I learned chess about 15 years ago. At first my brothers and I played using very strange rules...
We use to call the pawns, little bishops. We played until one of the players had no material on the board. Capturing the king was not the end of the game!! If there were only two kings, the player with the move could call out a number. If he could take the opponent's king by moving such a number of squares, he'd win the game.
There was always a winner.
In '83, a female friend invited me to play. She beat me twice. I was enraged..., and I vowed to avenge myself. Always being a bookworm, I decided that the library would offer me the best chance to learn good chess. Chance would have it that I'd find the book I was looking for... "Ajedrez Para Niños" ("Chess For Kids").
I fell in love with chess forever...
When my friend and I played again, I beat her twice... even though she didn't allow me to castle nor to make "en passant" captures. She did not know those "strange" rules. Those were the last two games that I ever played with her. She never wanted to play me again.
After counless defeats and victories, I still am in love with chess.
For those that are just starting to play, my advice is: read books, play whenever you can, and always write down your games. You will improve over time...
I will be putting some chess stuff here later, when I have some time.
I currently hold a USCF rating of:
1657