thewritingtodo

Chess is the only game, perhaps the only thing, that has held my interest throughout my entire life. But what's so attractive about it? What's the secret ingredient that has captivated thinkers for centuries? And why can't I escape it? Family game night has always frustrated me. We play the classics: your Scrabbles, your Monopolies. But I've never been a great fan of games that hinge on luck. I just can't see the enjoyment in having an outcome dictated by a roll of the dice. That's not fair, I protest, if I had (pulled, rolled, picked up) those (tiles, numbers, cards), I'd be winning! Of course, family game night isn't really about winning, and this might suggest an unhealthy fascination with victory; let's leave that can of worms unopened for now.  My point is that if the purpose of games is a test of skill, those based on luck fail miserably. If the point of games is to derive simple pleasure from an evening playing a game of chance with those you