A fascinating characteristic of playing chess, is that it can be a very enjoyable experience, even if you lose.
Here at Bourne Chess Club we are promoting the act of playing chess over the board (otb) in-person, with an opponent sitting opposite you. Plenty of people enjoy the experience of physically seeing, and talking with their opponent.
As much as it can be very rewarding to play competitive chess because you see that your grade is steadily increasing, demonstrating that you are improving, there is also a social aspect to the game which some players will place just as much importance.
On Tuesday evenings players can arrive at the club, make a tea or coffee, pick up a couple of biscuits for good luck, and enter the chess room to see who they can play. There is plenty of time for a social chat, whether it be chess-related or not; often it tends to be not. At some point, a game of chess is suggested and two players settle themselves in at a free board.
You could choose who is white and who is black by way of placing a pawn of each colour in both hands, and the opposing player chooses a hand. But then again, perhaps one of the players wants to practice something they have in mind, playing as a certain colour; possibly a particular opening for example.
Either way, the players shake hands and wish each other good luck, and the game begins. They may be playing a game using one of the club’s chess clocks, but again, possibly not. Maybe neither player is in any rush or has any desire to play under time control.
Some players will record their moves, so that if they want to, they have the option of replaying the game at a later time, perhaps using an online chess analysis tool that identifies good/bad moves. But maybe not.
It is a peaceful activity, much like fishing or bird watching or reading a book. Thoughts will come into your mind as your brain starts to unwind from perhaps a busy day. You and your opponent might exchange the odd comments about moves, maybe a sneaky trap that has been set, or perhaps a mistake (“blunder”). As a game twists and turns it is interesting to notice the subtle differences in behaviours from you and your opponent. Chess can stir your emotions around as you play the game but you always have the option of dunking a custard cream in your mug of tea, and just relaxing for a moment.
The seconds tick by, before you know it, half an hour has passed and here you are, watching your opponent as they are deep in thought, considering their next move. You can sit back, look around the room at the other chess players. It is a calming environment, it makes you feel very comfortable. You might notice some of the other players are very young, and others much older. It doesn’t matter with chess. Chess is a game that will appeal to all ages and ability.
The game will conclude with a smart checkmate or perhaps an unusual stalemate or perhaps both players decide on balance, it should be a draw. Handshakes and smiles. There will often be an aspect or two about the game that the players will chat about. It is not uncommon to have feelings of “what if”: what if I had played a different move then, how would that have affected the game?
Chess can be as complex or simple as you want it to be. The effort you put into a game is your choice. But as you get to know the other members in the club, you start to make friends. Coming along to the club becomes a very pleasant past time, and something that you end up, very much looking forward to. It is a time that you associate with positive mental wellbeing.
