01/20/2026
Knowing the Rules Isn’t the Same as Seeing the Board
Learning chess with my kids has been humbling.
I’m 38.
I only really started learning properly this year.
So there I am, teaching my 6 and 11 year old how to play…
While we’re constantly checking the card that tells us how each piece moves.
Lots of pausing.
Lots of “wait… can it do that?”
Lots of mistakes.
I try to coach more than dominate.
But balancing that with my competitive side is harder than I expected.
Then yesterday it happened.
My 6 year old beat me.
Fair and square.
About 10 moves in.
I didn’t see it coming.
At all.
I’m sure this won’t be the last time he beats me at something.
But he took real pride in this one.
I didn’t care about losing (ok I did a little)
I did realize how easy it is to feel “in control”
when you’re the one explaining the rules.
And how quickly that illusion disappears
when someone actually plays the game.
It relates to careers too and that drifting feeling.
We stay busy.
We know the rules.
We give advice.
We feel involved.
But we’re not really seeing the board.
Until something unexpected takes us out early and we realize we were reacting, not thinking ahead.
Learning alongside my kids has reminded me of this:
Progress isn’t about knowing the moves.
It’s about anticipating what’s coming next.
