Samuel Okonkwo

My dad taught me chess in Lagos when I was six, and when we moved to Irvington it was the one thing that made a new place feel normal. We played every night after dinner until his eyesight went. Toward the end I just read him the moves and he still beat me half the time.

Most of the people I play with already know how. What they miss is an opponent. Their old partner moved away, or the kids are busy. So I come over, we set up the board, and we play a real game. If you want, I point out a better move afterward. If you do not, I keep my mouth shut and just try to win.

I teach middle school science in Newark and coach the chess club there, so my visits are after school and on Saturdays. I live in South Orange near the duck pond. I bring my own board and clock, or I play on yours, which is usually nicer.