then, I have played over three hundred games. All of the

games in which I have participated have been logged and have

accumulated points on what is known as the Elo Rating.

Although my rating is categorized in the intermediate class,

I have learned many things about the game and have

trained my mind to see things that are missed by most

players new to the game. The three stages of a brilliantly

played chess game include: the opening, the middle game, and

the end game. In comparison, there is the childhood stage

of life, adulthood, and the last years of one’s life.

The first, and perhaps the most important, stage of

this tedious and challenging game is appropriately entitled

“the opening.” The general idea of the first moves made by

both white and black are meant to establish the players’

position and strategy. Generally, each player introduces

his or her main characters: bishops, knights, rooks, and the

queen. By advancing these pieces, the player attempts to

gain control of the center of the board and protects, above

all, the king. Countless variations of the opening have been

played throughout the history of chess; however, the general

goal of moving each piece has remained the same: to capture

the opposing player’s king. Despite the many different

openings available, one must keep in mind that every

documented opening is a variation, and it must be modified

to accommodate the opponent’s choice of defense and offense.

One major thing to keep in mind about the opening is that

an undeveloped army can not stand against an opposing force.

If a player fails to have access to the board, then he will

be forced to defend against the opponent’s attacks and will

eventually fall. Following the first few moves, one side will begin to challenge the other’s controlled position, and the heart and soul of chess really begins.

In comparison, the beginning stages of life are uniquely related. A child grows into knowledge and begins the long and challenging game of life. New lessons are learned and the road is paved for what will become of them later in life.

Once the imaginary line of space is passed by the

opposing player, the stage is set for the “middle game.“

Many beginners lose in this segment of the game, without the

end game even being apparent. When the middle game is

initiated by a player, the strategy of chess really comes

into full focus. Each move must be made for a purpose, or

valuable tempo is lost. A good player will stop and study

the board in its entirety to determine what the opponent’s

intentions. Once that has been accomplished, he will

then begin to decipher a way to eliminate any threats to his

controlled position. After doing these things, an

experienced player will start planning several moves ahead

and creating a series of attacks, defenses, and counter-

attacks. This is one of the most difficult aspects of chess.

Despite playing consistently and frequently, if a person

fails to learn how to create their own initiative, they will

increase their level of play. The ability

to identify when to make a trade and when to avoid this

situation is one of the key elements of good strategy. When

the player views his position and can see what needs to be

done and how to get there, he is then playing into the

final stages of the game.

The stage of adulthood is closely related this. Through hard work, you learn better ways to deal with life and carry out plans to become successful. You may learn that doing the wrong thing can result in a lack of growth or gain. And put those things to good use to move toward your ultimate goal: victory.

The “end game” signifies many different things. First

and foremost, it represents the end of the massive bloodshed

needed to gain control of the board. Upon entering the

final level of play, usually it is apparent that the victor

of the middle game has the advantage of position and

material value; however, sometimes the game is very close

and it is not so clear. The end game will be decided based upon the player’s ability to utilize the remaining pieces of his army to eliminate the opposing king. When successful in one’s strategy, the game will be ended in a checkmate, the death of the king. However, a finely fought battle by both sides from beginning to end will only allow the game to end in what is known as a draw. A draw can be reached by a dead position, three-fold repetition, or a stalemate.

This section of chess and life may be of the most controversial. Many different ideas may be gathered from an observer. But to me, this stage signifies the aging process and coming to the end of one’s life cycle. One may spend good time making and doing things right, and thus become victorious or they may fall short and not accomplish enough to win. Or perhaps even further, the overcoming of obstacles despite facing handicap, relate to a draw.

Chess is a game that can redefine the way one’s brain

processes information. Through my experience, I have found

that not only does perception of the game change, but

experience from the game also compels one’s mind to think

strategically in everyday situations. Things learned

from playing chess can relate directly to life. Despite

knowing a significant amount of information about one

subject, there is always more to be learned. Often, a person

will act based on the first thing that comes to mind rather

than exploring different options and deciding on the best

course of action. This, in turn, can lead to defeat, not

only in chess, but in life itself.