"Chess is a welcome activity in a retirement and nursing home."

As part of the Year of Social Chess 2025, promoted by the World Chess Federation, the FIDE Social Commission is featuring a person or group each month who successfully plays chess in a social context. For the "Chess for Elderly" project, we met Marianne Vögtlin at the Pratteln retirement home. The 89-year-old mother of André Vögtlin, president of the Swiss Chess Federation (SSB), played over 4,000 blitz games on Lichess in her first year at the retirement home.

Could you please introduce yourself to our readers in a few words?

I am an 89-year-old lady and a passionate chess player. I currently live in a retirement home in Pratteln because I use a wheelchair and have mobility issues.

And what was your career path before that?

I've had several jobs. I'm a farmer's daughter and grew up in the countryside. Afterwards, I attended teacher training college in Lausanne. For seven years, I taught in French-speaking Switzerland. At the same time, I completed training as a career counselor – a profession I hardly ever practiced. Later, I married and moved to German-speaking Switzerland. After the birth of my two children, I returned to work and taught French at the business school in Liestal, specializing in sales.

How did you discover chess?

My father, a small farmer from the canton of Vaud, taught me to play chess. He himself had learned it from his brother, who discovered chess in the Andes while working as an electrical engineer in a mine in Peru. My father had a very pedagogical way of teaching this game, which is difficult for children. At first, my siblings and I just had fun "stealing" each other's pieces. Checkmate came later. After that, I didn't play for years. When I had my own children, I found it interesting to pass the game on to them.

What role did chess play in your life before you moved into the retirement home?

I never played regularly – except with my five grandchildren, whom I taught the game and who enjoyed it. I was never a member of a club.

And since you moved into the retirement home, where you played more than 4000 online games in one year?

My life changed drastically. There's a lot of waiting around here. So I started playing online blitz games to pass the time. I find it interesting, and I've made some progress – even if I often lose to better players. But it remains fascinating.

What effect does the game have on loneliness, mental stimulation, and well-being?

Chess truly engages the mind – that's its greatest advantage. Chess forces you to think and is a welcome pastime that breaks up the monotony of days spent waiting. And you develop strategies. I believe those who enjoy math will find even more enjoyment in it.

What potential do you see for chess in retirement homes?

That's hard to say. I introduced my 86-year-old roommate, who is also enthusiastic about mathematics, to chess. She understood the game and is motivated. But I think that's a minority among the residents.

What conditions are needed to get older people to play chess?

One must be naturally curious. If you arrive at the nursing home too exhausted, in the final stages of life, it's not worth starting. Those who have cultivated their curiosity throughout their lives have a greater chance of engaging with it.

You described the method you used to teach your neighbor the game. Could you explain it?

We started by placing the pieces on the board and moving them one by one: the king one space, the queen like the king but in all directions, the rooks, the bishops, the knights. After a few hours of practice, when she could move the pieces correctly, we played without checks, just to practice the moves. Then we added capturing unprotected pieces, checks, checkmate, pieces working together, and forks. We worked for two hours a week. She also had a book, a chess set, and chess puzzles to practice on her own. Her mathematical ambition drove her to solve every problem.

Did you sometimes let them win?

Yes, our games were long because we discussed every move. I let her suggest moves, but I helped her recognize dangers and consider alternatives. That motivated her, and eventually she won several games. But it's a difficult game for an older brain: starting from scratch requires a lot of perseverance and patience.

Do you believe that chess is also suitable for children, prisoners, or refugees?

Yes, but you have to teach it step by step. My father always started with a blank board and only one type of piece, to master its movements before moving on to the next piece. Theory alone isn't enough—you need practice and time. It's captivating for children. At school, the teacher gave us chessboards. Some even forgot to go to lunch! To my knowledge, chess is the most complex game there is.

Final question: What are your last words about your experience in the nursing home?

Chess is a wonderful way to fill waiting times. You lose track of time. If I live to be 100, my plan is for all the caregivers in the nursing home to be able to play chess… but then they might forget to care for the patients!

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