Is life a chess game

Are we really in control of our destines?
Have you ever mapped out a course of action just to have
an event happen that changes it completely
Do you at times think that a invisible force is directing your life
and that the road you are on isn't quite the one you thought you should or would be on
Do you ever wonder why some people seem to never faulter but serge from point A to Z
without error
While others seem to step through a land mine field of continual exlosions that they can't seem to avoid!
What, if anything ,creates those differnces? Is it a concrete definable thing or is it a undefined energy..or
maybe it is both!
And if we are really being guided by forces beyound ourcontrol...like chess board pieces...do we
really want to know?
Isn't it in  our natures to try to control and change everything...especially if we feel confined or our emotions are engaged.
If indeed our futures are mapped for us from the moment of conception, then maybe it is a good thing that we don't know the paths in front of us..because really who of us would choose a pathway of poverty and pain if we had choose. Some theorise that we live out karma's that we are all entwined together in the dance of life ..that if one had control to change one thing then the bigger picture would fail to materialise as preordained...Would You want to know your life course! Some times I think that I like having a simplictic view that its nice to have hope,mystery and endless possibilies in my future. That having the knowing of what life has in store for me, would in small ways change how I acted anyway...that not having that mystery of what ever would damping my internal enthusasm even in moments of deep destress.
Maybe if there is a higher power directing us ....they do know better than allowing us complete free will..As the human race has great capacity for greatness as well as endless destruction...I hope that a greater power would in the long run save guard us from our follies....
Just a thought...Check Mate.