Chess and Philosophy

pls comment

You should have followed your own advice.

Interesting topic.

I believe Chess holds some important critical thinking principles, and I actually believe I have improved as a leader and problem solver as a partial result of Chess.

Thats all I've so far, lol.

"If you are not having fun, you are in the wrong place!" - Dan Heisman's Chess Teacher's Credo    http://home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Lessons/chess_lesson.htm

Philosophy and chess go hands in hands. The chess is nothing but a good eye and brain combination. It is as easy as playing any other sport. You should have a killer stinct and nothing more is needed.

Why do you hate philosophy?

Chess and Zen

There is one Zen story that includes the game of chess. A Zen master received a  beginning student. He sad "master I like to become enlightened but I can't meditate. Master asked "what do you like to do?" "to play chess" the student answered.

Then the master set up a game with one of the senior students.  He told them that the loser would be killed.

So the student played chess with more concentration devoted to the game than he had ever done before in his life. As he nervously played and shaked his pieces, sweat started to pour off his forehead and all over. He was playing for his life, literally.

Then he started winning, his position was very good. The master handing a sword in his hands moved toward the opponent ready to kill. So the novice made purposely a mistake to save his opponent life, not wanting him to be killed. And now the other guy is taking advantage of the situation so the zen master move on the other side of the board still menacingly heading the sword above the head. After a few moves the master suddenly, hit the chessboard and destroy it with the sword and said: "there are no winner or looser at this game, you both showed concentration and compassion, this is the road you are looking for enlightenemen"

The point of the story is that full concentration is needed in every facet of life to succeed but without compassionit and care for the others it is useful.