When did you start playing chess

at what age and a year would be nice.

I started last year.

I started very casually when I was around 7 years old.  I didn't really understand any strategy or theory until I was in my 20s. 

I srated about five years ago, but my game has improved drastically since then. I used to think the queen was a rook and vise-versa.

3 years ago

7 years ago. I stopped and started until a year ago.

I was in fourth grade when I learned to play, but I never really played seriously until a few months ago.

i started in August 5, 2000

I started 11 years ago at the age of 5.  I started truly seriously last year

Only very recently :)

so yea, end of 2008 / early 2009

I was 7 but only got into it at the age of 10

I started when I was 4 or 5, but went to my first club 2 years ago, and started tournament play a year or so ago. (By tournament play, I mean serious tournament play, not the fun little ones I played in when I started.)

I started serious tournament play at the tournament I played dc in which is in my picture.

I started at ten years ago im 18 i stopped thru middle school and have been serious the past 5 years