Chess…The Game of Life September 23, 2007

Often strange things give you an understanding of life. Places where you least expect to find support, ah even a flicker of light, things and events pop up flashing the light bulb above your head too. Yeah, thats the best thing in life. Unexpected.. Unforeseen.. Surprising.. Life sure is (in Forrest Gump’s mom’s words) a box of chocolates. You never know what comes in your hands.

 So, here I go with another small incident that gave me such a wonderful insight view of learning in life. But before that.. Some flashback.. About ten years ago, I learnt the basics of chess from someone. Not the advanced rules, but the basics, mind you. And, that too, before my sister did. So, I offered to teach her Chess. And, I taught her all the wrong rules and then asked her for a game. And, I won!!! Yeah, steered through so easily and as effortless as a breeze.

But then she got the basics right from someone and asked me for a match again. Unaware of her newly acquired wisdom, I waved her off but accepted the challenge. And, lost pathetically. Sigh! And over the years, was never able to defeat her. In the last few years, I did regain some of my *imaginary* lost glory and defeated her.

 However, I was never a voracious player. And, lack of practice makes my level no higher than that of a novice. Anyways, my new flatmate is an avid Chess player. So, he asked me for a game at, guess what time? Twelve midnight!!! And, so we started the battle with my warriors in blazing black.

The first match was a breeze for my flatmate and he checkmated before I could even blink. Yet, I offered to try once more. Life’s Lesson ONE: Always try again.

The second match saw a change in the *apparel* of the warriors with me taking over in white. This was the time when I actually started to think and not just make any move. Life’s Lesson TWO: Never take things for granted and work without thinking.

Further on, when I tempted him putting my pawns forth as easy prey (though no backups), instead of kicking them, he simply moved forward. This was a very important lesson for me. Life’s Lesson THREE: You need not answer and fight everyone who comes in your path or tries to lure you. Be focussed and move on. Don’t give in to distractions.

And, when it comes to managing, look at long term. I just couldn’t concentrate at all my players at one time and ended up with foolish steps sometimes. Life’s Lesson FOUR: Look at the bigger picture. Its tough, but it pays off.

 Finally, the mega lesson. Often you don’t know all the rules of the game. For instance, I was not aware of how Castling is performed. So, that machoistic move of my opponent proved to be a turning point in the game. Life’s Lesson FIVE: In life you don’t know all the rules. But, that doesn’t mean you stop playing. You learn with kicks and with experience.

This MEGA FIVE are I feel not just true for Chess, but for everything in life. Ain’t it true?

 And a small rule of thumb: Life, like Chess, is a GAME. Enjoy and LIVE it!!

>> Siddhartha