Gorton Chess Ed teacher teaches the game, life skills

Shiva Maharaj believes that chess is a lot like life.

In chess, you have to make a series of decisions — choosing which piece to move and moving it, predicting how your opponent will respond — all while keeping your big-picture game strategy in mind.

Life is the same way, Maharaj said.

“A problem comes up and you have to solve it — quickly and intelligently, and move on,” he said.

And, just like in life — “You either win or you learn from your mistakes, and that’s called experience.”