The Triumphant Return of Chess to the CYHSB

Ezra Wiener (’23)

The King cowers in the corner, trembling with fear. His primary protector, the queen, has fallen, along with all of his knights. His castles have been destroyed, and all but one of his bishops has been vanquished. One of the king’s remaining soldiers meekly takes a step forward before being swiftly killed by the opposing queen. In a last ditch attempt to save his king, the final bishop stands in front of him in a valiant act of defiance to the enemy queen. This doesn’t last long as the queen leaps forward and eliminates the bishop in a single strike. The King now trapped with no hope of escape accepts his fate as the giant finger in the sky knocks him to the ground. Check Mate.

What I have just described is not the final scene of an awesome historical drama film, but is actually the end of a game of chess. Chess, a masterful game of skill and strategy has been around for thousands of years. And while its playing, whether it be with each other or random people online.

This isn’t the first time Chess has shown its face in the CYHSB, first rising in popularity at the beginning of the COVID years. During that time it became vastly popular, even spawning a club dedicated to perfecting the craft, but this time it feels different. Many kids are taking it more seriously and seem to be more dedicated to growing in the craft. As Raanan Vanderwalde said, “Chess is something I’ve always been into, and I look forward to growing in it.” is a great resource for kids who want to grow in their skils. Source: Chess.com popularity peaks, and that is the CYHSB. It is almost guaranteed that if you walk into the boys lounge you will see students

The rise in Chess’s popularity is largely due to Chess.com, an awesome website which allows you to play against other players online, your friends, or even bots of different skill levels. Players can also partake in Chess puzzles which help them improve their skills. The website ranks you based on your skills and shows you where you can improve, making it a great resource for kids wanting to grow in their skills.

Another reason for Chess’s newfound popularity is the phone ban. With phones taken away a few weeks ago, Chess’s popularity skyrocketed with many kids playing during their breaks, or even, rather rebelliously, during class. As Rafi Davidovics put it, “With the phones gone we had to find new ways to entertain ourselves, and there is nothing more entertaining than a brain stimulating game of chess that I can play amongst my peers.”

Chess is a great game that allows you to think and develop strategic skills, it is also a fun way of challenging yourself. Hopefully, its popularity in the school will only continue grow.