My buddy Jason is an avid Chess player, and I just found this post of mine from way back that discusses when I first fell in love with it.

Perhaps I should get back into it…if only there were more hours in a day.

I have discovered Chess. With the purchase of my first book over the weekend I will now make the transition from moving pieces to playing. Already I have improved my game from advanced beginner to poor player. I played the best game of my life against Andrew. That game alone made all joys in life pale by comparison. I want to learn more. I want to know it all.

My next mission is a Chess computer. With that I will become a true player. I will learn how computers think and how to beat them. I have actually seen the light of long-term position strength as opposed to immediate tactics. My game used to be a series of moves in which I placed pieces where they could not be killed on my opponents next turn, and now I am creating a strong position so that tactics will present themselves later in the game - an astronomical leap. And I will only get better.

I am most anxious to see how Chess effects my cognitive process in the rest of my life. Thinking and seeing in terms of Chess. This is what shows the real depth.