Checkmate: Why You Cannot Teach Yourself Chess

Without a doubt, chess is always a two-person game. The amount of strategy involved and matched against an opponent cannot be reproduced in a single person game. You cannot put yourself in check while attempting to play against yourself anymore than you can put yourself in checkmate when playing someone else. Here are some more reasons why you cannot teach yourself chess.

The Object of the Game

The object of chess, and certainly the most skilled aspect of the game, is to see three or more moves ahead. This means that you look at the chess board, look where you can move, imagine how your opponent will counter each move, and how you are going to move to put your opponent at a disadvantage while placing yourself in an advantageous spot. There is no possible way to accomplish this if you try to play as yourself and your opponent.

It Gets Really Confusing, Really Fast

Imagine trying to play both the pitcher and the hitter in a baseball game. You cannot be in two places at once, any more than you can throw a ball and then hit it as the thrown ball crosses home plate. So it is in chess. You would have to constantly change sides to move pieces. At some point, this would break your concentration and you would not remember which pieces you need to move next. Did you move a white knight last round and now you need to move a black pawn? It gets very confusing very quickly.

You Cannot Win AND Lose in the Same Game

A secondary objective of chess is to get a winner. A winner in chess is one who saw and conquered the other "kingdom." You cannot be both winner and loser in your own game of chess.

Private Lessons for Chess

If it helps, you can always learn to play the game from pros. Private lessons in chess are often offered by those who have won championships in the game. Not only does this give you an opponent to play, but it also gives you some excellent tips and advice for the game.

Working with a chess teacher, your game will improve, possibly even enough to enter some chess tournaments yourself. Spend at least an hour a week playing against and learning from a chess teacher. (Absolute newbies to the game can learn a lot in private lessons, too.)