Chess, A Mental Sport

Intelligence is highly prized in this modern age. Gone are the days when people needed to rely on their physical strength to survive and accomplish tasks. Because people placed a lot of value in physical strength, endurance and agility, sports competitions were held to see who was the best in running, throwing, swimming etc. Even today, many people are interested in sports and many athletes have been dubbed as heroes in their own home countries. Children aspire to grow up and be as great as their idols.                  

Sports that require physical movement are slowly losing relevance in this world. For example, what is the point of being able to run fast when we have cars and other vehicles? These days, people simply need to push a few buttons and the machines do the rest of the work for them. Generally, the more you accomplish academically, the higher your position in society will be.

Despite how much society values one’s mental capabilities, chess as a mental sport is not greatly followed and is thought of as a game for geeks. Nevertheless, chess is gaining recognition. There are some schools that include chess in their curriculum because many studies show that playing chess has multiple benefits for children. Their minds will be trained and fortified with the basic skills to help them excel in our mentally inclined world. 

There are so many advantages that one could gain from chess. Playing physical sports will give one a chance to meet new people and make new friends. The same goes with chess. You’ll get to meet all kinds of people from all walks of life who just happen to enjoy chess. 

The advantages in playing chess are not immediately seen, but many players claim that chess sharpens their analytical abilities. For others, chess calms them down, or increases focus and concentration. These skills are very important in modern day life as we are faced with more and more complex problems that cannot be solved by sheer physical force. 

Playing chess helps to support the idea that there is usually a solution to a problem even if it’s not readily apparent. It also helps to integrate the important human process one needs to solve problems, which is to pause, think, and intelligently search for a solution to a problem.

It helps people to think logically, and to react quickly to different kinds of situations. In addition, chess indirectly keeps you from making bad decisions in your life because you are trained to see the different consequences of different moves and how they affect your opponent. 

Playing chess can be as much fun as playing physical sports. The best part is that you don’t have to exert much physical effort at all, or suffer from sprains, bruises and broken bones. You simply need to flex your mental muscles. 

There is nothing better than out-smarting your opponent simply with the use of your mind and skills. So, get a chess set, find an opponent, and start playing right away!