It's easy to become overwhelmed playing chess, instructor Tim Campbell said.
The 64 black and white squares offer more possibilities than there are atoms in the universe, according to The Chess Journal. Players can make more than 9 million different moves after just three moves each, and more than 288 billion plays after just four moves each.
"The main thing is to not let yourself get overwhelmed. I think for most people, that's why they end up quitting chess," said Campbell, owner and chief instructor of the Mid Missouri Chess Academy in Columbia. "They have some well-meaning friend or family member that likes to teach them, but instead of letting them really grow and explore the game to learn and get confidence, they just end up becoming that friend or family member's little private punching bag."
Campbell's approach focuses on positive interactions in the game and building players up to tournament-level play. He brings his 10 years of teaching experience every Tuesday to Building Community Bridges (BCB), 213 E. Ashley St. Those interested can learn from his 15-step curriculum for free.
"As long as you learn one thing from every game you play, whether you win or lose, you've had a successful game," Campbell said. "Take your time and cut yourself some slack."
BCB co-founder Doug Wright III said the nonprofit began offering the chess program in January.
"We call it chess therapy," Wright said. "It's part of our recovery program so what it really is ... is an outlet to help people be able to problem-solve."
The event is open to those just beginning to learn chess and those looking to hone their skills and strategies, Wright said. BCB also offers a children's chess program on Friday nights.
Shenice Watkins has studied chess under Campbell since the first grade. In high school, she was one of 300 girls competing in national chess tournaments and routinely placed within the top 100.
Now a sophomore criminal justice major at Lincoln University, Watkins is learning to instruct others in playing chess. She assists Campbell when he's at BCB and said she's interested in starting a chess club at Lincoln.
"I've been playing it for so long it's really secondhand, but I'm still learning along the way," she said. "Teaching it is a bit difficult."
Watkins said it can be challenging to teach chess because players approach the game with a variety of experiences and strategies. She first has to meet them where they are to then teach them how to improve.
"I feel like people get so caught up in winning and losing, but it's never a loss if you're learning from it," she said.
On Tuesday, Watkins played against Glenn Bonner. They moved pieces quickly and took notes between moves. Both used paper to track game play, like a tournament.
Bonner, who has been playing chess off and on for the past 40 years, said he only began taking notes after joining Campbell's group at BCB. He uses the notes to review games, patterns in moves and where he may have made mistakes.
Bonner said he became interested in the game after a friend's brother returned from the Army and taught it to him. He was pulled in by the required concentration and strategy.
"It makes you think about war," he said as he took one of Watkins's pieces off the board. "It got my attention right away."
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Glenn Bonner keeps detailed notes of his moves Tuesday while playing chess at Building Community Bridges. Bonner takes part in the activity each Tuesday as instructor TIm Campbell shows interested parties the game.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Tim Campbell, left, coaches Shenice Watkins on chess moves Tuesday at Building Community Bridges, where Watkins was helping to serve as a junior coach. Watkins is from Columbia, where Campbell also lives, and has been receiving chess instruction from him since she was in first grade. Watkins is now a student at Lincoln University and joins her longtime instructor on Tuesdays at BCB when she can.