Chesscampeona on the Move; Who Inspires You?

 

What is a role model? A role model is someone who inspires you, someone you look up to, and aspire to be like. Role models are not only important in life but they are also important in chess. Role models are key to your development because they give you the opportunity to study their games and gain knowledge on their experience!

My chess role models are surprising to most people because they are neither women nor current players. My three chess role models are:

 

 

 1. Paul Morphy. Paul Morphy was an amazing American chess player who played chess during the 1800s. He is my role model because of his aggressive and tactical style! He was such a great player who only needed two pieces to checkmate his opponents, with neither piece being a queen! Here is an example of one of his best puzzles.

 

 

When I first started to study his games, I wanted to play exactly like him! I tried so hard to make the same moves and sacrifices, but let's just say it wouldn't work out. In the end, I learned a lot of tactics from him.

 2. Jose Raul Capablanca. Capablanca, a Cuban chess player, is one of my favorite chess players of all times. Besides his great chess skills, he was Hispanic like me! On the chessboard, he taught me to simplify my openings and showed me tactics and combinations. Off the chessboard, he showed me that a Hispanic could also be a top player!

 3. Robert James Fischer. We all know about Robert James Fischer, also known as "Bobby" Fischer. He was a talented and great American chess player. He is one of my favorite chess players because he influenced my game as a young player. He taught me the value of harmonizing my pieces in the attack. I could list all the things he taught me but they wouldn't fit! He was a great tactical player, who had drive and passion for the game.

As you may have noticed, my three role models are aggressive and tactical players. Why? I am also an aggressive and tactical player! To really get the best out of studying role models you first need to understand who you are to understand what you want to become. Therefore focus on your style and find people that you can learn from.

Role models are there to inspire you and give you different ideas, but we need to realize that we are not our role models. For example, when I first learned about Paul Morphy, I wanted to play exactly like him. I failed every time because I am not him. I am Claudia Munoz. Role models are there to gain new perspectives in chess. We all see chess differently so learn who you are and incorporate other ideas.

Here I am, being myself on ChessKid!

Whew that was close! If you don't know how to win with an outside passed pawn, watch this!

In this game, watch my four pawns control the center!