Why I love Chess
Introduction:
Chess is a great game. I love it very much and I am pleased that more and more people are playing it. But why do I find chess so great and why is it gaining popularity?
Chapter 1: The History of Chess
The chess game as we know it today probably originated in the 6th century from the Indian game Chaturanga. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, chess reached Europe, where it became one of the seven knightly virtues but also faced ecclesiastical disapproval. In the 15th century, the modern chess game as we know it developed. Some changes included move possibilities (queen, bishop, pawn, castling) and openings. The queen could then, like the king, move only one square per turn. The bishop could only move two squares diagonally instead of infinitely many. The pawn could only move one square forward; the current double-step and “en passant” did not exist. Castling was developed only in the 16th century; before that, it did not exist. In old chess, there were few opening theories, whereas in modern chess, there are extensively documented opening theories. Countries like Spain, Italy, France, England, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Soviet Union or Russia became chess nations. Since the mid-19th century, there have been the first chess tournaments, and in 1886 the first chess world championship took place. Wilhelm Steinitz won the first world championship. On July 20, 1924, the World Chess Federation FIDE was founded. In many countries, chess has had a great tradition. It used to be customary and very important for the nobility to be a skilled chess player, as it was considered good manners to play a game of chess. In the Soviet Union, it was common to play chess in parks, which is why there were many Soviet world champions in the 20th century. Additionally, the Soviet Union saw chess as a means to show the USA that its people were intellectually superior.
Today, there are chess masters all over the world. Chess has become a game for everyone, regardless of gender, age, size, skin color, origin, etc. There are chess programs that are better than any human, and online chess platforms like Chess.com have millions of players.
Chapter 2: Why Chess is so Popular
As mentioned above, chess is not exclusive — almost everyone can afford it, and it is known and available everywhere. To play a game of chess, you don’t even need to own a chessboard. Anyone who has seen the film “Chess Story” knows that you can make pieces with a bit of bread, water, and toothpaste, and the tiles in the bathroom can function as a board. Additionally, chess is considered the game of the intelligent — and who doesn’t want to be intelligent? There are many reasons why chess has become so popular. These include: non-exclusivity, being proven over hundreds of years, the Corona pandemic, availability, influencers, and movies/series.
I believe I explained the non-exclusivity of this game well earlier. During the Corona pandemic, many people were bored, and chess offered a great pastime — every game is new and different and always exciting. By availability, I mean that nowadays you only need to turn on your phone, enter Chess.com or Lichess on Google, and you can start immediately, anywhere. Moreover, it seems every household has a chessboard at home. A significant factor contributing to the popularity of chess is influencers — thousands of people watch others play chess daily or watch GothamChess’s antics as he tricks an opponent. Now, let’s talk about the last point: movies/series. Films like “Chess Story” or series like “The Queen’s Gambit” have fascinated many and motivated them to play chess themselves. One could also mention Andrew Tate and the Sigma scene, which promote chess as the true proof of intelligence. But now, let’s get to the point of why I love chess.
Chapter 3: Why I Love Chess
As the title suggests, I love chess. I play it in my free time. I may not be very good (813 Elo on Chess.com), but I still try hard. Chess has a small tradition in my family. My grandpa won many regional tournaments in the former Yugoslavia, and I have never won a game in 14 years of playing chess. I will always practice to become extremely good one day. I find chess great because it is a noble and intellectual game, anyone can play it, it never gets boring, and because I want to become as good as my grandpa one day.
Chapter 4: Positive Effects of Chess
Chess promotes overall development. While focusing on a game, you practice concentration, patience, and willingness to learn. The dynamics of a game teach flexible responsiveness, and the various positions train abstraction skills and thinking in spaces, patterns, and analogies. Additionally, chess exercises logic, decision-making, and willpower. Whether you win or lose, a game promotes self-confidence and self-assessment. Overall, chess has a positive impact on us.
Chapter 5: Conclusion
As we have seen, chess has a long history and has been popular for a long time. There have been many changes that have drastically altered the ways of playing. Today, chess is a game for everyone. Chess has become more popular due to many factors, and its popularity continues to rise. I love chess because it is so diverse and has a tradition in my family. Chess is a game that positively impacts our development and is a lot of fun.
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