On reflection a comprehensive school in the industrial Midlands was never going to be a place to ignite a passion for the game of chess. Football, rugby and cross country running were the schools favoured pursuits away from lessons. Nobody in the family played the game either. I do recall some hard fought games of draughts and dominoes against my dad though and the local papers containing league tables for dart competitions played by pub teams.

In fairness it seems there has been a chess club in the area since 1958 but in the age before the internet that passed me by also. I’ve always been disappointed in myself for never learning and the thought of needing to keep the brain active post retirement inspired me to purchase an electronic set and a book from a charity shop explaining the basic rules.

Such was my ignorance I was amazed to discover in the book the amazing array of tactics and strategies associated with the game which dates back centuries in its origins. The tactics have names like ‘the fork’, ‘the skewer’ and ‘the pin’. Strategies have more esoteric titles like ‘The Roy Lopez Opening’ or ‘Queen’s Gambit Declined’.

Perhaps the absolute best thing about chess is it’s really simple to learn how to play. Actually getting to any decent standard is a totally different matter though. The electronic set I have has five fun levels which help you learn while it makes deliberate mistakes along the way to aid your chances of winning. At first I had trouble even noticing what the deliberate mistakes were, but slowly I’m getting better. Beyond the fun levels there are fifteen ‘proper’ levels up to Grand Master standard. At the moment the hope is that I can become competent enough to play at the lower proper levels eventually.

In recent weeks further inspiration has been provided by a new programme on BBC television called ‘Grand Master – The End Game’. Although the players featured on there are obviously excellent everything was put into perspective when three of them had to play a nine year old chess prodigy. She played them simultaneously and beat them all in very few moves! So, the scope of what is possible within the game is enormous, for now it’s back to the fun levels for me. I’m frustrated it took me so long to take up the game which is now proving to be increasingly addictive.