--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started playing chess when I was about…" description: "\"I started playing chess when I was about 4 or 5 years old. It is very good for children to learn to play chess, because it helps them to develop their ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/vladimir-kramnik-13744_ability_i-started-playing-chess-when-i-was-about_2933621.jpg" --- # I started playing chess when I was about 4 or 5 years old… ![“I started playing chess when I was about 4 or 5 years old. It is very good for children to learn to play chess, because it helps them to develop their mental abilities. It also helps to consolidate a person's character, because as it happens both in life and in a chess game we have to make…” quote by Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/vladimir-kramnik-13744_ability_i-started-playing-chess-when-i-was-about_2933621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/vladimir-kramnik-13744_ability_i-started-playing-chess-when-i-was-about_2933621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/vladimir-kramnik-13744_ability_i-started-playing-chess-when-i-was-about_2933621.jpg) > “I started playing chess when I was about 4 or 5 years old. It is very good for children to learn to play chess, because it helps them to develop their mental abilities. It also helps to consolidate a person's character, because as it happens both in life and in a chess game we have to make decisions constantly. In chess there is no luck and no excuses: everything is in your hands.” [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chess trains mental skills and character by requiring constant decision‑making without luck or excuses. **In simple terms:** Chess builds thinking and character through constant choices. Key Takeaway Use chess to develop decision‑making and discipline. Themes education mental development character decision‑making Mood inspirational educational Type motivational instructional When to use this quote - school curricula - after‑school programs - parental guidance - personal development Key Concepts cognitive growth self‑discipline strategic thinking Questions to Reflect On - Can chess be adapted for diverse learners? - What other games foster similar skills? A Different Perspective Chess may not suit all learning styles or interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Chess game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-game/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [No excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-excuses/) [Person's Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons-character/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-chess/) ## Related quotes > [For me, Chess is life and every game is like a new life. Every chess player gets to live many lives in one lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduard-gufeld/for-me-chess-is-life-and-every-game-is-like-a-new-life-every-chess/) Eduard Gufeld > [Chess helps you to concentrate, improve your logic. It teaches you to play by the rules and take responsibility for your actions, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/chess-helps-you-to-concentrate-improve-your-logic-it-teaches-you-to/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [There are two classes of men; those who are content to yield to circumstances and who play whist; those who aim to control circumstances,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-collins/there-are-two-classes-of-men-those-who-are-content-to-yield-to/) [Mortimer Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-collins/) > [No fool can play chess, and only fools do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-lowrance/no-fool-can-play-chess-and-only-fools-do/) Marc Lowrance > [We've seen computers play chess and beat grand masters. We've seen computers drive a car across a desert. But interestingly, playing chess is easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hod-lipson/we-ve-seen-computers-play-chess-and-beat-grand-masters-we-ve-seen/) [Hod Lipson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hod-lipson/) > [When you are lonely, when you feel yourself an alien in the world, play Chess. This will raise your spirits and be your counselor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/when-you-are-lonely-when-you-feel-yourself-an-alien-in-the-world-play/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Actually, one of the fascinating things that I've learned playing chess is that the way you play chess is kind of like the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-carrigan/actually-one-of-the-fascinating-things-that-i-ve-learned-playing/) [Anthony Carrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-carrigan/) > [On the whole, the life of a chess professional is not as easy as it appears at first sight. One needs to devote some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/on-the-whole-the-life-of-a-chess-professional-is-not-as-easy-as-it/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [“Sometimes we play Chess in the game of Life..Never sacrifice your QUEEN or KING...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-we-play-chess-in-the-game-of-life-never-sacrifice-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Give me a good game-day party on Sunday afternoon and I’ll show up, but knowing the intricate details about what was happening on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-klein/give-me-a-good-game-day-party-on-sunday-afternoon-and-i-ll-show-up/) Gilbert Klein > [If I win a tournament, I win it by myself. I do the playing. Nobody helps me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/if-i-win-a-tournament-i-win-it-by-myself-i-do-the-playing-nobody/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [First-class players lose to second-class players because second-class players sometimes play a first-class game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/first-class-players-lose-to-second-class-players-because-second-class/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [You know you're going to lose. Even when I was ahead I knew I was going to lose -on playing against Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-soltis/you-know-you-re-going-to-lose-even-when-i-was-ahead-i-knew-i-was/) [Andrew Soltis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-soltis/) > [When I was a kid, I really liked playing chess, which is pretty geeky; I just enjoyed it - thinking, exercising my mind. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-birch/when-i-was-a-kid-i-really-liked-playing-chess-which-is-pretty-geeky-i/) [Michael Birch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-birch/) > [Chess is more than a game or a mental training. It is a distinct attainment. I have always regarded the playing of chess and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/chess-is-more-than-a-game-or-a-mental-training-it-is-a-distinct/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) ## More by Vladimir Kramnik > [Even if you play perfectly, a fault of your opponent's can destroy the entire beauty of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/even-if-you-play-perfectly-a-fault-of-your-opponent-s-can-destroy-the/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [For me art and chess are closely related, both are forms in which the self finds beauty and expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/for-me-art-and-chess-are-closely-related-both-are-forms-in-which-the/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [I go to bed at 4 a. m. Almost all chessplayers do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/i-go-to-bed-at-4-a-m-almost-all-chessplayers-do/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [In chess one cannot control everything. Sometimes a game takes an unexpected turn, in which beauty begins to emerge. Both players are always instrumental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/in-chess-one-cannot-control-everything-sometimes-a-game-takes-an/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [You know, our ratings after this match will be very close - I think I can also become the world number one in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/you-know-our-ratings-after-this-match-will-be-very-close-i-think-i/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [In the current FIDE World Championship, on the knock-out system, weaker players have good chances. Those, who in a long match would practically have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/in-the-current-fide-world-championship-on-the-knock-out-system-weaker/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [At some point he seemed to lose all confidence trying to break down the Berlin Wall. He was still fighting as only Kasparov can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/at-some-point-he-seemed-to-lose-all-confidence-trying-to-break-down/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [Playing rapid chess, one can lose the habit of concentrating for several hours in serious chess. That is why, if a player has big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/playing-rapid-chess-one-can-lose-the-habit-of-concentrating-for/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [Part of my preparation for the World Champion match against Kasparov was to be ready for his off-board tactics. I did not to react…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/part-of-my-preparation-for-the-world-champion-match-against-kasparov/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [For us chess players the language of artist is something natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/for-us-chess-players-the-language-of-artist-is-something-natural/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [Computers have changed the World of Chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/computers-have-changed-the-world-of-chess/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [I believe every chess player senses beauty, when he succeeds in creating situations, which contradict the expectations and the rules, and he succeeds in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/i-believe-every-chess-player-senses-beauty-when-he-succeeds-in/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [Once he had selected the path he was going down he really had to stick with it in a 16 game match. He had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/once-he-had-selected-the-path-he-was-going-down-he-really-had-to/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [Now, two years have passed and the situation is completely different: no one wants to organise this match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/now-two-years-have-passed-and-the-situation-is-completely-different/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) > [So basically it's very simple: to start with, if you want to win the match, you shouldn't be afraid of him. There are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kramnik/so-basically-it-s-very-simple-to-start-with-if-you-want-to-win-the/) [Vladimir Kramnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) [Explore all 49 Vladimir Kramnik quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kramnik/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started playing chess when I was about 4 or 5 years old. 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