The Benefits of Chess:

It’s More than a Game

 

·       Chess is fun and motivational. It develops self-esteem, builds team spirit and increases concentration.

·       Chess has intellectual branding. People think only smart kids play chess. Kids who play chess think of themselves as smart.

·       Chess improves test scores. Students involved in chess raise scores on math and reading standardized tests and make better grades in school overall.

·       Chess is a thinking game. It encourages students to use patterns and logical deductive reasoning to solve problems.

 

Chess has a positive impact when taught systematically.

·       Chess improves problem solving. It provides a tremendous number of problems to solve and an immediate reward or punishment. According to chess master and coach Jerry Meyers, these problem-solving skills include:

Focusing: You must observe and concentrate. If you don’t watch what’s happening in a game, you can’t respond, no matter how smart you are.

Visualizing: You must imagine a sequence of actions before it happens. Shift the pieces in your mind, first one, then several moves ahead.

Thinking Ahead: You have to ask the question: "If I do this, what might happen then, and how can I respond?" Over time, chess helps develop patience and  thoughtfulness.

Weighing Options: You don’t have to do the first thing that pops into your mind. Identify alternatives and consider the pros and cons of different actions.

Analyzing Concretely: Learn to evaluate the results of  specific actions and sequences. Does this sequence help me or hurt  me? Decisions are better when guided by logic, rather than  impulse.

Thinking Abstractly: Step back periodically from details and consider the bigger picture. Take patterns used in one context and apply them to different, but related situations.

Planning Ahead: Develop longer range goals and take steps toward bringing them about. Reevaluate your plans as new developments change the  situation.

·       Chess-playing students look for more and different alternatives. This results in higher scores in fluency and originality.

·       Competition challenges all students. It fosters interest, promotes mental alertness, and elicits the highest levels of achievement (Stephan, 1988).

·       Game play is constructive. A learning environment organized around games has a positive effect on students’ attitudes toward learning (Allen & Main, 1976).

Championship Chess® curriculum, DVD and interactive game disks make the benefits of chess easily accessible, whether you play or not.