How old were you when you learned how to play chess and what attracted you to ♟ chess.

You and me both, my Irish brother! How old were u when you began ur ♟ journey and how did it come about?

Thank you, Old Spooky for defending the red, white, and blue 🇺🇸!  Us Yanks have to represent!  That’s why ♟ is so great - we can get out all of our hostilities without others getting hurt. And chess IS the topic of my little strand  - just saying, guys. As a woman, I know I’m a minority here but definitely NOT a silent minority!  

Happy International chess day, everyone!🎉🎈🪅

But of course, NotAbsolut! Happy succession day of St. Hormidas!🪅🎉🎈🪅🎉🎈🪅🎉🎈

I started learning chess at 10 at the hands of my brother who was 12 and just learning.  I have no idea how or why he learned it.  We started by playing one type of piece at a time until we knew how each moved.  It was a slow start but we played a lot.  The pieces and the board were wood.  No plasic back then.  There was no TV in my house in 1956 and when we finally got one the shows were limited and repetitive and mom said "turn that off and go outside" often.  I played in parks in New York City with some old codgers who put up with younger learners.  I later played in the Navy and eventually taught my boys.  Amazingly I grew older working in New York City and played in the same parks as an older player though not a codger just yet.  I also played in a pub on Friday nights against some pretty stiff club competition and did okay.  I quit for 30 years until about 6 years ago when I found a few online sites including this one.  I don't play much and long games no longer interest me.  I lack the concentration necessary.  I play a few 5 and 10 minute games now but not often.  I was rated about 1500 in 5 , 10  and daily a few years ago on an old account,  Now I can barely hold onto 1000.

I like the shorter games too, FestertheTester  - the 3” blitz is my favorite. I’m able to play the 2” bullet but forget the 1” bullet! That one gives me a 🤕 headache!

9

Chess is a mind game at any speed but one minute bullet is just a survival thing,  The only strategy is speed.  It doesn't matter your position only the timer is a concern.  I have checkmated in 1 minute games but only against beginners at bullet.  Anyone familiar knows that chess stategy goes out the window.

I have never been a technical chess player.  I couldn't name an opening or a defense and never play conventional positioning.  I have always had one strategy: Play fast and make unexpected moves.  I have frustrated many players to the point they make terrible mistakes.  I think my strength is in the open board of an end game especially against someone who did not expect to get there so fast.  I like to trade early, especially queens, and castle late to throw off anyone who plays book moves.  That's probably why when I get to the better players at 1500 I lose.  I don't care.  It was never more than a fun game to me.

I'm always surprised when I'm told (by C.C bots) what opening or defense was in the game.  I have no idea. 

I learned at the age of 9 and kind of fell away. But when I made my chess.com account, I really got into it and I've never looked back

New fangled,  OldSpooky?? Man, ur really dating ur self, me, and a few others! 😆 LOL

and the kids are like "what's a cassette recorder?"

6

And forget mentioning an 8-track, FestertheTester!

Having lived through rubber coated steel disks and actual needles,  vinyl  (in colors), plastic. reel tapes, 8 tracks, cassette tapes,  walkmans, CDs, and downloadable everything, as well as AM radio and black and white TV in 8 inch screens, I can say with conviction that whatever electronics you hold dear will soon be obsolete.

And even before all that a hand cranked, copper coated cylinder

I had one of these.

and later an electric one and we used them at parties.

I started chess last year on March 28th (the day I joined chess.com) when I was 12