My Best Move. Thrilled to see my story in the August US Chess Life Magazine

AS A DOCTORAL CANDIDATE STUDYing economics, I’m fascinated by how economists can tackle social problems using mathematical and statistical tools to inform good policy. Empirical microeconomists in particular are keen to solve cause-and-effect questions using a data-driven approach.

With my background as a full-time chess instructor and experienced player, I was interested in the impact of chess education on children’s academic and non-academic achievements. We all wonder: Does playing chess improve math scores or have other benefits? Partnering with The Gift of Chess, an organization devoted to changing lives by donating chess sets, I aim to answer this through rigorous research in my doctoral program.

“...I was interested in the impact of chess education on children’s academic and non-academic achievements”

While preparing for my qualifying exam to advance to doctoral candidacy, I recently put my research aside and immersed myself in competition, playing in the CalChess Women’s State Championship.

Chess has had many benefits for me. It taught me how to sit and concentrate for hours without losing focus. Perhaps more importantly, I have learned how to deal with painful losses, and how to view them as opportunities to improve and progress. To me, this is one of the greatest life skills one can acquire.

Here’s an example from that recent California tournament.

SICILIAN DEFENSE, DRAGON VARIATION (B70)

WIM Ruiyang Yan (2349) WFM Uyanga Byambaa (2120) California Women’s Ch (5), Berkeley, 04.14.2024

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Re1 Nc6 9. Nb3 a6 10. Bf1 b5 11. Nd5 Ne5 12. h3 Bb7 13. a4 Nc4 14. c3

At first glance, the position seems tepid, but richer possibilities are often hiding underneath the surface. Simply giving up a knight without a clear immediate gain wasn’t easy; it required careful calculation. The lines weren’t forced, so I had to check many alternative variations before sacrificing. Surprisingly, I emerge with an advantage in all lines if White accepts my knight sacrifice.

Throughout my chess career, I’ve played many wild tactical games and made more spectacular sacrifices than this one. However, I was particularly proud to consider this move — MY BEST MOVE — and have the courage to play it, especially against an opponent who was almost 200 rating points higher than me.

14. ... Nxe4 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Bxa8 17. Rxe4 e6 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. Rxc4 Bxd5 20. Ra4 Qd7 21. Rb4 Qc7 22. Nd4 Rb8 23. Nc2 Rxb4 24. Nxb4 Bb7 25. Qa4 h5 26. Qa7 Qc8 27. Be3 d5 28. Nd3 e5 29. Nc5 Bc6 30. Qb6 d4 31. cxd4 exd4 32. Bf4 Qe8 33. Qb8 Qxb8 34. Bxb8 Bb5 35. Bf4 d3 36. b3 f5 37. Bd2 Kf7 38. h4 Bd4 39. b4 Ke7 40. g3 Kd6 41. Kf1 Kd5 42. Ke1 Kc4 43. Ne6 Bb2 44. Nf4 Kb3 45. Kd1 Bc4 46. Ke1 Kc2 47. Ng2 Bb5 48. Ne3+ Kb3 49. Kd1 Bc6 50. Ke1 Bc3 51. Nd1 Bd4 52. Ne3 Bc3 53. Bxc3 Kxc3 54. Nd1+ Kc2 55. Ne3+ Kc1 56. Nc4 Bb5 57. Nd2 Kc2 58. Nf3 Kc3 59. Kd1 Bc6 60. Nd2 Kxb4 61. Nb1 Kc4 62. Kd2 Kd4 63. Nc3 Bd7 64. Nb1 Ke4 65. Ke1 Kf3 66. Kf1 Kg4 67. Nd2 Kh3 68. Nf3 Bb5 69. Ke1 Kg2 70. Nd2 Kg1 71. Nf3+ Kg2 72. Nd2 Bc6 73. Nc4 Be4 74. Nd2 Bd5 75. Nf1 Be4 76. Nd2 Kg1 77. Nc4 Kg2 78. Nd2 Kh3 79. f3 Bxf3 80. Nxf3 Kxg3 81. Ne5 Kxh4 82. Nxg6+ Kg3 83. Ne5 d2+ 84. Kxd2 h4 85. Ke2 h3 86. Nd3 h2 87. Nf2 Kg2 88. Ke3 f4+ 89. Ke2 Kg3 90. Kf1 Kf3 91. Nh1 Kg4 92. Kg2, draw.

This game was also one of the longest I’ve played in my chess career. Unfortunately, I couldn’t convert my advantage under time pressure, losing the opportunity to tie for first place in the tournament and share the state title with my opponent. But that’s chess. Computers might find the best moves under extreme time pressure, but we are human.