The basic purpose of chess is to place the opponent's King in checkmate, a position where there is no move the King can make that will not lead to being captured by an opponent's piece. A move that puts the King in harm's way but from which the King can escape is a check. In moving toward the goal of the game, each side captures pieces from the other side and positions the remaining pieces in order to restrict the movement of the opponent. While the basic way the pieces operate is very simple, the game itself is complex, with an incomprehensible number of possible moves and a huge psychological dimension.

In spite of all of this - or maybe because of it - the truth is that anyone can become a powerful chess player. The secret to mastery is being willing to spend some time practicing and learning certain elements of the game and understanding that it is a battle of personalities. If you are able to remain the master of your balance, you will always prevail against an equally knowledgeable opponent - and sometimes defeat opponents with superior knowledge - when those rivals have less self-mastery.

The key to success in chess is the key to success in life: It is all up to you. You must make the most of whatever your situation is and be fully in action when the time for action comes and fully in repose when the time for repose comes. This is one of the reasons chess is considered by so many enthusiasts to be among the deepest analogues to life.