Playing chess enhances one’s mental strength

One of the noble games in the world of sport is the game of Chess. The game, said to have been played since the 6th century AD, is still fascinating the people across the world and is the meaty subject for medical research professionals and computer engineers.

Chess is used by the scientists for cognitive research abilities of the brain. A number of research professors and psychologists are still battling out to decipher the functioning of the brain. The game of chess provided the researchers with adequate amount of material. It has been found that a person playing the game of chess uses both the sides of the brain – the left side as well as the right side.

Again, the game of chess in one fun activity that exercises the brain. Just as physical exercises help a person keep his muscles and bones fit and healthy, playing chess helps a person exercise his brain and keep it fit and healthy. A healthy brain avoids diseases such as Alzheimer and Multiple Sclerosis; doctors have found out and recommend this game for patients suffering this disease so that the inevitable can be postponed with an active brain.

What is there in the game of chess that makes it so fascinating one?

Chess has many salient features that make it a noble game.

One, there is no room for outside intervention in the form of chance or luck in the game of chess. The only way one can win over the opponent is when the opponent commits a mistake and that mistake is spotted and utilized effectively by you. Otherwise, there is no room for achieving the objective of cornering the opponent’s King and say “checkmate”. The logical conclusion for a game played between two equals in terms of skill is a draw.

In other words, chess is a cruel game in that it punishes you instantly when you make a wrong move. So, you have to ensure that you make the right moves at all times and leave no room for the opponent to exploit.

The opponent also has the same objective in mind and he will strive to make the right moves only. It is quite likely that all your moves, your tactics and plans will not yield the desired result at all times. The opponent, in defense of his pieces, might take all possible efforts to nullify your plans, tactics and strategies. In a normal game, the percentage of success and failure for tactics and strategies is skewed more towards the failure than towards the success.

Out-of-the-box thinking, creativity, lateral thinking – managerial techniques, which we often use in management discourses, – are used lavishly in the game without being aware that the player is in fact putting these managerial concepts to test in his pursuit to win the opponent’s King.

Not only will your brain gets rigorous exercise and the mind gets stimulated, the mental strength will be tested to the core when your plans and tactics are nullified.

The need to switch to a new plan and implement it after your earlier plan was nullified by a smart move by the opponent will improve your planning and analyzing skills. The drive to get an upper hand over the opponent will be the driving force and the player will be focusing on the game with concentration.

All these activities will strengthen your mental capabilities and make your brain a healthy one. A good game of chess is equivalent to a visit to the gym for having a workout of aerobic exercises to your body.

Now, with the option of online chess, the challenge gets much bigger. Playing chess online is one interesting that challenges your brain and stimulates your mind to the core and will take you to a rigorous exercise of the brain. The ecstasy of winning a game online with an equal opponent or with the computer cannot be just explained in words.

Mental strength and determination will get a major boost and your level of self-confidence will be much higher, gearing you to take up the real-life issues with confidence and make your qualitative life a prosperous one.

Posted on September 1, 2009 at 5:19 pm by · Permalink
In: Chess Tips · Tagged with: , , ,