1. Grows Dendrites:
Dendrites conduct signals from the neuron cells in your brain to the neuron. Learning and playing a game like chess stimulates the growth of dendrites, which in turn increases the speed and improves the quality of neural communication throughout your brain.
2. Exercises both sides of the brain:
To get the most benefit from a physical workout, we need to exercise both the left and right sides of our body. Studies show that in order to play chess well, a player must develop and utilize his or her brain’s left hemisphere (which deals with object recognition) as well as right hemisphere (which deals with pattern recognition). The rules and technique involved in the playing chess will effectively exercise and develop both sides of the brain.
3. Prevents Alzheimer’s disease:
A medical study involving 488 seniors by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine shows that playing chess stimulates brain function. Instead of letting the brain deteriorate, keeping the brain functioning at a normal rate, especially with a mind exercising activity like chess, reduces the risk for Alzheimer’s disease as well as depression and anxiety.
4. Improves children’s thinking and problem-solving skills:
A child who is introduced to chess at a young age is likely to do better in school. Research shows that playing chess improves a child’s thinking, problem-solving, reading, and math scores. Educators and chess experts generally agree that second grade is the ideal time to introduce children to chess, although some as young as four or five may be ready to learn and play.
5. Builds self-confidence:
Playing chess will builds up self-esteem. When you play, you’re on your own, and if you lose, you have to take stock and analyze just where you went wrong. Playing and analyzing why you lost or won a game increases the level of mental strength and self-confidence.
6. Helps with rehabilitation and therapy:
Chess can be used to help rehabilitate patients recovering from stroke and as a form of therapy for those with autism or other developmental disabilities. Moving chess pieces across the board helps to develop a patient’s motor sills, while the mental effort required to play the game can improve thinking and communication skills. Playing can also stimulate deep concentration and calm, helping to relax patients who are experiencing different degrees of anxiety.
7. Teaches planning and foresight:
Playing chess requires strategic and critical thinking, it helps teenagers make better decisions in all areas of life.
8. Chess teaches you how to win and lose.
9. Chess helps children realize the consequence of their actions.
10. Chess helps you focus.
11. Chess is a great educational tool for schools.
12. Chess helps to develop creativity.
13. Chess as a confidence builder.
14. Chess helps develop problem-solving skills
15. Chess exercises both sides of the brain.
16. Raises your IQ
17. Academic benefits
- Focusing: Children learn to concentrate, because they have to if they want to play good
- Visualizing: Children have to image a sequence of actions before it happens
- Planning: Children need to plan longer goals and take steps towards them if they want to win
- Weighing Options: Children need to weigh options. They are taught not doing the first thing that pops into their mind.
- Furthermore:thinking ahead, analyzing concretely, thinking abstractly, juggling multiple considerations simultaneously
18. Social benefits:
- Often serves as a bridge to bring together children of any kind
- Helps building friendships
- Teaches sportsmanship(how to win graciously, how to lose – like in other sports clubs)