Managing Business Expectations

Posted on: 11 June 2019

Ask any chess player and they'll tell you the same thing: chess is more than just a game. Of course, chess is an intensely enjoyable game once you begin to unravel its intricacies, but there are more reasons to play than simply the love of the game. In fact, there are many scientifically proven benefits to spending time both learning and playing chess. Whether you are considering learning the game yourself or signing a child up for lessons, there are potentially huge rewards to reap.

It's a Great Brain Trainer

Brain training games have become extremely popular in recent years, with several of the best making their way onto mobile top sellers lists. Meanwhile, the original brain trainer has been here all along. A study performed for Klein High School concluded that students who participated in after-school chess activities showed a significant performance increase over the group that did not.

This is no surprise, as chess has proven benefits for critical thinking, memory retention, and learning ability. In part, this is due to the focus that chess places on concentration. Learning chess well means learning to focus on a single task, both to analyze the board situation in front of you and to plan for future means. These skills do not exist in a vacuum; they easily carry on to other tasks at school, home, and work.

It's More Popular Than You Think

Chess may seem a bit like old news in this modern age, but nothing could be further from the truth. The largest online chess platforms boast over 10 million active users, putting them on par with the some of the most popular games played online. And the online chess community is only a fraction of the overall global community of chess players. Once you understand the game, you will find that there is no shortage of opponents at any skill level.

It's a Social Game

Those millions of players aren't playing games of chess by themselves. Being part of that global community of players means regularly getting to meet new people. Sometimes those interactions may be all about the game, but many lasting friendships have been cultivated over a chess board. Learning chess can be a great way to expand social horizons and practice networking skills. Chess has a surprisingly diverse community, so it's a great way to introduce yourself to people that you might have otherwise never met.

Are Online Lessons Right for You?

If chess has all of these incredible benefits, you may be wondering whether online or in-person lessons are the right way to go. While in-person lessons have their own set of advantages, online lessons are a phenomenal option for just about anyone. Learning online usually allows you to better fit the lessons around your own schedule. Not only are online chess lessons this convenient, but you are more likely to follow through with lessons that you don't need to rearrange your schedule to make work.