Thinking Outside the Square
Chess club wraps up first year
Chess club president Aidan Riley shows Lee Gibson where to move his piece next. Aidan takes his role as president seriously, taking charge by organizing meetings and bringing boards to use to teach the members.
Clubs take a lot of effort to maintain and create, and chess club has fought it ways into the club roster. After its first year, the club leaders Calvin Yang and Aiden Reilly has invited several students to a new experience of gameplay within the club system.
“I think a lot of clubs seem to focus on high stress [situations] and are no fun,” junior and club co-president Aiden Reilly said. “Chess Club is about a place where people who don’t even know how to play can learn a new skill and enjoy themselves.”
Chess is a two-player strategy board game that was first made in the sixth century. Using plastic pieces, players can duel, only gaining the upper hand with skill, wit and a little luck.
“I’ve never played chess before,” freshman Leila Wotruba said. “It’ll be pretty fun to finally learn and play against some new friends.”
Chess has been one of the club staples in high schools in the 70s and 80s but has found a new home in our school during this modern era.
“The chess club gives students a way to be a part of a group of people who focus on fun play, sharing a common interest in problem solving, all focused around the game,” club sponsor Mark Coleman said.
Each chess game has three main phases — opening, mid-phase and endgame — and has been studied to such an extent that various tactics and openings have been perfected. Various strategies can focus on aggressive early board presence, responsive midgame sets, or strong overpowering endgames.
“I love that this club will give me an opportunity to play the game,” sophomore Alix Rubin said. “It’s not often I get a chance to spar my wits with other players.”
Chess focuses on precision and perception, and this attitude is why the game is still played.
“Starting the club has been so successful, with a bunch of applicants who already joined,” senior Amaran Subramanian said. “The game [is] focusing on keen play that not only stimulates peoples’ brains, but lets kids have fun while they’re doing it.”
