Chess: The Game, The Institution, The Music

I have to say that Chess was the first game I ever studied. Unlike bridge, I do not remember when I learned to play. Although it is doubtful that I was born with the knowledge of the rules, somehow, in my early youth, I picked up the game. Most likely, my father taught me how to play, as he is the first person I ever remember playing chess against. When I was in the 6th grade, or so, I began to study the game with a great man and excellent teacher, Dave Collier. Unfortunately he passed away several years later from a fairly rare (for men at least) auto-immune disease called Lupus. Even though I played a fair amount in high school, I never really got back into the game competitively after Dave's passing. Perhaps that was for the best, though, as the competitive chess world can be a little peculiar (See Searching for Bobby Fisher a wonderful movie about the childhood of Chess prodigy, Josh Waitzkin.) I think the highlight of my brief chess career was going to the National Jr. High Chess Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. Of course, I did not come close to winning, but I think I still have a t-shirt or two stashed away somewhere :)

These days, I have become interested in assorted chess variations. I know the rules to numerous ones using a standard board and pieces, and I own a few commercially available variations that require special equipment.

Combining my interest in Chess with musicals, I also enjoy listening to varous recordings of the not-quite-a-hit musical, Chess. The music was originally written and performed by a member of ABBA and the lyrics are by the famous, Sir Tim Rice. I own both the recording of the original British Sound Track, as well as the Broadway version. I even went to see a performance of it in San Jose during the summer of 1999.

I will finish this page when I get a chance.

Chess Links

United States Chess Federation
Chess Variants