My name is Mike...and I play chess simply because it challenges me, and forces me to think...something I'm not used to doing all that much!
I learned to play chess when I was around the age of 18 with someone showing me how the pieces moved, and explaining the object of the game to me. I played a few games, and really enjoyed the seemed strategy and though process that was involved in the game. From there, I bought a series of books by Yasser Seirawan to try and help me learn a little more about the game. I went through the book on Strategy, the book on Tactics, and the book on the Endgame. (unfortunately, the Openings book was a little too much for me to take in at the time). So, from day 1, I have been pretty much on my own.
I played for a few years, and then noticed that the games were being played through my head, and hindering me from focusing on other priorities in my life at the time, and so I decided to "put down the pieces" for a while. That while, unbeknownst to me, would turn into an 11 year span!
That 11 year span ended in March 2012, when I decided to start playing again, and try my best to learn the game of chess! The more I play, the more I realize just how much I do not know about the game!
Chess.com has been a great eye-opener for me. I am by no means a great chess player...I don't even know if I would be considered good...but I so desparately want to improve my game, and am hoping to do that through the different players I meet on this site.
Someone once said, "Every man knows something I do not know...therefore, every man is my teacher." I am viewing this quote through the eyes of chess.com...and I want to thank you in advance (if you play me in a game, rated or unrated) for teaching me as I travel through this journey! I hope we can continue to play and learn from each other! Thanks again!
~ Mike