book, I was not such a soft target. To his astonishment,
I began beating him, and he in turn was forced to up his
game. A new pattern of competition and friendly rivalry
between us started as we continued to pass the time with
chess.
Eventually, I desired to test my skills against new
opponents. It was then that I began attending the high
school chess club.
At that time, before the dawn of the internet, contact
with very highly-skilled or master players was restricted
essentially to one’s geographical location and the handful
of books at the local retailer. If you were lucky, you might
find one or more strong players against whom to hone
your skill. If not, the game was still fun, but the nagging
feeling of knowing that there was still something more to
the game, something missing, remained.
BETTERING YOUR CHESS GAME
Today, of course, all of that has changed. Chess has grown
in both popularity and possibility. A seemingly endless
stream of tutorials, videos, books, news, and websites
where one can always find a game have advanced the skill
of the average player and have made the game even more
exciting and accessible.
Growing up in Northwest Indiana, I was fortunate that
some of the chess players who played in our club, or had
once played, as I was to find out, were stupendous.
My discovery of this occurred while preparing for the
annual tournament in Terra Haute, Indiana. Scott, a
former club member and then medical student, was still
in contact with our chess coach and heard about our
upcoming tourney. At the coach’s request, Scott began
showing up each week to pummel us into shape with what
seemed like chess wizardry.
To be sure, playing Scott was a rapid and frequent lesson
in humility. Game after game, he would demonstrate the
intricacies of play, commenting on our weaknesses to help
us improve.
Finally, in one game of a series with Scott, I had a
breakthrough. I saw that I could force a draw. I wouldn’t
win, but I wouldn’t lose either. Against a player as
amazing as Scott, not losing was thrilling! Someone
who had appeared unbeatable and invincible, I realized,
could make a mistake, a lesson that has helped shape my
progress, however minimal, ever since.
WHY HOMESCHOOLERS SHOULD PLAY
CHESS
For homeschooling students and their families, chess
teaches, among many things, that difficulties are building
blocks to success. More than an intellectual pastime,
chess teaches patience, perseverance, and calculation,
harnessing the full powers of the imagination.
It is likely that these are the reasons why the great saints
Thomas Becket, Charles Borromeo, and Francis Xavier
were wholly fond of the game, the latter of whom could
often be found playing at a friend’s house. Even St. Teresa
of Avila used chess as a metaphor with which she advised
her sisters to “checkmate” the divine king by total self-
surrender to Christ.
One of the great blessings here at Seton Home Study
School is the availability of the chess club for its students.
As the administrator of Seton’s chess club, it has been
most enjoyable not only to play the occasional game,
but also to set up tournaments and witness some of the
friendships that develop around the board.
While visiting Chicago this summer at a home-schooling
conference, for example, I met students who raved about
their “cool” Seton chess friends from Florida, whom I had
also just met.
Whether you are young and old, boy or girl, a novice
or a master, learning and playing chess is a noble and
worthwhile pursuit, one that I recommend for all who are
interested. Please join us at the Seton Chess Club if you
feel so inclined.
St. Charles Borromeo Quote: “Your Eminence, if you were
told that you were about to die, what should you do?”
“I should finish this game of chess,” said St. Charles; “ I
began it for the glory of God, and I should end it with the
same intention.”
Nick Marmalejo,
a history major, graduated from
Christendom College in 2001. He holds a Virginia Teacher
Certification and lives in the Shenandoah Valley with his wife
and three children.
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BAYLEY BULLETIN, DEC 2016-FEB 2017
