More Than a Game: Santa Barbara Seniors Find Connection Over Chess

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — On a chess board, every move matters. But for a group of seniors in Santa Barbara, perhaps the most important move is the one that gets them out of the house and into the room.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, players gather at the Louise Lowry Davis Center for games of chess, conversation and plenty of laughter.

When you think of chess, you might picture quiet, serious competition.

But listen closely.

“Here we go. He’s gonna move his queen.”

Then comes the laughter.

There is a lot more happening here than checkmate.

A lifelong love of chess

For James Horton, chess has been part of his life for more than seven decades.

His father introduced him to the game when he was young.

“My father taught me to play chess when I was really young, and I don't think I ever beat him ever,” Horton said.

Today, Horton says the game gives him an opportunity to focus completely on the moment.

“You know, everyone has continuous thoughts of things in their mind, and it goes away when you play chess because you're concentrating so much,” he said.

That concentration is part of what keeps him coming back.

“I really look forward to it,” one player said. “And when you're looking forward to things, you more have to stay healthy.”

Keeping the mind engaged

For other players, chess is a way to keep their minds active.

Bruce Campbell, a Santa Barbara resident, calls the game “brain food.”

“This is good brain food and, you know, can keep you younger,” Campbell said. “You got to use your brain. Otherwise, everything else falls apart.”

Players say the club gives seniors a reason to get out of the house, challenge themselves and spend time with other people.

Russ, another Santa Barbara player, said having activities like chess can help seniors stay engaged rather than becoming isolated at home.

“It keeps you from getting senile,” he said. “And so it gives the senior citizens something to do, you know, rather than just sit at home and in a rocking chair and get old and do nothing. Their mind goes to sleep.”

More than checkmate

The games can be competitive, but the atmosphere isn't all about winning.

Players talk through their moves, joke with one another and enjoy the time they spend together.

For some, simply having something to look forward to is part of the appeal.

The goal may be to win the game.

But for these players, they are getting something else out of chess, too:

Connection.