Starting out with chess
Entering the world of chess and becoming a member of its vast community.
Getting Involved with the game:
One of the great things about the game of chess is how EASY it is to get started. Chess has long been a global phenomenon, with its contemporary interconnectedness making it extraordinarily simple and exciting to pick up. As a beginner, intermediate, or expert player, the resources for enhancing your chess play, or simply joining a community of like-minded individuals, are nearly innumerable. Here, though, I’ll try to give just some to get you started.
Becoming a Fan:
Without even needing to know how to play the game, you can quickly become an entertained participant of what has grown into an internet fandom of Chess. An entire host of YouTubers and Twitch streamers have dedicated their work to creating engaging environments where “viewers like you” can now also have a voice and even join the stage.
It’s simply astonishing that one can hop into a stream with, say, Hikaru Nakamura, one of the leading Grandmasters of the world, and either directly play him, or have him comment on your intellectual real-time chat post or impersonating meme. His YouTube channel, for instance, boasts a following of over 800,000 subscribers to date, and contains videos spanning from his own gameplay to that with users and even with other streamers.
And that’s what’s so especially thrilling about our modern world of chess: utilizing the internet, Chess is able to reach thousands upon thousands of people, even while its content leaders can themselves host both streams and videos together as friends on a regular basis. (Hikaru, for instance, is keen on this, with videos including such as these where he challenges today’s Chess hosts in a four-some battle).
Now, in terms of learning the game, I find the following to be some of the best content creators:
agadmator:
Found on YouTube with the following chess channel (which also has over 1 million subscribers), agadmator’s videos are always enlightening, playful, and educational. Indeed, he has amassed something of a cult following from introductory chess players and grandmasters alike, and as a result, can often be found quoting himself in ways that his fans have long-respected, yet never fail to also find hilarity in. His videos include numerous tutorials on some of the greatest players of the game, as well as those keeping tabs on both current tournaments and current chess media (here, for instance, is a video relating to Beth Harmon, the star chess-playing character in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit).
chessbrah:
Similar to agadmator, chessbrah is a streaming group (here’s their twitch page and their YouTube channel) of skilled chess players. One of my personal favorites of the group, in addition to the featuring of Yasser Seirawan, a prior world champion, is Eric Hansen, an energized grandmaster who never fears testing his nerves against the clock. Similar to agadmator, the channel serves as an exciting, personalized introductory chess experience.
Ben Finegold:
Ben Finegold is something of a legend of his own when it comes to creating videos of chess (his YouTube channel can be found here). His wit while providing tutorial lessons never ceases to amaze the viewer (occasionally bordering on offending them, though with no harm intended of course), and one can learn a great deal by his years of chess grandmastery.
Levy Rozman, Eric Rosen, and Alexandra Botez:
It simply wouldn’t be fair to leave these three off this list: all are strong chess players, with their own educational chess YouTube channels as well (here is Levy’s, Eric’s, and Botez’s). The three likewise provide chess instruction through their content, and, along with many of our above mentions, often join together to battle it out on the board through a stream.
And of course, chess isn’t limited to only streaming or video content: its news, articles, and written media span across the internet. (For up-to-date articles on current chess happenings, here’s an official chess news source).
Starting to play:
Having become a fan of what is a personable, welcoming family, you now may have inklings to get onto the chess stage yourself.
Online:
One of the best ways to get practice or simply play for recreation is to create an online account and play others in real-time. The most notable website for this is Chess.com, which has loads of instructional content, streams, blogs, players (with over 11 million games alone having been played the day this was written), and chess variants. The website is simply a giant when it comes to learning or playing chess, and dominates the internet landscape as the awesome titan that it is. (Here, for instance, is an entire beginner’s study plan they provide through their own content). There are, though, others as well, the most notable of which is likely lichess, which is great in my opinion for having a quick game with friends.
For points:
If you wish to take your chess experience to the next level, then it’s time to join FIDE, the International Chess Federation. If residing in the U.S., this is accomplished by joining the U.S. Chess Federation, which is simple matter: here’s how. Becoming a member grants you a number of perks, the primary of which is access to official tournaments and a rating, where you can now play for points as a pro at any level. (Their official listing of tournaments, clubs, and other introductory info to get you started playing in the field can be found here).
Becoming a Pro at your game:
Now that you’ve participated with the best online, or just spectated, and potentially entered as a competitor yourself, it’s time to take it to the next level: mastering your chess play.
Like with seemingly everything else in regards to chess, there are TONS of ways to do this. One great resource is through books. (A list of books recommended by top grandmasters can be found here. In addition, introductory books recommended by the National Scholastic Chess Foundation (NSCF) can be found here; and as a plug for a prior chess coach of mine, here are some of the books of Eric Schiller, a prolific chess author, arbiter, and player).
If books aren’t your thing, or if you’re simply passionate about other resources, then another recommendation is Gary Kasparaov’s Masterclass, taught by a prior world chess champion.
Really, the possibilities for honing your chess play are endless. So, see what’s out there, grow your passion in whichever way suits your fancy, and enjoy yourself.
Where to now?
If as a chess fan and player, you’re seeing what you can do next, then perhaps think of becoming one of the amazing teachers and/or hosts of our stellar chess community! Indeed, such possibilities are tangible, and can be quite rewarding for both your viewers, participants, and/or students, and for yourself. As some inspiration, here’s an article written about Alexandra Botez, an earlier mentioned player and streamer, and her rise to financial prosperity by sharing her love for chess online.
In sum, get out there, pursue your chess passion, and, if you are feeling especially moved, inspire others with the game as well. You certainly won’t regret it.