

   "have a sip of whiskey, it will make you thirsty for more"

My brother wanted to learn and I was bored of mating him over and over

I learned the very basic rules in elementary school, from my parents. When my younger sister started playing Go, I realised how rewarding board games can be. I tried playing Go, but chess just seemed to click more with me. Nobody in my family was willing to play, so I stared at flyordie, but I was disappointed with the short time controls (max. 20 minutes per player-this site lets you set your own) as well as heavy graphics which really slowed things down. Now I'm hooked!

I started playing again after I stopped watching TV a couple of years ago.

I play because I enojy it, and I hope to use it as a way to keep my brain sharp.

That and I'm competitive but can't play all the sports I used to.

I played some in high school (not all the well), and 25 years later got interested in it again.  Good for the brain!