At what age did you learn chess?

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Avatar of orangehonda

Learned the movements around age 7 from my Dad.  Didn't start playing until 18.

Avatar of Mimchi

At 13 from my mother. I started beating her soon afterwards. And not at chess.

Avatar of Conflagration_Planet
excelguru wrote:

When I was about 7, I learned how the pieces moved by reading the inside of the box lid from one of those cheap chess/checkers sets from Kmart (Wal-Mart didn't exist back then).

When I was about 27, the friendly folks at a chess club in Baytown, TX showed me (quite decisively) that there was a very big difference between knowing how the pieces moved and knowing how to play. Uphill battle ever since.


 That reminds of the all too common fools who think they know how to play poker just because they know the rank of the hands.

Avatar of Avetovich

At 17 from my high school buddy, now I'm 18, not too serious about getting any titles but playing to improve, if I was younger, about 10 I would be interested in titles because I would have lots of time in my hands, anyways I enjoy chess. 

Avatar of DonPawnleone

my grandfather teached me when i was 10 and now i am 26..

Avatar of HakoneRider

at 7.. my father teach me.. I lost quite a lot, but after a while finally equalize.. then 8 years without any chess, at 16, I had interest in chess again, and become strong chess player in school at 17 / 18 that almost no one want to play Cool, only my chemistry teach and lab guard want to :P

Avatar of Sukey

My mom taught me how to play when I was four. But you wouldnt believe by the way I lost my match today!!Embarassed

Avatar of DrSpudnik

It must have been about age 10, but I didn't actually do anything seriously until I was about 15.

Avatar of golfmaniac9
My grandpa taught me how the pieces moved and the rules of chess when i was very little. I was really into chess but eventually nobody in my family would play me because i would always win. I lost interest and returned to chess about a year ago and am an ok player. I am 14 now
Avatar of Noxxion

I learned at 12,  Now I'm 20.

Avatar of Assassin2142

Learned when i was 4. Stopped until i was 16. I am no 17. :)

Avatar of LAexpress12

learned at 4 played ever since 17 now

Avatar of davidmelbourne

Well, I have never learned how to play this game, and doubt I ever will. Even though my mother taught me the rules 44 yrs ago, when I was 8. 

Avatar of DrSeRRoD

Learned in 1994, played until 1995, and just now, 15 years later, getting back into it. I had this silly concept of wondering if I could achieve a 'Master' title but it would definitely be a 15-20+ year struggle based on what would be required on my end at this point in my life. Laughing

Avatar of Knightvanguard
davidmelbourne wrote:

Well, I have never learned how to play this game, and doubt I ever will. Even though my mother taught me the rules 44 yrs ago, when I was 8. 


I am curious as to why you are interested in this site.  It is still not to late for you learn and enjoy the game.  So what if you never excel at it, just enjoy it.  I know players who do not play well, but they have a good time playing it.  This is true of many games and sports.  I go to the gym and watch people play basketball and although they aren't very good at it, they have a lot of fun.  If you are interested in chess enough to be here on chess.com and read the forums, you must be interested in chess enough to pursue learning more and playing it.  Come on, give it try. 

Avatar of Aranyi

I was 12 years old

Avatar of Poketo

I learned at a friend house at the age of 6/7 and never knew about clubs or tournaments until I was 12, and right now I am 16

Avatar of bobbyDK

I learned chess as a 5 year old.

when I was 5 my father kept mating me with the fools mate until I realized how to stop it. 

all my life I have played chess(smiliar to other games) for fun but I never studied it.

I never played in a club till I got 30 years old. Now I have played 3 years in a club.

Now I consider chess a sport and not a game.

Avatar of Eriror

I learned the rules when I was around 9/10, but quickly lost interest [5/6 months] due to the bad atmosphere at the club. I'm 19 now and started again in November 2009 and got my first rating earlier this month. :)

Avatar of Knightvanguard
Eriror wrote:

I learned the rules when I was around 9/10, but quickly lost interest [5/6 months] due to the bad atmosphere at the club. I'm 19 now and started again in November 2009 and got my first rating earlier this month. :)


Congratulations on receiving your first rating.  I hope you don't lose interest with chess here in chess.com.