More Pennsylvanians should consider learning to play the fascinating game of chess. Chess stimulates one’s mental discourse and thought processes. It is widely believed that it also kick-starts the nerve endings in the brain.

I recollect playing my grandfather when I was 10 years old. This was when I first went beyond just knowing how the pieces move. When you start to figure out what position is, and realize that a rook is much stronger than a bishop or knight, and a knight is much stronger than a pawn (except a well-advanced passed pawn), you begin to get an understanding of the game.

The extremely powerful queen never ceases to amaze the strong chess player, as she must be cautious at the opening stages of the game and, if handled with skill and wisdom, becomes the dominating piece. The sheer power and scope of the queen becomes apparent in the middle and end games.

Chess is not that difficult to learn. When you start to become a strong player, it becomes fun.

Chess involves many sciences, such as logic, geometry and mathematics. But is must be remembered that chess is also an art — the art of the mind, if such a thing is possible.

Pennsylvanians need to step up and take some cultural responsibility and give New York some competition, as it is currently the chess capital of America.

Learn it; you won’t regret it.

John W. Hessom IV

New Kensington

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