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The Watauga High School chess club meets every Wednesday until 4:30pm in Michael Combs' classroom. They set up their boards on desks and carefully align their pieces before sitting down for a game. The Chess Club is for everyone- whether you're there to socialize, practice critical thinking skills or simply play chess.
Brian Lin, sophomore, sets up a chess board for play.
Lin first played chess with his sister. "I got bored one rainy night and decided to look in my garage and found a chess board." he said. "Now I love chess."
Club sponsor Michael Combs makes his opening move.
Combs started the chess club because it teaches problem solving skills and "is an opportunity to interact and think, without the pollution of a screen," he said.
A crowd gathers as Brian Lin and sophomore Jonah Long's game escalates.
Long said the main reason he joined the chess club was to play against his friends.
Andrew Hodges, junior, deliberates his next move.
Hodges attended his first chess club meeting in his sophomore year. "I stay because of all the fun I have and the amount of people I meet." he said.
Long takes a bishop with his pawn.
Jonah's father taught him how to play chess when he was only 6, and he's continued with the game to this day.
Oliver Blain, freshman, spectates Lin and Long's game.
Blain first learned the game of chess from his father, and joined the Watauga High School chess club to continue playing. He said his favorite move is checkmate.
Emily Crees reaches for her bishop in a game against fellow freshman Ebe Santes.
"My favorite move is the Réti Opening because I feel like it sets me up better for the rest of the game, even if it is a popular opening." Santes said.
Sophomore, Bryan Chen's fallen pieces.
Chen first started playing chess at the Hardin Park chess club, and later joined the Watauga Chess Club to be with his friends. His favorite move is En Passant, where a pawn can take another in passing.
Ebe Santes laughs at something Crees says during their game.
Santes asked her grandpa to teach her to play chess when she way younger, and joined the club in high school because she wanted to improve.
Combs moves his pawn in a game against Andrew Hodges.
Hodges learned to play chess from his father years ago, while Mr. Combs learned to play in 1983, when one of his high school teachers, Walter Burke, taught him.
Brian Lin and Bryan Chen play chess by the window, Jonah Long watches.
Brian Lin's favorite move of the game is the King Indian Defense, which is an opening strategy black can take. He said he joined the chess club because he finds the game very fun.
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