HORSEY SAYS NEIGHHH — Sharon Mark Cohen

On January 26, 2021, at not quite two, Solly was “playing” chess with Grandma. Well, she was really “playing” with the chess pieces, as Grandma was carefully eyeing every move as Solly tried to put the small pieces in her mouth. The ultimate cuteness was when she picked up the white horse and said, “horsey says neighhh.”

Now that Solly is three, Grandma thought it was the perfect time to buy her precocious granddaughter the Story Time Chess set.

My father taught me to play chess, which I introduced to Solly’s daddy, Judd. Throughout the years, we enjoyed watching Judd’s love of the sport, which led him to become a high school varsity team state chess champion.

We nourished Judd’s appetite by sending him to chess day camp run by a National Chess Master,* watched him play speed chess, gave him the opportunity to learn additional classic moves from a close adult family friend whom he tagged as “boy Lou,” and rallied for him as he built his skills in competitions and tracking his national rank climb.

Judd enjoyed playing countless games over the internet, taught his wife to play, allowed others to win, and has begun showing his children the techniques on the boards we’ve bought for him.

The memories are stark. Watching Solly at the board will arouse my childhood memories of playing the skilled sport with my father and brother Stu. The fun times will move to the next generation, on to the memories of Judd all the way back from before Kindergarten, by which time he was beating me steadily.

I’m pretty rusty, but maybe with Solly and soon enough Dizzy joining, it will be like riding a bike and I’ll pick up that horse. Ah, the horse. Will it turn out to be Solly’s favorite starting move, as my father taught me and I taught Judd, Rina and Moss?

I know their uncle Moss, another fine player, will eagerly compete and ramp up their game. From generation to generation, the possibilities are unlimited.

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*Arkady Geller, Teacher and owner, National Chess MasterTeacher and owner, National Chess Master - New Jersey Children's Chess School and "Geller Kids" Chess Camp

One of Judd’s many chess trophies and his official U. S. Chess Diamond Quartz Chess Clock

Judd as a toddler playing chess with “Boy Lou”

Solly visiting her cousin Jason at the horse farm in Hamilton, New Jersey - photo of cousins 4-21-2022

The 18-part series of my family from Chudnov, Ukraine will resume next week with part five.

Look for: The Philly Branch From Chudnov coming May 3, 2022.