I never was able to get enthusiastic about the games people like to play. I only played cards, if I had a choice, when there was some cash on the line, that's what made it interesting! Board games, with the roll of the dice deciding my fortune were always frustrating. Then one day about sixteen years ago my sister asked me if I knew how to play chess. I didn't. What's more I didn't want to. I couldn't think of anything more boring than sitting for hours waiting to make a move. My sister, a person who usually gets her way, convinced me to try. She taught me the moves and within a couple of weeks wouldn't play me anymore. She doesn't care for losing! But it was enough of a start into the game to capture my interest, and, much to my surprise, didn't require hours to play unless you wanted it to.
Here was a game where the best player won! You couldn't be beaten by luck! The only way to win was to be the most skillful player. Unfortunately, It seemed I was never the most skillful player when playing experienced players. A new friend invited me to his chess club. I accepted immediately. New blood! It was the second most humiliating experience of my chess life. I lost every game resoundingly, not a close game in the bunch. The only thing that could be said for my play was that I didn't lose my temper or break right down and cry! Well, what to do? It was either admit defeat and give up the game or learn how to play it. I decided, my pride after all, to learn how to play it.
So the studying began! Openings, middle game, endings, tactics, strategy, discovered threats, overworked pieces, control of the center, exploiting week pawns, the list was endless.......and boring! But it worked. Before long I was beating the guys at the chess club. Like the old saying goes-"The next best thing to playing and winning is.........playing and losing!-But winning was a lot more fun than losing.
This brings us to the most humiliating experience of my chess life. With my new found skills to see me through I let myself, all wide eyed and innocent, be convinced that it was time to enter the mysterious world of tournament chess. I entered my first tourny and began my first round game. My opponent made his first move, punched his clock and waited. I made my first move. My tournament career had begun! After about fifteen minutes had passed I found myself becoming very annoyed. It was only the second move, what was there for him to think about for so long? After another fifteen minutes had gone by, I was actually angry, he must me doing this on purpose to psyche me! I had heard of such tactics! Other players had wandered over to watch our game. Occasionally I could hear a few snickers from the peanut gallery. Apparently they were as amazed as I was by my opponents tactics. After almost an hour the snickers were beginning to turn to outright laughter. Suddenly, like a flash, it came to me. I looked over at my clock to see it relentlessly running out of time. Oh, brother, could I really be this stupid? The conclusion was obvious, sure I could! Sheepishly, I reached over and pushed the button. Finally, it was my opponents turn to move........which he promptly did!
Needless to say, it was quite a while before I played in another tournament!! That was a long time ago and I don't play in tournaments anymore, but I still think chess is the only board game! Here are some places you might enjoy testing your skills. Look for me on Blitzin. My name is onepiecedn. Appropriate don't you think?
