Chess, first played more than 1,500 years ago in India, is a game of intellect and strategy. While the rules are simple, tactical skill is needed to truly excel. C. Purdy once said, “Chess is as much a mystery as women,” and it’s true that the skills gleaned from experience on the chess board are ones that can be applied to everyday life. Every player makes mistakes—there has yet to be a player that comes close to playing the game perfectly—but it is those blunders and lessons learned that make chess so interesting. The 2014 U.S. Chess Championships will take place this year in St. Louis May 7-20, but before you watch the most skilled Grandmasters in the game fight for the title of U.S. Champion, check out the Gentleman’s Guide to Chess.
Written by Mike Wilmering of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.
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