You are sitting quietly, staring down at a board that contains 64 squares, 32 of one color, and 32 of another. You have 16 items on the board in front of you that have been fashioned into 6 very unique figures. You play just one opponent and they too have their own army of 16. What is it? Simple, it is the intense battle to 'checkmate'. You can no longer respond, there is no move to get you out, you're trapped. The classic game of Chess is one that could be over in an instant if played well, or the drama could go on for hours. The players will be deep in thought and concentration trying to for see their opponent's strategy and predicting how to outsmart them.
The game was played by aristocrats and noblemen in history. Chess has the reputation of being for the intellectual elite by some. When you think of the 'chess club' from high school it's usually an image of all the really smart kids. Moves and maneuvers can not be random or haphazard if you plan to win at a game of Chess. The ability to focus and concentrate is critical. Because players can drag out play for so long, professional players involved in games or tournament play have timers placed on them to give them a limit to make their next move. If the time runs out, they have lost the game. The form of the game played today appeared in writing dating back to the 15th century. By the 19th century the game involved books of rules and strategies, magazines and journals, clubs and tournaments, even a full blown manual for chess theory. Some may not be aware but the International Olympic committee considers Chess as a recognized sport.
Studies on the game and those who excel in the game have uncovered some interesting results. It is believed that those who succeed are more often left handed people, and those born in late winter rather than those born in early spring will be better at the game. The last characteristic is that those who start playing when they are much younger tend to be more successful. I guess when we are younger, we tend to absorb information more readily, and over think things less. In adult years, this will translate into someone who tackles the classic game of chess with the ability to think, for see and outsmart their opponent.
