Written by Dan Sherman of YourChessCoach.com
As I became more interested in chess as a boy, I knew I wanted to play in a tournament. Of course I hoped for success, but mostly I longed to be part of a competition with rows of players at their boards, each pitting their skill against an opponent.
Finally the day arrived. I walked into the large tournament hall, on the ground floor of a hotel by the airport. There were a few hundred players, of all ages and abilities. I found the pairings sheet, which tells all the players their board number and whether they have the white or black pieces, and sat down with my chess set. The Tournament Director thanked everyone for coming, made a couple of announcements and instructed us to start our games.
I lost my first game, but there were five more to go and I was thrilled to be part of this chess gala. Yet the best part of the tournament, the one that would improve my play the most, took place between the scheduled games.
I walked with a group of chess players to a nearby fast food restaurant. There was plenty of time before the next round. Inside the restaurant was an incredible scene, one I had never imagined. Chess players were everywhere. Most of the tables had chess sets in the middle, with players seated on both sides looking on as someone played through their just completed game by reading moves from their score sheet, re-creating their tournament game. I found an open seat at one of the tables and sat down.
The player showcasing his game gave his opinion of the moves, going over other options and scenarios that could have been. The onlookers chimed in with suggestions. The atmosphere seemed casual and friendly, so I worked up my courage, finally suggesting, “Or maybe you could go here,” and pointing out a move I considered good. No one criticized me for making my suggestion. In fact, I felt encouragement from the player reading over his moves. He and the others seemed to want my participation.
For the three days of that tournament I happily lived and breathed chess. There was the morning game, then over to the fast food place to analyze and eat, then the afternoon game. My mom would pick me up right after that, unless I had a very short game.
I finished with two wins, three losses and a draw (a tie) in the tournament. Although that wasn’t a great result, it did wonders for my game. After that I could beat my friends at school every time. As my tournament experience grew, I could see good improvement. And of course I always went with fellow players between rounds to eat and to go over games – my favorite part.
Dan Sherman founded Your Chess Coach (www.YourChessCoach.com) with his wife, Laura Sherman. Together they teach children to play chess through various schools in Pinellas County, Florida, as well as privately in students’ homes and online.
Dan Sherman founded Your Chess Coach (YourChessCoach.com) with his wife, Laura Sherman. Together they teach children to play chess through various schools in Pinellas County, Florida, as well as privately in students’ homes and online. Your Chess Coach is devoted to teaching chess to children of all ages, giving them the many life skills that the game offers. You can learn more about YourChessCoach and other local and online chess instructors on our Chess Instructors page.
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