When I was young, a few of my brother’s friends would often come over to our house. They’d gather in one room and play chess for hours. Whenever they felt thirsty, they’d ask my brother, and he would call out to me to bring them water. I’d happily oblige. That room had three windows, and after serving them, I’d always settle into the middle one—my little perch—watching them play with quiet curiosity. At the time, I had no idea what they were doing or why they were moving the pieces around so intently. But slowly, just by watching, I began to understand how each piece moved and what the game was all about.