Chess is obviously, technically about ‘war’. The goal is, corner the King, give him no way out. The violence demands, however, intense intellectual work. If you win, it will be a ‘real’ win, not one born of ‘brute’ force. The game evolves as though it were a beautiful dance. There are Kings and Queens moving about; there is offense, defense and there are moves that will ‘hurt’ opponents. The game has ‘enthralled’ for ages. The typical satisfaction of a game well played or a single move well done is often tantamount to a work of art.

Anecdote: I worked with a six year old girl for some months. Both parent and teacher noted she was ‘bossy’, often ‘mean’, and frequently interrupted the teacher.. Initially, in therapy, she attempted to control all play. As I held an action figure and she held an action figure; she moved and spoke for hers and directed me as to how I should move and speak for mine. Her control of me was, as that of a puppet on a string. As I found a variety of ways of maneuvering out of the puppet position, she began to enjoy ‘collaborative’ play. Towards the end of our ‘work’ together, I taught her Chess. During the course of one game she remarked; she was ‘afraid of her Queen’. I let it go. During the course of another game, another week, she again remarked, she was ‘afraid of her Queen’. This time I asked why? She replied, “because she can do so much, she’s really tricky”. I said, “that’s OK. She can be tricky.” She then proceeded to win the game using her Queen, of course.

Need I remark that this little ‘sweetie pie’ was coming to terms with her own aggressive tendencies? It would appear she did.