What age did you start playing chess?

Learned the moves when I was 5, rarely played until I was 21. Then started playing my cousin, would play a game every Friday night before we headed to the bars. In 10 months never won a game against her. Then found this site in Oct. 08 been playing almost everyday ever since.

I learned the moves when I was 8, played 'on and off' over the years and won some, lost some against familt and friends.  Had a mini stroke 4 years ago and still have my facilties, thank god.  Started playing on this site last year and will continue... 'BRAIN GYMNASTICS'.

I joined my junior school chess club, taught my older brother how to play and then he beat me in the school semi final ... Gutted is not the word! ( well actually , it is! He got a Trophy and everything...)

I'm not bitter, honest : ^ )

Sorry I meant FACULTIES, you see what a mini stroke does to you... chess is a very good exersise for ones brain, even if you lose in the end.  As the old british saying goes: 'It's not the winning, it'staking part that matters!'  I am Dutch by birth, married to a Scot, but I agree with the statement the brits make.  Doing someting is better than doing nothing.  My brain get a 'work-out' playing this game and I'd rather play this ancient game than wat a soap of Ricky Lake on TV.  To 'mwill-philadelphia'  Keep going!!!!!

I learned at around 5 from my dad he let me win for a few years before I won on my own merit at around 8

I was born playing. Making it quite an unpleasent birth for my mother.

Must 'ave bin about 26 I'd say :) Never looked back - now I've got a best friend for life! (cheesey enough for ya!)

I was sixteen when I learned how to play. My father and another friend of mine had tried to teach me how to play chess several times, but I didn't really learn how to play until I started sitting through my school's chess team practices, learning how to play from my good friend.