A NEW YEAR – A SUMMARY, A GIFT AND MORE BENEFITS
After the “Yuletide” break and the dawn of a new year we are re-energized and ready to continue our sparkling Chess journey. This is the seventh article in volume one
This is the seventh article in volume one of our “edutaining” series. To start 2024 (my “birthday gift” to you!), I propose to provide a summary of what we have done hitherto. The following were the previous articles published and which have generated a lot of interest from administrators and players from many countries including the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and North America.
No. 1 (September 22, 2023) – The debut article introduced this fantastic game/sport, tracing its history. I took the opportunity also of highlighting the formation of the Turks & Caicos Islands Chess Federation on May 13, 2023. I also ushered in the era of the “Chess Gem” and the “Chess Quiz”, both of which have had readers engaged, in some cases enthralled!
No. 2 (October 6, 2023) – I continued the history of Chess and commenced teaching the game in earnest with the description of the chess board (battlefield).
No. 3 (October 13, 2023) – The teaching of the game continued and the reader was introduced to “algebraic notation”, the modern way of recording chess moves/games.
No. 4 (October 20, 2023) – Instructions continued with the introduction of the chess pieces and their respective values.
No. 5. – (October 27, 2023) – The Queen was displayed and also some of the benefits of playing Chess.
No. 6 – (December 1, 2023) – The Rook was explored and we continued to highlight some of the benefits of playing Chess.
In our next article we will continue to discuss the rook and set the stage for an analysis of the other pieces.
Diagram 12 – This is an example of a scoresheet for a game played in Jamaica in 2006 that was won by the outstanding talent and future Grandmaster, the Zambian Amon Simutowe.
MORE REWARDING BENEFITS – LET’S GO!!
We will continue highlighting some of the benefits of Chess.
PROVIDING RECREATION – Chess is also a great source of recreation. Yes, it is competitive but it is also fun and a useful “diversion” for persons who do not want to study the game in detail or take it too seriously.
PREVENTING BRAIN DISEASES – Playing Chess engages the brain in various ways, providing this important muscle with great exercise. Various studies have shown that playing Chess regularly can reduce an individual’s risk of developing degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer’s.
CHESS QUIZ – I will allow just one more week for persons to submit their answers to the quiz featured in my last article.
MY CHESS GEM –
“Life is like a game of Chess, changing with each move”
(Chinese proverb)
Your move! See you soon!
Each Friday this column will feature, among many things, events, games, lessons, puzzles, quotations and/or tips for players of all levels – beginners, intermediate and even advanced, experienced campaigners! The column will also provide a chess quiz to test your Chess “IQ”! Who knows ? There might be blessings in store!
• Ian G. Wilkinson KC, a Jamaican, is an Attorney-at-Law and King’s Counsel. He is a former eight-term President of the Jamaica Chess Federation; a former Vice-President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE); Chairman of the Magnificent Chess Foundation; a two-time Jamaica Veterans Champion; and has represented Jamaica at ten (10) straight World Chess Olympiads (2002-2022) in various capacities. Please send all chess-related answers and queries to [email protected]
