The following dialogue: A: 将棋がお強いと伺いましたが。 B: いやあ、人に自慢するほどじゃありませんが、はじめてもう40ねんになりますね。

First, I have problems determining the meaning of 伺う. Does it mean "to ask" or "to be told" here?

Second, I just learned about the comparisons with ほど. There are two patterns I learned: 八ヶ岳は有名な山だが、富士山ほど夢委ではない。 and 田中さんほど仕事がよくできる人はいません。

Now, in context of the dialogue in question, I think that pattern 1 is at play here. Still, considering that I don't really know what the first sentence says, I wonder what to make of this :/ I also can't find what いやあ　means.

Here's my attempt at translation: A: Have you been told that you're strong at shougi? B: ? ,while I don't boast towards people like that, for the first time already become 40 years.

Oh and I also can't make much sense of the second part in the second sentence as well :/