How old were you when you started playing chess?

I got to know chess, when I was 4? 5? But really I started playing chess in Primary School, when I was... about 8, 9. In my family it's tradition. My father was one of the best players (maybe the best?) at his university, my elder brother plays very much and very well, so I must train in order to win with them... someday. :)

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I learned when I was about 13.

most people talk about beating their father

last year!

I learnt how the pieces move when I was... I do not remember, I was a kid probably below 10...

I played with my granddad when I was in school, but that's all - nobody else in the family wanted to play with me (we had a family legacy of chess - uncle of my granddad was the local champ, my great grandfather I heard was a good chess player, one brother of my granddad was a good player and had written a book of problems in local language, my granddad also was a good player in his time and taught my dad and two elder brothers to play chess, my father was the champ in local doctor's club, my two elder brothers - 10 and 7 yrs older than me - I heard were also good players, I do not remember their prowess in competitions), as I could not play anywhere near their standard...

I really learnt to play at 14 yrs or so from books - I was a bookworm - but still I had only my grandad to play with. He had developed cataract, and his eyes started watering after a few hours, at that time we just adjourned the game... My dad only once played with me to humor me (he was that good!)...

I learnt about strategy, etc. and played with others only in college...

You said 30 at the top

100

I was six when my grandfather started teaching me.  His set was missing a white rook; in its place we used a metal statuette of a samurai, which I didn't like because it was darker and heavier than the wooden pieces.  So for my first few years playing with him, I always wanted to play black!

I was 4 :)

My set has a missing black rook and instead I use this plastic hexagon like shape that I found.

I was 10 or 11.  A friend showed me the basics, but he wasn't an avid player.

A neighbor of mine was a wiz- he gave me my first real chess education (he also had one of the first Chess Challengers from Fidelity Electronics - no sensory board!)

I played my dad starting as age 5.

Started this year and I'm 52. I pretty much suck at it but it's fun.

also 5

most were 5

I started around kindergarden, which means 6-8 years old probably.

I started at age 7... but play chess at a club since last  year (age 30)

at about 15 years old

I was 3 years old! I was taught by my older brothers, and by the time I was 5 I could beat my brother about 2 out of 3 games who is ten years older than me.