I play chess for many reasons but mainly because it is fun. Chess has allowed me to travel the world and experience interesting new cultures, meet wonderful people from all around the world, and increase my concentration, critical thinking, and analytical skills by calculating moves in a game. Educators agree that there are many benefits to playing chess and the following lists some of my favorites:
- Chess strengthens nerves and sharpens skill.
- Chess increases your attention span. During the Pandemic many found it difficult to concentrate on online school, but playing chess is a way to be able to learn focus.
- Chess improves problem solving (thinking about a problem in a game helps your problem-solving skills).
- Chess improves creative and analytical thinking (you can come up with tactical and strategic plans).
- Chess improves logical thinking (thinking about what your opponent will play and how to counter it; helps logical thinking).
- Chess improves memory (memory is required to visualize during a game).
- Chess improves visualization (in chess you calculate moves in advance which helps you visualize things)
- Chess can help increase IQ. A study shows that students improved their IQ scores by playing chess in as little as four months. Chess requires you to think hard, analyze, plan, and execute.
- Chess promotes brain growth (works out your brain).
- The New England Journal of Medicine found that people over 75 that play chess reduce their chances of getting Alzheimer’s. As we age our brain needs to be worked out just like our bodies.
WIM Alexey Root, a professor in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas, who focuses on using the game of chess to meet educational goals, said “our antagonist is our helper. Be glad when your opponent plays good moves and forces you to play your best. Be gracious for the time and effort your opponent put into playing you.”
Chess has helped me in all these different aspects but one that is not mentioned is grit. Grit is passion and sustained persistence towards a goal. In every game I play, my goal is to win but sometimes it is not easy as my opponent may simply be better. In one tournament I was playing a much higher rated player, and he was winning for most of the game. At times during the game, I wanted the game to just be over, but I kept fighting till the end. The game ended up lasting over 6 hours and I ended up winning. Although you may not be the best at something in life, pure determination and grit can get you the win. This story of determination not only applies to chess, but also the classroom as perseverance and willingness to succeed will help you achieve success in your classes.
The benefits of chess are fantastic. With so many advantages to chess, why doesn’t everyone play? Chess is for everyone!
If you are wanting to see what chess is all about or want take your chess game to the next level come visit the Jesuit Dallas Chess Club and play a game or two or even join the Jesuit Dallas Chess Team and help us compete at the 2022 Texas State Scholastic Chess Championships Online on April 16, 2022. Just recently in March, we put together what I believe to be Jesuit’s first competitive chess team. We competed in March at the 2022 Texas Region III Scholastic Chess Championships held in Lewisville and won 1st place! We have plenty of people who love playing chess during community time ranging from novice to advanced players so all are welcome. You can also visit local chess clubs in the DFW area. Click here for a list of local chess clubs found on our nonprofit website. Contact me at 23105@jcpstudents.org if you are interested in playing in tournaments or joining our club.
Sources:
Revolution, Health Fitness. “The Top 10 Health Benefits of Chess.” Health Fitness Revolution, 26 Oct. 2017, www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-chess/.
(Princester), Princester Rester. “7 Surprising Health Benefits of Playing Chess.” Chess.com, 7 http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com, OnlineCollegeCourses.com-. “10 Big Brain Benefits of Playing Chess.” OnlineCollegeCourses.com, 25 Mar. 2012, www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/03/25/10-big-brain-benefits-of-playing-chess/.
Sharan. The invest in chess blog, March 24, 2015, https://blog.investinchess.org/in-conversation-with-woman-international-master-alexey-root.