Chess is a Complicated Game With a Simple Goal

Like many people, my love of chess was rekindled after watching Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit late last year.

My wife and I (and our 5-year-old son) soon were all playing each other daily, watching YouTube videos of strategy and tactics, and playing with other avid players around the world (thank you chess.com).

Chess is a relatively easy game to learn. Each side has 6 unique pieces, 32 in total, across 64 black and white squares. Each piece may move a certain way. Whoever captures the King first, wins. That’s it.

However, the more I studied and filled my head with tactics the more I lost.

I felt like I was learning how to play better, but when it came time to play a real game, my brain clogged up.

The cycle continued as I watched more and more videos, trying to gain an edge. But I kept losing.

And then it occurred to me: Chess has one goal, capture the King.

Yes, there are fancy tactics and strategy and theory, but if you’re not focused on the main objective, you will lose.

I cannot stress enough how much my chess game parallels my actual real life. I all too often get distracted by the how instead of focusing on the what.

Spending hours learning new software to help you write your book isn’t writing your book. Reading finance guru books about managing your debt isn’t managing your debt.

There’s a single, core objective you’re going after. Identify it.

Don’t protect your Queen if you’re King is in danger.