Chess is a brain game; it engages thought to stimulate strategy and all possible prediction from your opponent. It does not require a genius, just the unblinking third eye and cautious pair. This is probably why an eight year old can beat an adult at it, and rather embarrassingly so.
The board game is a basic chequered square, alternating with eight per length. It is structured like the ancient battles of Europe, incorporating the names and roles of the players almost. The opposing sides have the same players, which form two lines from the edge opposite each other. The players are the king, queen, knights, bishop, the castle and lastly the pawns which are majority of the players.
Each player has unique movements in the game. The king can go any direction but only a square apart. The queen traverses the board in a straight line any direction, her only restriction is she can’t leap. The bishop moves diagonally in any direction in straight line. The castle moves any direction but in a straight line. The knight has the liberty to leap but only in an “L” formation in any direction. Lastly, the pawn can only move in one direction one square at a time.
The objective is simple; you should outlive, outsmart and outlast your opponent. If you do this you will have caused the opponent to surrender, captured his Queen or cornered the King which is in fact called the checkmate. That is easier said than done, with the objective firmly in sight, strategy comes into play. The players then engage in a quid pro quo thing, each aiming for that lethal kill that will weaken the team.
In the few times I have played this game and won, I have noticed a trend. The pawns make way for the big cats to traverse the board and lay rather idle. While this may intimidate the other player, it is a headstrong move. I choose modesty, to use the majority and play to their unique advantage, ambition. Did you know they could be crowned to any player when they get to the enemy’s back line?
The youth in Kenya are the largest in population in Kenya, almost three- quarter and fast rising. They are the most underutilized and disadvantaged players on the board. They can only make one move in one direction as directed by the game. The rules at play are experience, education and exposure.
Unlike the king who holds the highest hierarchy, they are disposable. They are easily put on the chopping board. The youth are not shielded from their lack of experience; they are instead King Makers. They are there for other people’s existence, a cheap labour force. What this means is, they will make way and struggle hard to remain relevant in the game. When it is time to mitigate losses, they are first on the draft list.
The pawn has no choice, they are provided with a tunnelled vision that will hopefully suffice. The youth are put in an education system tailor made for the industrial revolution. This misplacement of eras and lag in keeping with the pace is costly. There is a lot of evolution globally in education that Kenya has not embraced yet, hence the tunnel vision. Rampant are the cases where after graduation, kids go back and give the parent “their degree”. Why is this? They were forced to it or do not have the passion for what they have learnt. Ring a bell?
Being the front liner, the pawn has a clear view of enemy lines. He can tell firsthand what the enemy line formation looks like. He is however reduced to a spectator because of the stagnancy of position. It is quite possible for a pawn to have zero movement during the entire game. Youth are watching; they know what the social problems are and may have ideas on how to stop it. How is that possible? They are the bearers of the yoke; they live it and feel it. What happens though? They are mere spectators in the grand scheme of things, like pedestrians.
I don’t consider myself a professional but I have seen the power of the pawn. Because they are considered under dogs and their small steps insignificant, they fly under the radar. This usually has no effect immediately but the outcome is interesting. They avoid rather tactfully and advance to enemy lines in a way that grants them immunity. Knowing the others strong points which is also their weakness is key in this.
Because they move a square at a time, the player just has to avoid the possible threats. If a pawn is adjacent any enemy player but diagonally, the pawn has liberty to have a stab at it, pun intended. The effect is devastating because of the obvious oversight by the opponent. With backing from the other players in the team, clearing obstacles and protecting them, the pawn inches ever so close to the enemy lines.
The multi-directional blows are incessant aggravated only when the pawn is crowned. As I had mentioned earlier, it is easier said than done. Strategic planning has to be involved. Placement of vital players is key in this stealthy attack, as is keeping your third eye on the objective to keep the kingdom safe.
How does this apply? The youth today are seeing the illusion of a silver platter as early as high school stage. They subject their tunnel vision to microscopic scrutiny and reality sinks in. Like the pawn, ambition is triggered to be crowned in this case success. This ambition turns into a fire and it keeps burning hotter, with zeal to go out of their way. Only question is which way?
How about an all inclusive strategy that utilises the pawns rather than hang them loosely on the edge? How about a change of tact; the bishops, knights and castles can go far in one move but their effect is short lived. How about looking out for the pawns while advancing them across the board? How about predicting all possible outcomes and using the blind spots to our advantage?
Not to mean that it will be smooth sailing, far from it. There will be casualties after all; this is still a war. The benefits will outrun the expense. Do I hear a checkmate?
donmu2ua 