Queen on Wheels: One Woman’s Chess Journey
You know what really sticks with you as a chess coach? Stories like Mary’s.
At 65, Mary rolled into my life—literally—on a black three-wheeled motorcycle, wearing full leather gear and a warm, confident smile. She was the Vice President of her motorcycle club, clearly no stranger to bold decisions or new adventures. But this time, her goal wasn’t physical—it was mental. She wanted to learn how to play chess.
At first, she didn’t share the deeper reason behind her interest in the game. She simply said she’d never learned chess and thought it might be a good challenge. Like many beginners, she was a little unsure. I reassured her that chess isn’t just for grandmasters—it’s a game anyone can learn and enjoy.
Simplifying the Start
To help Mary ease into it, I used my beginner-friendly method from The 3-Piece Pawn Game™. This teaching approach focuses on just a few pieces at a time, allowing students to build a strong foundation without feeling overwhelmed.
It worked. I’ll never forget the day she confidently controlled the center of the board using her pawns—her eyes lit up with excitement and pride. From there, we gradually added new pieces—rooks, bishops, knights, and eventually the queen. Every lesson was a new triumph, and Mary took it all in stride with the same enthusiasm she probably brings to a long motorcycle ride.
The Unexpected Reveal
It wasn’t until our final lesson that Mary opened up about why she had taken up chess in the first place. Her mother was living with dementia, and Mary wanted to do everything she could to stay mentally strong and sharp. She’d done the research and found that learning chess might help support cognitive health as she aged. It was a quiet but powerful motivation—and one that made me admire her even more.
More Than a Game
For Mary, learning chess wasn’t just about mastering a new skill. It was about taking control of her future, challenging herself in a new way, and showing that life at 65 is still full of bold possibilities. She reminded me that mental fitness, like physical fitness, takes intention—and it’s never too late to start.
Thinking about learning chess?
Whether you’re 6 or 65, Mary’s story proves that it’s always the right time to start. Who knows where your first move might lead?