“Life’s a Chess Game: Checkmate Your Chaos”

 If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be spending hours playing chess and watching grandmaster games like a sports fan, I would’ve laughed and said, “Please, I can’t even remember how the knight moves.”

But then came my younger brother—my unofficial chess nemesis. He played well, and worse, he knew it. I couldn’t let that slide. So, I started playing. Spoiler alert: I kept losing. Not gracefully either. I was just moving pieces because I knew they moved—not because I knew why.

It was like playing a guitar by just strumming randomly—sure, you make noise, but is it music? Not really.

 Learning the Purpose of Pieces

Eventually, I realized every move needs a reason. I started defending my pieces, thinking a move ahead, and even planning traps (most of which I fell into myself).

Then I downloaded a chess app with difficulty levels that looked like video game bosses: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and then Ex+++, Ex++++... Honestly, I lost so much, I thought my phone might file a restraining order against me.

But slowly, I improved. I watched what the computer was doing, adapted, and learned. YouTube became my coach—watching grandmasters play is like watching 4D chess while I’m stuck in 2D.

Did you know grandmaster Magnus Carlsen once played 10 opponents simultaneously—blindfolded—and still won? Meanwhile, I can’t remember where I left my socks this morning.

And then there's Mikhail Tal, known as the “Magician of Riga”. He played so aggressively and creatively that even his opponents sometimes didn’t understand his moves—until they were checkmated.

A classic Tal quote: “There are two types of sacrifices: correct ones, and mine.” 

Another gem is from Garry Kasparov, who once said: Chess is mental torture. Can confirm. My brain hurts after every game.

But perhaps my favorite is by Savielly Tartakower: The winner of the game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.

Relatable. Because if I’m playing, the last mistake is usually mine.

What Chess Taught Me (Beyond the Board)

“Life is like a game of chess; to win, you have to make a move.”

Here’s what stuck with me:

• Think ahead. Always have a plan, but be flexible.
• Defend your position. Whether in life or chess, protect what matters.
• Learn from losses. My defeats taught me more than any victory.
• Stay patient. Quick reactions lead to blunders, in games and in life.

I’ve even started appreciating the art of grandmaster games. Their plans are like 20-step skincare routines—you don’t get it at first, but when it works, it’s flawless.

So no, I’m not a grandmaster (yet), but I’m little smarter, sharper, and definitely more patient. My brother still wins sometimes, but hey, I can hold my ground now without just sacrificing my pieces like I’m donating them to charity.

If you’ve never played chess, give it a shot. Worst case? You’ll lose. Best case? You’ll learn how not to.

Because in chess, as in life: “When you see a good move, look for a better one.” – Emanuel Lasker

And trust me, that applies everywhere.