by Justine C. Tajonera
Badger just discovered chess! I'm not saying he's excelling in it (or even aware of strategies and mechanics) but what I did observe was how he treated it as any other kind of game that needs to be learned. He engages in it with gusto and fearlessness.
I happened to see him open an application on our desktop. I was used to seeing him play with Purble Place, a staple favorite of his on our computer. But I was surprised to see him open Chess Titans this time. I just sat back and observed him. He immediately started moving his pawns with impunity. He had no regard to the reaction of the black pieces he was playing against. He just wanted to move those pawns!
And this is what really struck me: he had no fear of losing his king. He just kept moving the pieces like they were equal. He would evaluate based on what options each piece had (the computer lit up potential paths each piece could take) and he gave equal opportunity to each piece. What interested him was the action going on (and the counter action).
I couldn't help but squeal whenever any of his major pieces got "eaten." "Badger!," I would exclaim, "watch out for your king! Yan kainin mo yan (there, eat that piece)!" I was the one who got all agitated. I infected him with my enthusiasm because he started asking me if we wanted to eat other pieces ("Kain?" he would ask, pointing to an option lit up on the screen).
I remembered my own history of chess playing. My brother, Gus, and I played the game. He kept beating me at it (he had a strategy book, by the way). But I beat him once. After that, I never played again. I quit while I was ahead!
I realize that sometimes that's how I play life as well. I think I don't have second chances and I keep trying to get it right all the time. Badger inadvertently showed me an exciting game: kings that move boldly and the willingness to always play a new game.
March 23, 2010
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/84224918@N00/3147507096
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