Benefits of playing chess
The chess theory is complicated and many players memorize different opening variations. You will
also learn to recognize various patterns and remember lengthy variations. Chess improves
concentration. During the game you are focused on only one main goal-to checkmate and become
the victor.
§ Chess develops logical thinking. Chess requires some understanding of logical strategy. For
example, you will know that it is important to bring your pieces out into the game at the beginning, to
keep your king safe at all times, not to make big weaknesses in your position and not to blunder your
pieces away for free. (Although you will find yourself doing that occasionally through your chess
career. Mistakes are inevitable and chess, like life, is a never-ending learning process.)
§ Chess promotes imagination and creativity. It encourages you to be inventive. There are an
indefinite amount of beautiful combinations yet to be constructed.
§ Chess teaches independence. You are forced to make important decisions influenced only by your
own judgment.
§ Chess develops the capability to predict and foresee consequences of actions. It teaches you to
look both ways before crossing the street.
§ Chess inspires self-motivation. It encourages the search of the best move, the best plan, and the
most beautiful continuation out of the endless possibilities. It encourages the everlasting aim towards
progress, always steering to ignite the flame of victory.
§ Chess shows that success rewards hard work. The more you practice, the better you'll become.
You should be ready to lose and learn from your mistakes. One of the greatest players ever,
Capablanca said, "You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You
will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player."
§ Chess and Science. Chess develops the scientific way of thinking. While playing, you generate
numerous variations in your mind. You explore new ideas, try to predict their outcomes and interpret
surprising revelations. You decide on a hypothesis, and then you make your move and test it.
§ Chess and Technology. What do chess players do during the game? Just like computers they
engage in a search for the better move in a limited amount of time. What are you doing right now?
You are using a computer as a tool for learning.
Chess and Mathematics. You don't have to be a genius to figure this one out. Chess involves an
infinite number of calculations, anything from counting the number of attackers and defenders in the
event of a simple exchange to calculating lengthy continuations. And you use your head to calculate,
§ Chess and Research. There are millions of chess resources out there for every aspect of the game.
You can even collect your own chess library. In life, is it important to know how to find, organize and
use boundless amounts of information. Chess gives you a perfect example and opportunity to do just
that.
§ Chess and Art. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia chess is defined as "an art appearing in the form
of a game." If you thought you could never be an artist, chess proves you wrong. Chess enables the
artist hiding within you to come out. Your imagination will run wild with endless possibilities on the 64
squares. You will paint pictures in your mind of ideal positions and perfect outposts for your soldiers.
As a chess artist you will have an original style and personality.
§ Chess and Psychology. Chess is a test of patience, nerves, will power and concentration. It
enhances your ability to interact with other people. It tests your sportsmanship in a competitive
environment.
§ Chess improves schoolwork and grades. Numerous studies have proven that kids obtain a higher
reading level, math level and a greater learning ability overall as a result of playing chess. For all
those reasons mentioned above and more, chess playing kids do better at school and therefore have
a better chance to succeed in life.
§ Chess opens up the world for you. You don't need to be a high ranked player to enter big important
competitions. Even tournaments such as the US Open and the World Open welcome players of all
strengths. Chess provides you with plenty of opportunities to travel not only all around the country but
also around the world. Chess is a universal language and you can communicate with anyone over the
checkered plain.
§ Chess enables you to meet many interesting people. You will make life-long friendships with people
you meet through chess.
§ Chess is cheap. You don't need big fancy equipment to play chess. In fact, all you may need is your
computer! (And we really hope you have one of those, or else something fishy is going on here.) It is
also good to have a chess set at home to practice with family members, to take to a friend's house or
even to your local neighborhood park to get everyone interested in the game.
§ CHESS IS FUN! Dude, this isn't just another one of those board games. No chess game ever
repeats itself, which means you create more and more new ideas each game. It never gets boring.
You always have so much to look forward to. Every game you are the general of an army and you
alone decide the destiny of your soldiers. You can sacrifice them, trade them, pin them, fork them,
lose them, defend them, or order them to break through any barriers and surround the enemy king.
You've got the power! To summarize everything in three little words-Chess is Everything!
