Along with millions of other Americans, Fred Waitzkin was smitten by chess during the historic Fisher-Spassky championship match in 1972. Inspired by Bobby Fischer's charisma, he began to study the game, but quickly gave it up when he discovered he had little talent for it. His interest was revived a decade later when his young son began coaxing him to play and, to the author's astonishment, was beating him. This is the story of three years in the lives of father and son, from the moment when Josh first sits at a board at the age of six until he wins the national primary championship three years later.