Why learn chess?
It teaches patience
It exercises the imagination
It teaches decision-making
It improves spacial visualization
It trains you in time-management
It improves your empathy
It teaches you not to judge others based on first impressions
Chess will enhance your social life
Finally, you're simply not educated unless you can play the game
You probably already enjoy beautiful art and music.
Why not open up a new world in which you can appreciate beauty?
First learn the basic rules. It's fairly simple. I recommend the following order.
How the Rook moves
How the Bishop moves
How the Queen moves
How the King moves
How the Knight moves
How the pawn moves
Checkmate
Stalemate
Castling
En Passant
The game of chess is often discussed in terms of the three phases of the game:
1) The Opening when the primary emphasis is developing your pieces as quickly as possible.
2) The Middle Game when the attacks take place and tactics abound.
3) The End Game when the primary focus is on queening a pawn.
Two other terms related to chess are tactics and strategy. Chess tactics are the good moves that will gain a piece, or get a checkmate in a few moves. Strategy is more long-term planning and strengthening of your position.
