Hi all,

I was probably 12 when I first laid my eyes on a chess set (at the local library) and taught myself the rules; I soon lost interest after playing a couple times that same day and didn't pickup the game until I got to college.  It was here that I learned of my "raw" rating when I entered my very first USCF tournament.   Rating  ~1300.  When I say "raw", I mean having never learned about tactics or strategy,etc.  --Only the rules and experience from having played a couple games from the ripe old age of 12.

Many years later, I still have not taken the time to really study the game but have been playing many blitz games on-line.  Although my rating has improved some what, it seems like I'm going in circles.  

I don't know all the stats, but it seems that anyone who's achieved high ratings seem to have taken chess seriously at a very young age.  I think I heard or read somewhere that GMs usually had achieved master level by their early teens.

My question: Do you guys think your current and future ability is profoundly affected from having picked up (or not) the game at a very early age?  In other words, if you don't cultivate the game at a very early age, say for instance, 6, chances are, no GM title in your future, no matter how hard you work at it.  I believe that as a child develops, the brain is very malleable at that age. I heard that connections made in the brain probably plateaus by the age of 9.  I understand that there are other forces that go into chess ability, i.e., intelligence, hard work,etc.  I'm just speaking to for instance achievement of the GM title; people can probably move up the ranks up to Master regardless  of when the person started to take the game seriously.  Are there any GMs who achieved the title after having taken up the game as an adult?  I think it's an uphill battle and much harder to achieve, if you don't start the game at a very young age.  What are your experiences?  What do you guys think?

I think the earlier you start the better, its easier to learn when you are young, its easier to pick up stuff lol.

Hi, ConfusedConfucius

 to my opinion it is indispensable to start so early as possible!!!

its translated by google, because my english is brilliant;-)

In the city of Zlatoust Championship, the nine-year-old Karpov in the 1st Club class. 1961 he took part in the youth championship in the Chelyabinsk region participated. The result means a place participants under 66 gave him great encouragement.

A year later, the world champion candidate Viktor Korchnoi in a simultaneous presentation of Chelyabinsk. Anatoly had to take part, reaching a draw. The two should be from there quite often take on the chessboard. But Karpov is still just one of many talents in the Soviet Union. 1962, Karpov champion candidate - just eleven years old. Exweltmeister Mikhail Botwinnik and world champion Boris Spassky candidate give the chess area of the Urals in 1964 and 1965 simultaneous performances involving Anatoly participates. Both Grandmaster Karpov reached a draw.

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ok- karpov is one of the greatest player ever, maybe not the best example ?!?

I guess Magnus Carlson will coming up soon and Vishy Anand ( I like his style very much !!) will depose...

I don't even know why I'm posting here :P... I really don't know.

Anyways here's something to think about...

I learned how to play at 4 years old... I'm now 17 and although I'm approaching the NM title I'm probably still a year or two away. 

I know people who only learned the moves in their mid 20's and had the NM title 4 years later. 

It is true that many of the chess greats started at a relatively young age, but I do not think that completely dictates one's chess ability.  But of course, it is much easier to become a master level player if you start as a kid or early teenager than it is when you start when you're 50.  In fact, chess players reach their peak ability at about 30 and their chess ability declines in old age due to their inability to calculate as well as they did when they were younger.

Howard Staunton did not take a serious interest in chess until 26. Mikhail Chigorin did not learn the moves until 16, and did not take to the game until 23 or 24.

but Staunton was born 1810 !!

Yeah, and he was the best chess player in the world for almost a decade when he reached his 30s.

you cant compare 2 centurys...

 today you have only small chances, to make money with chess, when you start to learn chess with over 20 years...

Everyone can play chess, but not everyone can sing like The Temptations

Woohoo

It is true that you have a lateness in your chess career. It does not mean, however, that you are not able to achieve a lot. A wise man once told me, that you could learn up to probably 2200 rating untill talent comes into play. Talent is most of the time 'learned' at a (very) young age. You can still become an expertof the game when you are 60 or even older. 

i personaly think that the GM title by itself does not require a young start, but a good head a good training.

of course when you're young it's easier to find the time for the training, and when you're old the head can go to whaste... :)

to pick up chess and become a great player from a young age you need the brains and the training. if you want to become a GM at and old age you need to be completely mad... and yet still it can be done alongside running half of a life...