My father taught me to play chess when I was nine and I've been in love with the game ever since. He played a wild attacking game (at nearly master strength) and in order to compete I had no choice other than to arm myself with as much knowledge of important chess principles and strategies as I could. They only helped me occasionally against him.
Over the decades, however, I learned how to put them to good use and they elevated my game (I'm currently rated in the 98th and 99th percentiles in Daily and Rapid chess on Chess.com, the world's largest internet chess platform). What I learned -- first as a way to hold my own against my father, later because studying chess principles and strategies became a passion -- today forms the core of the 15 Steps to Elevate Your Chess curriculum.
I live in Garrison with my wife, son, dog and two cats. My son was my first student and I'm happy to say he was able to win or tie for first place in his school chess tournament several times. My wife was my second student. She now plays chess the way Joe Frazier boxed (if you're of a certain age you'll understand just what I mean). The cats Henry and Freddy ignore the chessboards strewn throughout our house and Thumper the dog has learned not to chew the chess pieces, which was getting a bit expensive.
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By the way, the position shown on the computer screen in the above picture is a key position in a game played between then World Chess Champion Emanuel Lasker and rising chess legend Jose Raul Capablanca in a tournament played in 1914 in St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida). It's a wonderful example of how an advanced support point for a knight can completely paralyze your opponent's position. Analysis of this game and how you can employ this strategy forms a central part of Step 8 (Bishops vs. Knights) in the 15 Steps to Elevate Your Chess curriculum.
Yes, someone who studies chess games played in 1914 is a bit obsessed with chess, I admit it. There are worse things to be obsessed with (as a psychiatrist once told Bobby Fischer's mother after a few sessions with young Bobby).