John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach who led the team at U.C.L.A to 10 national

championships, believed in starting with the basics. Each season, his coaching lessons

began with teaching his players how to properly tie their shoelaces. His method was

meticulous: pull up socks to avoid blisters, tie laces snugly to prevent stumbling, and

always tuck in shirts.

When I first read this story, it made me reflect on its equivalent in chess. What is the

fundamental principle I would like to instill in my students who compete and dedicate

countless hours to the game. After much thought, I realized it could be summed up in

one phrase: “Enjoy the game.” Not the wins, the awards, or the accolades. But the

simple pleasure of discovering moves on the board that is familiar yet new every time you

play.

It is a sentiment often expressed but rarely emphasized as a core principle. For me, this

is the key ingredient to success. One of my first goals with any student is to understand

what they enjoy about chess. Discover the moments that bring them joy or excitement.

Once I uncover this, I teach them to reflect on those moments

and the love it led towards the game.

Approaching each game with excitement and love for playing transforms the

experience. Rather than being consumed by the pressure to win, players should embrace

the challenge and fully engage in the process. True competitive spirit lies in the joy of

playing—a passion for the journey and the lessons learned along the way.

The art of maintaining joy in the game, however, requires conscious effort. Here are

some practical ways to do so:

 Reflect on your best games and identify what made them enjoyable.

 Experiment with new openings or positions that excite you.

 Play casual games or solve puzzles purely for fun, without any pressure.

Without the desire to engage fully, the opportunity to compete meaningfully diminishes.

As chess players, we should go to the board with the intention of being present and

immersed in the game, not burdened by anxiety or frustration. A chess game, at its heart,

should never feel like suffering; conversely it should feel like an adventure.

The next time you sit at the board, take a moment to appreciate the opportunity to play.

Find joy in each move and remember why you started this journey in the first place.

So let us take inspiration from Coach Wooden and his meticulous shoelace lesson. By

focusing on the fundamentals—and for chess, that fundamental is finding joy in the

game— we can build a foundation for growth, resilience, and success. After all, the love

for the game is what drives us to keep coming back, move after move.