Why Chess?

Life is a kind of chess.

-Benjamin Franklin

Once you have played chess, you start to understand why Benjamin Franklin likened life to chess, rather than the other way around. Chess is a game of ideas that teaches us to think broadly and deeply, to focus intently on problems for extended periods of time, and ultimately to become good decision makers. In this way, chess can help us prepare for life.

In chess we are provided with pieces, which we can think of as our “resources”, or our “team.” In life, as in chess, if we manage our resources wisely, we can find success.

Likewise, in life we have deadlines, and on the chessboard we are faced with a clock. Success in both requires that we use our time wisely.

On the chessboard we begin with 64 squares and 32 pieces. This is a tremendous amount of information to process. In life, every day presents us with demands, dilemmas, conflicts and challenges, and it is up to us to prioritize and make sense of what is most important, and what we need to do next. Learning to make good decisions is a critical step on the path to success. On the chessboard when we consider our possible moves, and our opponent’s possible responses, we are learning to be good decision makers.

In life, as in chess, we need strategies and tactics to succeed, and the wisdom to know the difference.

In life, we have good days and bad days. On the chess board, we win some and we lose some. We may lose a lot of chess games before we win our first game. And when we lose, we stand alone, with no team mates beside us to commiserate with. But if we can find the courage to look straight into the heart of our losing games, we can learn from our mistakes, and return to the board and find success. In life, we call this grit.

These are some of the reasons I play chess with my own children, and why I enjoy coaching chess in the Mascenic Regional School District. The Mascenic Chess Club meets after school on Mondays and Wednesdays in the library at Mascenic Regional High School, from 2:45 to 4:00 PM. Students from the high school and Boynton Middle School are welcome to attend. All playing abilities are welcome, even students who have never played before. If you have questions or would like more information about our chess program, please feel free to e-mail me at edrogers@mascenic.org.

Mr. Rogers

USCF Certified Chess Coach and

MRHS Math Teacher