Not everyone can play soccer, football, (do) karate or play basketball, but everyone can do this," said Joe Cress, who leads the Chess Club at the Village Library of Morgantown.

The Chess Club began at the library in the fall of 2024, and after a hiatus, it returned on Jan. 18. It will be held every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. through March.

Joe, who learned the game as a youngster, has been playing for at least 50 years. He recommends that Chess Club participants be at least age 10. "People can come and learn how to play chess; we are willing to teach them," he stated. Those who already play the game are also invited to attend.

Joe was accompanied to the most recent Chess Club by his nephew, AJ Cress, 14, who started playing at age 12. When asked if it is hard to learn to play chess, AJ responded, "It's hard to master how to move. You can learn what the pieces do, but there is a lot of theory behind the moves and different strategies you can use," he replied. "It's a lot about recognizing patterns in the board and knowing what to do."

"It takes time to learn how to move the pieces," Joe added. "(The hard part is learning) how to put everything together and move the pieces and accomplish you goal, which is to checkmate the other player."

"You learn by playing, playing, playing and practice, practice, practice," Joe added.

While both play chess online, Joe and AJ said they prefer playing with an opponent face to face. "I prefer the real chess," said AJ.

"I don't concentrate as much playing (online)," Joe said, noting that he has played for chess clubs and played against professionals as well as at an international chess tournament. "You don't know who you (are playing). When you see the person, you want to win."

The Chess Club has the use of six magnetic chess boards that were donated to library. "They are top-notch chess boards," Joe said.

"They have wooden pieces and are magnetic on the bottom, so they don't fall over as easily," AJ added.

Joe encourages parents to bring their children to the library to learn to play. "It's really a good game for young people to start playing," he stated. "You are not on the computer, not playing games on the phone and it definitely helps your mind."

He recalled establishing a Chess Club at a school for resource students. "We taught them how to play chess, and the teachers actually thanked me and said it made them better students," Joe noted.

Joe hopes to grow the club at the library because he enjoys teaching as well as playing those who already know the game. "We want to promote chess, and, down the road, we hope to have a chess marathon," he shared.

The Village Library is located at 207 N. Walnut St., Morgantown. For more information about the club, contact library director Carol Donahue at 610-286-1022 or smolibrary@gmail.com. More information about library activities is available at www.facebook.com/VillageLibraryofMorgantown and www.villagelibrary.org.