It’s not exactly breaking news that chess benefits our brains in numerous fascinating ways - what may be more commonly overlooked however, is how these changes can benefit our day-to-day routine. Here’s a look at how playing chess could make our lives better. 

Promotes Forethought 

Chess players practice the skill of looking at potential cascading consequences before taking action. How does training our brain to ‘think before doing’ help out exactly? Put simply, planning ahead makes life less stressful. As in chess, by visualizing what we want sooner, identifying potential threats to those goals, and by being better prepared for the outcomes of our actions, we have more control over our lives and an increased likelihood of achieving our goals. 

Develops Problem Solving Skills

Whether it’s the fork you’re trying to achieve or the pin that stops you, chess players are forced to find creative solutions to issues throughout the game. We all face problems that need solving, some of which can be quite complex. The pattern recognition, decision making, problem identification, and logical thinking found in chess can be applied to everyday obstacles.

Improves Memory Function

There may not be a more impressive display of the human brain's ability to remember as the sight of an elite blindfolded player at work. Beyond not forgetting that item on the grocery list and remembering your friend's birthday, without memory, we simply cannot learn.

Increases Concentration

Chess is inarguably a game of concentration. Chess players focus on multiple aspects of the game continuously and learn to deter their minds from distraction and wandering. Along with aiding in school/work performance and some social situations, this ability to focus your mind can be especially helpful when dealing with overwhelming emotions.

The Bottom Line:

As renowned Grand Master Judit Polgar once said: “Playing chess has many aspects that can be useful in everyday situations like planning, concentration and combinations. You learn to win but also to lose and to be creative.” While it’s no secret the classic game comes with intellectual perks, the reach of its benefits may be far more complex than we realize.