Chess: The Fun Brain Game

Scientists agree that exercising the brain is an important deterrent to dementia, Alzheimer's and other types of mental decline associated with age. "Use it or lose it" is an appropriate battle cry in the fight against "senior moments". Psychologists recommend reading, writing, solving math problems, word puzzles and playing memory games as good ways to exercise your creative, critical thinking, analytical and concentration muscles. In most cases, you can only exercise one function at a time.

One exception is the game of chess. With the objective of cornering the opponent's King on an 8-square by 8-square checkerboard, chess is a thinking game.

Help Your Brain Grow

According to the blog, Common Wealth Chess, "The game requires a person to think, think deeply, concentrate, analyze, visualize, plan, decide and execute a series of tactics and strategies aimed at winning the game. ...All these activities - thinking, concentrating, analyzing, visualizing and dynamic planning, will provide the much-needed exercise to the mind, without your knowledge that your brain is at serious work." ¹

This brain exercise has also been shown to help young players improve their reading and math skills. In fact, chess is so effective in enhancing learning that is is part of the educational curricula in more than 30 countries. Studies cites at least six reasons for the impact chess has on learning:²

1. All levels of students can learn the game
2. Chess requires that the students solve a great quantity of problems
3. Chess offers immediate punishments and rewards for problem solving as the students progress through the game.
4. Students who play chess develop a pattern of thing that fosters success. They learn how to seek out different solutions to a problem.
5. Competition in chess playing creates interest, promotes mental alertness, challenges all students, and elicits the highest levels of achievement
6. Students are more excited about learning when it is organized around a game.

In "Immortal Game", author David Shenk wrote that some neuroscientists believe playing chess may alter the structure of the brain, making a sort of virus that makes its players smarter.³ It's affordable, accessible, fun and good for brains of all ages.

References

• 1. Play Chess Online to Exercise Your Brain, The Common Wealth Chess,
• 2. Teacher's Guide:Research and Benefits of Chess, The Ilowa Chess Club,
• 3. The Immortal Game, David Shenk,

photo by Ryan Doherty