BE WARNED that this week I am going to be talking about chess.

So I will not only be explaining why it is a good move for people of all ages to take it up, but also telling you about new sessions being organised by Swindon Chess Club, and why you should check them out.

But don’t think for one moment that I am enjoying writing like this.

Unfortunately, it is every journalist’s solemn duty to use every pun they can think of when writing about chess, and I don’t want to be thrown out of the union.

The good news is I’ve probably fulfilled my quota now, so I can tell you I went along on the suggestion of a friend (not a mate) and was introduced to the club secretary (but not the chairman of the board).

In an age when older people are being encouraged to keep their minds active, perhaps as an insurance against developing dementia, I can’t think of many better ways of exercising it than playing chess.

And the good thing about the session I went to is it will suit you if you haven’t played chess much, or not for a long time, or even if you have never played or aren’t quite sure of the rules.

Turn up to one of Swindon Chess Club’s regular weekly meetings and you’ll probably be thrashed, but on the first Tuesday of the month they have special sessions at the Merlin pub in Drove Road to which anybody is invited, as long as they aren’t very good.

That means you get to play against beginners, novices and rusty players, like me.

Although I have had a lot to do with chess over the years, not much of it has involved actually playing.

My daughter played to a high standard when she was at school, and after getting to know a lot of nice people in the junior chess world, I still help to organise two kids’ tournaments in Swindon every year.

Chess has many benefits for young people, and as a firm believer that what’s good for them is usually also good for adults and especially older people, it’s a shame that more oldies don’t take it up, or rediscover it.

The main reason for this is probably that you stand no chance of beating a chess player who has years of experience, which can be demoralising, and that’s why organising special sessions for people like me is such a good idea.

Not only do you get to play somebody you can beat, but there are a couple of coaches on hand to tell you what you are doing wrong and, more importantly, what you are doing right.

A little coaching goes a long way in chess, because once you understand three or four golden rules, your game improves massively.

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening, especially as I won three games out of three, and because I already feel myself improving, I’m looking forward to getting out again next month.

These days, of course, you can play chess online or against a computer, but there is no substitute for playing somebody face-to-face, and being coached by a real person rather than a chess programme is so much more sociable than staying at home.

In other words, go along and you’ll get more mates, as well as more mates.

So the moral of the story is: chess is more fun than most people give it credit for, and it’s a shame journalists can’t write about it without resorting to rubbish puns.

If you need proof, it’s all here in black and white.