Chess and Trial

This is my first blog post—exciting times! I’m dedicating it to chess, a game I’ve been deeply involved with lately. While I don’t play as much as I did a month ago, I’m still very passionate about it.

I’m not exactly sure how I got started with chess five months ago, but I remember my initial rating was around 200. Back then, I mostly played by the basic rules and would often lose to opponents who set traps for me. Instead of using chess books or online courses, I decided to learn on my own. I wanted to discover openings and strategies through trial and error.

The first few weeks were challenging, but I gradually started to improve by experimenting and having fun with the game. Now, my rating has risen to 800. Although this is still far from the world’s top players (rated around 3000), I’m proud of how much I’ve learned. I’ve discovered opening moves on my own and sometimes I see the same opening I discovered in YouTube videos of experienced players playing chess, and it always makes me proud that I found those moves.

Learning chess through trial and error has taught me a lot about the process of discovery. It’s made me appreciate the value of figuring things out on my own. It made me feel like a child. Sometimes we are so worried about details and perfection that we forget the beauty in mistakes. Even as I write this blog, I am aiming for it to be perfect, but I try to be conscious not to get so caught up in being perfect that I don’t experiment.

The thing is, I try to be as imaginative as I can, so I don’t always look up things I don’t know. There are parts of my life that need to be perfect or at least meet certain standards. For example, I can’t just be imaginative and fill out things like my taxes without knowing the rules. This principle doesn’t apply to everything, but it can apply to most things. When it does, being imaginative can be entertaining and really adds something to our daily lives.

So, my main message for this blog is that it’s okay not to know something when you start. Eventually, step by step, you will learn more about it and master it. (Author’s note: I feel like an old know-it-all saying that, but actually, coming back to the paragraph, try applying this to something you don’t know. Make sense of it by using your imagination, let yourself go wild, and it will be fun.)

Portland 

I’m often the strongest player among my friends and family, and I have a goal of reaching 2000 rating eventually. Meanwhile, I enjoy participating in local chess clubs in Portland. These meetups at various restaurants are a super fun way to play, socialize, and learn. If you’re into chess, I’d encourage you to join us!

Here’s the link to the local chess group’s website, which also features a monthly newsletter. I think the host is always there and might be a one-person team. I spoke with the host once or twice; he was really welcoming when I was new to the community, and he still is, which I appreciate. If the host happens to read this blog, I want to say I really appreciate what you’re doing. Thank you!

TL;DR:(Too long didn’t read)

I’ve been playing chess for five months, improving from a 200 rating to 800. I chose to learn on my own rather than through courses, which made the process fun. I’ve discovered openings and strategies through trial and error and now enjoy playing at local chess meetups in Portland. If you love chess, check out our local chess group!