Why Chess?
Why chess? We frequently hear this question thrown around among non-chess players. Various misperceptions exist of chess, including that 1. it is a game for nerds, 2. chess players have to be smart, and 3. chess makes you smarter. Although the last one might be true, the first two definitely are not. Any person can play chess and become quite adept at the game. Chess is not only a game for nerds. Many chess players are well-rounded individuals that do well academically, while also participating in many other extracurriculars outside of chess, such as a variety of sports. However, let us address the third "misperception." The general public notion that playing chess can enhance an individual's intelligence. While chess does not actually enhance a person's intelligence, chess is able to train certain specific portions of it so that the individual "seems" more intelligent.
Below are two lengthy summaries of two papers done on chess's effect on an individual. If you don't have the time to peruse through them, an overview of the benefits of chess is provided below as well.
Overview of Benefits:
Below are two lengthy summaries of two papers done on chess's effect on an individual. If you don't have the time to peruse through them, an overview of the benefits of chess is provided below as well.
Overview of Benefits:
- shown to benefit an individual's academic performance in school
- increases concentration ability
- improves decision-making and risk management (i.e. in chess, decision-making is very important; one move could cost you the game. Individuals learn not to make hasty, rash decisions through chess)
- enhances ability to analyze a situation before coming to conclusions
- builds self-confidence (chess teaches children not to take losses too seriously, so in the future, losses do not discourage a child as much as they would have)
- You win some, you lose some. Chess teaches a player not to be too discouraged after a loss and forces them to bounce back and try to play their best the next round.
- Beating someone in a game of chess is a great feeling.
- promotes fighting spirit
- Sometimes in chess, lost positions can be salvaged, as one slip-up by your opponent could hand you the win. Chess teaches a person not to give up and always have hope for a situation, no matter how bad it seems.
- Lastly, chess is an extremely beneficial and fun hobby to have. HAVE FUN PLAYING IT!
Benjamin Franklin
The Morals of Chess Famous founding father and American philosopher Benjamin Franklin authored one of the first essays about chess. In his piece, Franklin is quoted with saying, "The game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it, so as to become habits, ready on all occasions." Essentially, he believed that chess was not only a source of amusement, but had the capability to teach the individual three virtuous habits that were essential in life: 1. Foresight - the ability to predict what will happen in the future Questions in chess: - If I move this piece, what will be the advantages or disadvantages of my new situation? - How can my opponent attempt to attack me? - What other moves can I make to support my plan, and to defend myself from my opponent's attacks? 2. Circumspection - the act of surveying the whole picture; trying not to be too hasty; being cautious Chess Application The act of surveying the whole chessboard, or scene of action; the relations of the several pieces and situations, the dangers they are respectively exposed to, the several possibilities of their aiding each other, the probabilities that the adversary may make this or that move, and attack this or the other piece, and what different means can be used to avoid his stroke, or turn its consequences against him. 3. Caution - care to avoid danger or mistakes Chess Application Chess also teaches people not to make moves too hastily. This habit is best acquired by observing the rules of the game. Rules such as, if you touch a piece, you must move it somewhere; if you set it down, you must leave it. Similarly to circumspection, one would not want to make the one fatal mistake in chess which causes a lost game. This causes an increased caution in decision-making and other aspects. Lastly, chess is the habit of not being discouraged by present appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favorable change. One should always persevere in the search of resources. The game is so full of events, there is such a variety of turns in it, the result of it is so subject to sudden turns..... just like life is. |
Warren Wang
Chess and its Benefits When I, Warren Wang, was in ninth grade, I took a course in school called "Introduction to Research." The course was extremely helpful, as it taught me many useful tools that I have been able to utilize. Most importantly, how to go about asking and researching pertinent questions. One of the assignments for the course was the end-of-the-year research paper that every student had to write. We had the freedom to choose any topic that didn't have a definite "yes" or "no" answer already. Since chess was, and still is, one of my main hobbies, I wanted to do a topic correlated with it. I also have always been interested in the general public notion that , "All chess players are smart" or, "Chess makes people smart." Was that really true? My research paper aimed to support or negate those statements. While researching, my paper also began to build up on other impacts chess could have on an individual, not just on intelligence. After months of researching, I finally finalized on three main "categories" for chess's impact on people: 1. Cognitive Benefits A. Visuospatial Ability
C. Increase in Competence
A. Emotional Benefits
3. Chess/Leadership A. Creativity
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