Playing Chess with Real Pieces

After almost two (2) years, I was able to play chess “face to face” or “over-the-board” during a Chess Tournament in Quezon City. Due to the pandemic, chess tournaments, except those that are played online, were prohibited. This is part of the health protocols being imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Playing chess over the board is very risky with respect to Covid viruses. Both players touch the same pieces and they are merely separated by the chessboard. In other words, the players are practically in close contact with one another and it is very difficult to avoid the spread of viruses. 

Online chess became the “new normal”  during the pandemic. However, playing chess with actually facing your opponent and moving real chess pieces provides a more realistic experience. There is more emotion involved in playing chess over the board compared to when the game is played online. 

Now that the pandemic is almost over, I hope that there would be more “face to face” or “ over-the-board” chess tournaments such as that recently held in Robinsons Novaliches. It was the first time that I touched a real chess piece in a tournament due to the pandemic. I was really rusty. But what is more important is that I was able to play chess again in almost normal conditions. Only this time, participants and officials are still required to wear face masks. 

Despite being tiring, and time-consuming and the prizes in chess tournaments (particularly at non-master levels) is not that big, I still enjoy joining these tournaments. It is really for the love of chess. Meeting fellow chess players and asking how they have been is one way of renewing ties and rekindling old friendships. It is a good feeling to see young and old players still excited to play chess despite the different types of computer games available online.