What is your story? How did you start playing chess? What have you, and are you doing in chess?

Agreed RMChess1954

I like your thought.

I wrote a blog post about the pros and cons of online chess. I hope you'll give it a read. https://www.chess.com/blog/RMChess1954/online-chess-pros-cons

True, just, the cheaters.

I like the stories in there!

I will post another very slightly off topic story which I hope will amuse, it is true.

OTB chess here in Asheville NC is I am glad to report alive and well, especially in the summer months. People play in the (very) small (Prichard) park in the center of town and outside the rear of my local pub (Westville)  and there is a club which meets in an old fire dept (I think, no on looking it up it is at the North Com center building on Merriman, I stand corrected).

So lots of chess and of course as a relative newcomer I didn't realise that all the locals know each other or at least know of each other.

So, I play with the homeless guys downtown in the summer months and outside the rear of my local occasionally in the afternoon, where Bob was a regular at the pub playing for $2 per game and giving lessons occasionally. We passed the same $2 back and forth so often that we eventually gave up actually using money to keep score. I also met and played an old Hungarian player at the local club and even beat him once or twice. I mentioned my win to Bob and was somewhat surprised at his response, "You actually beat the old Hungarian"! Apparently, he was a well known first category player in his younger days. He is sadly no longer with us and to my shame I cannot recall his name, except that he told me he met his wife at an international congress where a GM was also making a play for this same young woman, however, she prefered my friend, (who she eventually married) and the GMs nose was put well out of joint, to the point that he said to her when she refused a date, telling him she was going to supper with the other, " but he's not even a GM like me".  

Robert, who keeps a good eye out on the downtown players had a brush with the law a couple of years back and spent some time in (We would say, 'at her majesties pleasure' in England) prison. However when he returned in the spring with a chess clock and a good knowledge of openings I was somewhat surprised. But when he explained that he had spent the winter months in retirement studying and playing chess it all became clear.

These are the stories of some of the locals here in Asheville from my point of view. 

I hope you enjoy the stories. 

I sure do. The park story looks like the Max Euwe square in Amsterdam where there is a street board with big plastic pieces where people play from 10 am to 10 pm every day. It is a strange mixture of tourists, homeless people and just Amsterdam people that like to play. A lot of the players are regulars, well, actually like me, because I pass by there just about every day and stop there to watch a game and crack jokes with the regulars. In When the wether is nice other people bring their chess boards and pieces and there are quite a few games going on then.

I've learned a lot in the years that I've been coming there by just watching. A lot of  "dirty" tricks and ways to play end games. And there is some GM material there too. I saw one man play blindfolded and he captured the opponents queen for free when he was called away and apologized for nor being able to end the game. Then there is a Chinese-Dutch student who beats everyone there with so much ease and skill. We tell him that he can be a next Dutch champion if he takes it more serious, but he says he wants to concentrate on his studies. I think he's right in doing so.

What is nice about the square is that people of all nationalities play there. There are Iranians, Turks, Indonesians, Serbs, Philipino's, egyptians, etcetera and the tourists come from all over the world. Everyone's life story  there would be a totally different book if written down.I would say that chess overcomes the language barrier, for the rules are known everywhere, regardless of your native language.

Unfortunately the place also attracts some crazy people and alcoholics and sometimes there are fights and screaming and the police has to come and take them away. But apart from that it's a special place and it encouraged me to take up the game again and open an account on chess.com.

https://www.google.nl/search?q=max+euweplein+amsterdam&client=firefox-b-ab&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiT1t_7nPvYAhVGEVAKHTu5BacQ_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=665

Is everything alright? Shall I call an ambulance?

I'm from Accra, Ghana. I learnt to play chess when I was 12. A friend of mine thought me. By then we knew only how to move the pieces. Let me share some funny moments. One of my friends made his first move by moving a knight and we all accused him of cheating lol. We also weren't mating but capturing the king. I'm fairly good now.

I'm from Accra, Ghana. I learnt to play chess when I was 12. A friend of mine thought me. By then we knew only how to move the pieces. Let me share some funny moments. One of my friends made his first move by moving a knight and we all accused him of cheating lol. We also weren't mating but capturing the king. I'm fairly good now.

I'm from Accra, Ghana. I learnt to play chess when I was 12. A friend of mine thought me. By then we knew only how to move the pieces. Let me share some funny moments. One of my friends made his first move by moving a knight and we all accused him of cheating lol. We also weren't mating but capturing the king. I'm fairly good now.

I'm from Accra, Ghana. I learnt to play chess when I was 12. A friend of mine thought me. By then we knew only how to move the pieces. Let me share some funny moments. One of my friends made his first move by moving a knight and we all accused him of cheating lol. We also weren't mating but capturing the king. I'm fairly good now.

I'm from Accra, Ghana. I learnt to play chess when I was 12. A friend of mine thought me. By then we knew only how to move the pieces. Let me share some funny moments. One of my friends made his first move by moving a knight and we all accused him of cheating lol. We also weren't mating but capturing the king. I'm fairly good now.

I started Chess when I was very young, and it’s been a pastime since. I am very serious about League of Legends though.

Rough translation, "The trolls leave no stone unturned. I think it's good if a mod takes care of the nonsense and helps to keep the very interesting thread clean! Sorry?"

Also, Alles in Ordnung.

Well im from Las Vegas, moved to Los Angeles when I was still pretty young and my father taught me how to play. He was a far better player than I will ever be and I hope he's looking down at me everytime I win a game. I miss him so much but luckily he doesnt have to face me anymore haha I challenge anyone whos reading this and I cant wait to see you guys out ther on the battlefield. Happy Checkmating to you all!

Thanks to everyone who shared their story. This has been a wonderful human connection to what can seem like a cold interface. It only works because you shared. Thanks. If you're new here I highly recommend you take a few minutes and read these stories and share your story with us. 

Agreed.

I learned to play at 10 years old from my brother ( 3 years older than me ).   I was his sparring partner when he was on the high school team.    I became captain of that team from middle of sophomore year thru graduation.   Played actively in our community chess club in Toms River, NJ.

had in intial Rating of 1700 and maintained 1800 to 1850 at end high school thru college at Rutgers.   Played on the Rutgers team, but seldom did much to improve.    friendly at that time thru today with our # 1 player Peter Radomskyj, a fine gentleman and great chess player.

I often gave up chess -- when going away to grad school, etc.   but always found a way back.     When I was in the NIU Student Center, there were a few speed chess games going on ( 5 minute ).    I watched for awhile, then stepped in.    I easily beat a few people and then suggested to one fellow, that I give him odds.    eeeeesh !    He took offense and asked who the h**** I thought I was.   I was so intimidated, he beat me the next game.      John McNabb, Jr and I did many battles and travelled to many tournaments together.    he wanted to make a living off the game.     He had the skills of an expert, but much more was needed to be independent in the late 1970s.   his claim to fame was defeating Craig Chellstorp, a top 50 player and the Ohio State Champion.    John credits that win to a book he read by Ludek Pachman that explained how to play the White side of the Nimzo Indian.   John said Chellstorp fell right into that type position where White can control events.

when I came back to NJ in early 1980,  just sheer momentum and experience catapulted me into the 2000 range.   and with additional study I cracked 2200.    however, as computer chess came to the forefront, I lost interest and stopped playing competitively in the late 90s.......though enjoy this web site.