My father unfortunately died far too young at only 49. However, he was a great teacher, and when I was about 8 or 9 he taught me how to play Chess.
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Most early evenings we would sit opposite each other at the chessboard after I had finished playing outside. Internet, together with mobile phones and iPads pinging and buzzing were a thing of the future, and there were no distractions. Mum liked to read, we didn’t have a landline phone, and the TV stayed off unless there was something interesting to watch.
Over a period of time I became rather better at planning my next move on the board. I never did manage to win any game against my father though, despite Mum telling Dad to let me win sometimes so that I wouldn’t want to give up. It didn’t occur to me to give up, because I always thought that someday I would beat him.
He taught me well enough for me to beat my uncle when I was 12. Dad was as proud as proud could be, although my uncle was somewhat less enthusiastic. This spurred me on to challenge Dad again and again, but with just the same disappointing results.
I was pleased to discover that my future husband-to-be also played Chess. After beating Sam at least 5 times in succession, he refused to play against me any more. Likewise both our sons refused as well, when they became teenagers; it was just too embarrassing to be beaten by a girl. Hey ho, it was all down to challenging the computer; I couldn’t win at all on the higher level, but managed a few victories on the less cerebral ones.
Dear old Dad. Every time I see a chessboard I think of him. I have a chess game on my iPad now, and if I get stuck I often think of what kind of move Dad might have made. I can even hear him in my inner ear telling me to ‘take that rook’ or ‘protect your king’. I’ve lost track of our old board and Chess pieces; I still remember the worn wooden box with its many scratches that we stacked the pieces in when it was time for my bath and bed. It had a special smell that made me think of my childhood and my dad. I think one of my sons might have it now, or possibly it might be right at the back of our loft.
Chess should be on the national curriculum for schoolchildren. It causes children to sit still and concentrate the mind, and it encourages lateral thinking. We could do with more chess-playing youngsters!
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Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
I can’t play. I understand the moves but can never think ahead the way you have to. I can see how playing is good for a writer. Your mastery of the game probably explains why you have a whole bookcase full of books you’ve written and I have just 4, none of which is selling!
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I love this post, what a great memory of your father. My dad taught us to play cards and we had many an enjoyable evening trying to beat dad at whatever game we played. He never let us win either. I believe that is why we are so competitive in our family, in a good way. I agree, chess should be taught in school. It develops healthy competition and concentration skills.
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Great guest post and I totally agree. That’s why I started a Chess club in the library where I work. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the places fill in front of the boards and children as young as six challenging ten year olds! Thankfully, I’ve squashed the notion of girls v boys. They are all capable of winning, as long as they protect their kings!
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Stevie Turner is a guest of The Story Reading Ape this morning with recollections of her chess lessons with her father.. #recommended.
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Many thanks for sharing Sally – Hugs XXX
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Morning Chris.. my pleasure as always. have a good weekend. xxhugs
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You too Sally 😀 XXX
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A lovely story and tribute to your dad, Stevie. My older brother taught me to play when I was quite young. I was so frustrated by not being able to beat him that I went to the local bookstore and bought 5 books about improving your game. They had games by the masters, and I played them over and over until I understood their strategies. After that, my brother could never beat me at chess. Then he refused to play me. Oh well.
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Wow. That’s a lot of books. Congratulations. You haven’t been busy, you’ve been go-go-go.
Wish you all the best in your future endeavors. 🙂 ❤
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Chess is so much fun, I hope you pass on the tradition with your grandkids!
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A lovely tribute to your father. I learned how to play chess at about the same age as you but lost interest in it after a couple of months. We didn’t have a television and only one radio. We were allowed to listen to “The Shadow”. of course I was born in 1943 so there wasn’t much of anything technical back then. I could play a mean game of Knock Hockey though. You are right, chess does make a child sit and think, stratigize and concentrate. It was hard to concentrate in our house there were six of us kids all close in age but I was never bored. ☺☺
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Not a game I’ve mastered. 😇
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Never give up, you never know when your opponent is about to. Hugs
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