By: Jonathan Baca, Senior Reporter | Photos Courtesy: CNM Chess Club
The Chess Club brings the age-old game of strategy to Main Campus each week, said Engineering Major and club Treasurer Tim Torres.
Each Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in Ken Chappy Hall room 12, the Chess Club offers competition and friendly games for players of every experience level, as well as offering a community and a place to hang out and make new friends, said Torres.
“If you are a beginner, you can learn new things. If you are a master you can teach somebody,” said Liberal Arts Major and club member Kyton Blair.
The Chess Club is open to players of all skill levels, and stresses that lack of experience should not deter anyone from coming to meetings and asking a member to play, said Torres.
“A grand master can learn from someone who has never played a game in their life. All players benefit from playing at all levels,” said Torres.
One of the benefits of the club is that there is always someone to play against, said Blair.
While there are many smart phone apps with which a person can play at any time, he said he prefers the more personal, leisurely experience of playing a live person.
“I’d rather sit down, take my time with a real person, have a chance to think about my move and maybe have a little conversation,” said Blair.
It is only the club’s second semester as a chartered organization, but already the Chess Club has been making plans for projects at school and in the community, said Torres.
Members have discussed partnering with the Welding program to construct and install tables around campus with chess boards on top, he said.
Ultimately, he would like to get involved with after-school programs in the community, teaching chess to at-risk youth, he said.
“We’d like to do a mentorship program that is focused on the benefits of learning chess — the rules, the structure, the history and background— and also learning some discipline,” said Torres.
The game of chess teaches critical thinking, planning ahead and sportsmanship, he said.
“We had some people with ADD come, and they said that chess really helped them learn how to focus, and I thought that was so cool,” said Torres.
Lessons learned on the chess board can help people see things differently and recognize patterns in their daily life, then use strategy to improve their situations, he said.
“Chess is the game of kings. It incorporates everything from strategy, sportsmanship, focus, memory, concentration and patience. You can incorporate the ideals of chess into every aspect of life,” said Blair.
Those interested in playing need to bring only a desire to play, said Torres. The club has plenty of high quality chess sets that anyone can use.
“We have everything that you need. All you need to bring is your body and a willingness to learn, and if you already know, to teach,” said
