How long have you been playing chess?

Either causualy or in tournaments.

This is either the end of my second year, or the start of my third...

I became interested sometime in 2002 so about 8 years.  I played online blitz nearly every day for about 3 years, I read one basic endgame book and had a puzzle book.  I found a local club and went to my first tournament in 2005, my first provisional rating was too high, my real strength was probably around 1300 at the time.

I started playing exactly 1 year ago, on the day, started here.

Joined a club about 6 months ago.

...between battles with Doctor Doom I have been playing chess for two years now...but only now I have been focussing more time into it...and improving...I hope Galactus isn't around the corner to interupt my chess play.

Learned the moves at age 7 or so.  Playing online for almost two years.  Plan to join a club regularly when I get old.

50 years (since age 6)- my dad carved my first set out of a broom handle, still my greatest treasure (that comment probably belongs on a different thread).

 You ought to show a picture of it on line.

It´s now been more than 30 years... but only 24 since begining to compete... 

 pic please, I love hand carved sets.  I'm 39 started at age 16 still I'm a novice.  Never read a book.  Had a master teach me (rated 2100+ at a local club) or helped me learn openings and why they work the way they do.  This is the greatest game created.

And I ain't even started yet!!!!!!

5,000 years.  i actually invented the game in persia some time ago.

I like the bishops.

Cool Chess set Sigmoid. 

I will tell my dad (he's 81 this week and last beat me the day he gave me that set). Here is one he carved later at work (?!) out of a BIGGER broom handle:

42 years. Only 24 with any seriousness.

Fantastic Sigmoid, your dad must be really enjoying his work. Is he a good chess player ?  

I've been playing for 7 years now.  I started in highschool when a friend brought a board and started playing.  He beat me in like 4 moves the first time I played. I was hooked ever since.  I've played online almost every day, logging in well over 4500 games.  I havent played in any tournaments yet but Im thinking of joining a club soon.  I joined this site recently to gain more insight into actual strategy and technique, and improve my skills.

Nope, but he is unbeatable at pool checkers (backwards moves, side to side moves, other inscrutabilities to me)