From all the hobbies I started in my childhood, Chess is the only hobby stayed with me without being affected by changes of my life.

I was initiated into the game by my father when I was just 6 years old. My father was a very good player of chess and would play it on Sundays and other holidays with his friend. I remember how fascinated I was when I saw a Chess Board the first time in my life and how I urged my father to teach me how to play.

I had a friend who also liked Chess, we used to meet daily and play about 3 matches a day, also we used to read Chess books and discuss the matches together. Whenever we play Chess, we get so absorbed in it that it made us forget everything around us. I also join chess-playing websites and play Chess online with Chess players from all around the world.

Chess is an epic game, with the chessboard being like a battlefield with the two sets of pieces are the two contending armies, and the two rival players think in terms of attack, defence, capture, threats, ambushes and tactics. So it is useful for studying complex and conflicting situations. It also helps in developing decision-making skills and abilities. A player of chess is required to make a decisive move in a very complex situation and under pressure of time and that is what is required from people in many challenging professions. So his strength lies in clear, rational thinking, vision, vigilance, intuition and imagination.

A game of chess means leisure time spent creatively and purposefully. It activates the central nervous system and develops positive emotional reaction. So Chess is a really helpful hobby to have.