Today, during lunch time I had a conversation with my friends and CP and PG on chess. Both of them are chess enthusiasts. They explained to me that chess is a game with lot of heritage, it is one of them rare games that you can pursue throughout life, chess has no generational barriers, and most of all it has engaged millions of curious minds over the centuries. There are a lot of books written on chess. So, what is the best way to get started on chess ? All you need is a personal computer and you can get started immediately. But my friends strictly warned against taking hints from the computer while deciding your moves. Make it a point to play just one game every day (For a long time in the beginning, your game will likely last only for a few moves; in that case play for a fixed time, say, half an hour). Concentrate not on making smart moves, but focus on avoiding blunders ! That's the sure way to reach mastery. /// Once you have reached that level of mastery, then you can th...