Benefits of Playing Chess

Doesn’t the chessboard seem like a battleground to you? Where the queen, the rooks, the bishops and the pawn, together try to take the king towards victory. Chess games could actually be as complicated as an actual war because one wrong move and you are destined to lose. But here in chess, even if you lose you actually win. Because you get to take so much out of the chess game than just victory. If you are also fascinated by the latest miniseries, ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and planning to learn this difficult game, here are the top benefits of playing chess that will surely convince you to go ahead and become the grandmaster!

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Improves your Memory

Chess is not just about remembering the names of the sixteen pieces on the board or knowing how these 16 pieces move. If you are playing to win, you need to remember each and every move that you and your rival made throughout the game. So, one benefit of playing chess is that If you are playing chess regularly, you are exercising your brain and with practice, you will be able to remember and retain things for a longer duration. 

Boosts Concentration

Chess is a game where if you lose concentration even for a moment you can lose track of the entire game. Chess games don’t provide time for the brain to relax and thus give you a higher level of concentration which is one of the top benefits of playing chess. You are engaged throughout the entire duration of the game in analysing the opponent’s moves, countering them, and planning the next one. Can you really go through all this without having yourself fully focused on the game? If you are someone who is struggling with short attention spans then it’s recommended to indulge in chess. 

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Improves your Problem-Solving Skills

Chess is like a maze in which you have to help your king reach the endpoint while crossing many hurdles. For that, you need to quickly recognise the visual patterns and think of the moves which will help you reach the endpoint. You need to plan ahead, and analyse the situation and then only you can actually win. What basically happens is that your opponent keeps trying to create hurdles in order to stop you from progressing in the game and you simply need to solve them in order to move forward. Thus, another key benefit of playing chess is it helps in improving your problem-solving potential.

A Cure for Anxiety

Chess is an indoor game which requires calm thinking. To play chess, you need to first quiet your brain and think rationally about the next move that you are going to make. For people suffering from anxiety, this might be a bit difficult at the beginning but with constant practice, it can actually help to reduce your anxiety. It works like meditation but is just more fun than it. So, the ability to cure anxiety is another benefit of playing chess. 

Raises your IQ

Chess has always been considered a game for genius people. Now, it’s not like only people who are genius can play chess but that you can actually increase your intelligence level through chess. In a span of one chess game, you have to do analysis, evaluation, and engage in logical thinking and strategic planning. Thus, amongst our listed benefits of playing chess, this one has been scientifically proven that playing chess regularly can help in raising your IQ level. 

Teaches you to be Patient

When you start playing chess as a routine, you will slowly learn the importance of making decisions with a calm mind. If you lack patience, you will end up making movies without thinking it through and you will end up losing the game. So, a chess player requires a lot of patience in order to not jump to conclusions without properly analysing the moves and the position of other pieces on the board. You might struggle with this part at first, but with time you will eventually master the art of patience which is one of the best benefits of playing chess.

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Trains You to Work Under Pressure

Have you ever thought about how stressful a chess game could be? A chess game requires you to think calmly under pressure. You are given a few seconds to make the move but you need to make sure that in these few seconds, you make the right decision. And that will definitely put you in a stressful situation. But have you ever seen how calmly chess players play their game? This is a result of continuous practice and if you also engage in it you would be able to diffuse the tension and it will help you give your best thus helping you gain from all the key benefits of playing chess!

Prevents Dementia

In a scientific study, it was proven that people who engage in chess even if on an irregular basis have a lesser risk of developing dementia. The symptoms of dementia include memory loss and reduced problem-solving ability. And as we have already discussed some of the major benefits of playing chess include memory retention and improves problem-solving skills. Even if chess cannot help cure dementia, it can contribute towards the prevention of it before its onset.

Help Reduce the Risk of ADHD

ADHD is a “chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity and impulsiveness“. And chess on the other hand helps you to focus, be patient, and calm and also helps in curing your anxiety. You can already see the connection. Chess with all its interesting moves and techniques has the potential to grab the interest of the player and the possibility of victory maintains this interest throughout the end. And this is one thing that people suffering from ADHD lack. So, another benefit of playing chess is that it would slowly help to develop a sense of interest in those with ADHD and therefore help them become calm and focused. 

Achieve Flow State

“Flow state is a mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity”.  Flow state is basically the state where an individual is working at their utmost potential and chess helps in triggering this state. The simple reason is that a chess game demands your complete focus and it’s known that when you are completely focused towards something you could give it your best and therefore enter your flow state. 

List of Top 15 Benefits of Playing Chess

S.N	Benefits of playing chess
1	Curing Schizophrenia
2	Helps fight Depression and Anxiety
3	Improves Self Confidence
4	Helps Avoid Alzheimer’s
5	Helps in Rehabilitation
6	Improves Cognitive Skills
7	Memory Improvement
8	Boosts Concentration
9	Improves Problem-Solving
10	Sparks Creativity
11	Reasoning, Planning, and foresight
12	Works on both sides of the brain
13	Faster learning Curve
14	Improves Spatial Skills
15	Increases IQ

Does Chess have Special Benefits for Kids?

Chess improves the development of several talents in youngsters, according to research:

• problem-solving skills
• social and relationship-building skills
• thinking skills

Are there any Downsides to Playing Chess?

Playing chess, like any other pastime or activity, has its downsides. If you’re considering taking up chess as a hobby, here are some things to consider like:

• It can be stressful
• It may not boost test performance very much
• Becoming a chess expert requires a significant time investment

Does Chess Make You Smarter?

So, yes, there’s some solid proof that playing chess enhances your cognitive abilities and grows your brain. Continue exploring the Brainscape Academy for a collection of completely free study guides if you’re looking for alternative methods to increase your expertise, intellect, and brain health.

If you’re attempting to improve your intelligence in order to pass an exam or course, try Brainscape, the world’s best study and flashcard programme, which will help you grasp languages, science topics, history, and any other subject far more quickly.

So, these were the 10 benefits of playing sense. It’s just not a mere source of recreation but becomes a space for personal growth and development. Stay tuned to Leverage Edu for more such informative blogs and sign up for a free session with our experts to get all your academic and career-related queries answered!