How to Enjoy Chess: A Simple Guide for Everyone

How to Enjoy Chess: A Simple Guide for Everyone

Let’s be honest: chess can be hard.

One moment you're a genius who found a brilliant fork, and the next, you’ve blundered your queen and are staring at the board wondering where it all went wrong. We’ve all been there—whether you’re 600-rated or 2600. But here’s the secret many people forget: chess is supposed to be fun.

Whether you dream of becoming a grandmaster or just want to stop losing to your cousin every weekend, enjoying the game is the first step to getting better. So, how do you actually enjoy chess, without making it feel like a math exam?

1. Play Without Fear

Stop worrying about rating points. Seriously.

Most of us get so caught up in the fear of losing rating that we forget to enjoy the game itself. Play like a warrior. Try crazy gambits. Sacrifice a rook just to see what happens. Chess is your playground, not your prison.

2. Don’t Just Memorize – Understand

Memorizing openings is fine. But if you don’t know why you’re playing e4 or why that knight belongs on f3, it becomes boring fast.

Next time you watch a GothamChess or Agadmator video, pause and ask: what’s the idea here? When you understand even a tiny thing—like why doubled pawns can be weak—you’ll feel like Sherlock Holmes solving a mystery.

3. Make It Social

Chess doesn’t have to be a solo grind.

• Play with friends and laugh at each other’s blunders.

• Join a local club or online community (Chess.com has thousands!).

• Try bughouse or variants like 960 for pure chaos and fun.

It’s way easier to enjoy the game when you’re sharing it with others.

4. Lose with a Smile

It sounds cheesy, but it’s true: every loss is a lesson.

If you review your games and find even one thing to learn (like "don’t hang my bishop on move 6"), that’s a win. Laugh at your mistakes. They’re part of your story.

5. Play When You Feel Like It

Don’t force yourself.

Some days chess just won’t click—and that’s okay. Take breaks. Watch a chess meme. Read a chess comic. The joy comes back naturally.

In the End…

Chess is beautiful, brutal, complex—and above all, it’s yours. You don’t have to be the best. You just have to love the 64 squares in your own way.

So the next time you sit down at the board, remember this:

Enjoy the game. Enjoy the journey. And don’t forget to smile when you castle. 😊

~ Y. Hritiq Charan