Chess is Not Just A Hobby, It Is a Way Of Life

The past couple of weeks have been quite unusual, especially because I have been distant from the chess community on Hive and out here in the real world.

Even the thought of not participating in the Hive Chess tournaments makes me uncomfortable because it is so unlike me to do so. I haven't been playing or recording chess videos for a while now mainly because I had some issues with my PC. This year, I haven't gone to any chess events either.

But! Despite my sudden distance from the chess world, I have not been entirely distant from the game itself. I still find myself blitzing time away on Lichess. The game is simply a part of me.

Chess is more than just a game for me. It is a passion that has been with me since childhood, shaping my thinking and influencing my decisions. Chess has taught me a lot of lessons in my life. It has also helped me to develop patience, persistence, and resilience in the face of setbacks. At this point, it is somewhat attached to my subconscious. I can't help but think about the game even when I'm not actively playing it. Chess is not just a hobby for me; it is a way of life.

Being a part of a fantastic chess team or organization is another element that keeps my chess passions stoked. Teaching chess in schools has been a great side gig for me and has taught me a lot about kids and people.

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Chess; A way of life

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Chess is often considered just a game, but it is much more than that. Chess is a challenging and thought-provoking activity that has been played for centuries. It is an intellectual pursuit that requires critical thinking, creativity, and strategy. It can also teach valuable life lessons and provide a social outlet.

Yeah, I know you probably think I am overhyping the game but I am not.

At its core, chess is a game that challenges the mind. It requires players to think several moves ahead and anticipate their opponent's next move. It involves a high degree of concentration and mental agility. It is an activity that can help develop problem-solving skills and promote logical thinking.

Enough with the sweet talks, let's get into some game analysis

As I mentioned, I never shied away from blitzing out time on Lichess. Here is an exciting game I played a few days.

The game started with a French defense, not my mainstream opening but I find myself experimenting a lot these days. All I want is a playable middle-game position with the potential to play for a win as black.

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However, after the first 10 moves, the game had transposed to the Sicilian Grand Prix-type position.

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We progressed through to the middle game with both sides having a decent position. After 20. Nf3, white's knight on e3 attacks the pawn on d5 and puts pressure on Black's position. Black's knight on f6 is attacking White's pawn on e4. Both sides need to decide how to continue their plans.

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With the pawn on d6 hanging, I decided to go for the counter-attack and play more tactically. White got the upper hand regardless and was winning but panicked.

After move 31. R1f2, white still stood much better but 32. Kf1 dissolved all white's advantage and a one-move blunder on move 33 gave me a mate in one.

Here is how the rest of the game after move 20:

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The significance of developing pieces and maintaining control of the center in the opening is one of the key lessons that can be drawn from this game. Both sides initially attempted to use pawns to control the center, but White's choice to postpone development with moves like 2. d3, and 5. c4 allowed Black to acquire an advantage by using pieces to take control of the center.

White was able to win material and had a winning position but my tactical play made the position somewhat uncertain. In the end, White was unable to successfully hold their position and lost the game.

Another important lesson that can be taken from this game is the importance of tactical awareness. Throughout the game, both sides made tactical threats and were aware of their opponent's potential tactics. In the critical positions analyzed, both sides had to make accurate tactical calculations in order to maintain or gain an advantage.

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There you have it!

Despite the fact that the featured game isn't very good, I still had fun playing it. I haven't been in the finest of form but I still see certain twists and tactics every now and then. 😉

Regardless of what happens or whatever journey I embark on in life, Chess will always be a part of my life.

Why?
Because:

Chess is not just a game; it is a way of life!

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Thanks For Reading!

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