The most fascinating and intriguing sport that stimulates the mind is the game of chess. It is this unique feature of this board game that makes it stand apart among the many types of games that had vanished after a brief period. Not only is the game vey challenging, it is also the most ancient one, being played since the 6th Century A.D. An analysis of the game, its features, rules, approach and the objective reveals that there are a lot of similarities between the game and the real life and this is one primary reason for patronizing this game.
Research has proved that children who were taught chess at their schools and encouraged to play chess regularly, have performed much better than others in their academic career.
How is it possible for a game to enhance the academic performance of a child? Well – that is the highpoint of this King of Games.
In the first instance, chess is a board game that requires serious thinking and application of tactics and strategies. The second and the most important aspect of chess is that it is a very fair game with no room for third-party influence – in other words, there is no room for luck or chance to prevail over a player. That means the game and the result are entirely in the hands of the player. If he makes a mistake, he is gone. If he induces the other person to make a mistake, he wins over the opponent.
In a nutshell, the game of chess is all about chalking out a plan of action aimed at cornering the opponent’s King and executing the plan overcoming the many obstacles. The beauty of the plan is that only the plan is yours but the execution depends on the response of the opponent. The plan, in that context, needs to be a dynamic one capable of being changed at every single move or a series of moves.
The game of chess, as such, requires concentration, attention, planning, decision-making and execution, overcoming the deft responses of the opponent.
Students learning the game of chess and playing regularly are bound to learn the following aspects – Focusing, Visualizing, Thinking ahead, Weighing options, analyzing concretely, planning and choosing the best alternative.
Each of the traits mentioned above, which are required in the game of chess, not only helps a student gain an upper hand over the opponent in the game. These traits help in nurturing his character as well. The virtue of focusing needs no explanation when it comes to learning mathematics in the school. Focusing, also referred to as attention or concentration, is very essential for solving mathematical problems.
The virtue of Visualizing teaches the student to not act in haste and instead foresee the possible responses or imagine the outcome in advance. This trait teaches the student to think before acting – a very important virtue that is essential as many people acting in haste ruined their lives or great opportunities.
The other traits of analyzing, planning, selecting the best option and executing play a vital role in the character and attitude of a student’s life that, once developed, stay along and guide him in his future life.
Most importantly, children develop a sense of self-confidence, which is very essential in life. Self-confidence, armed with these important traits, help students perform much better than others and outshine in their academic career.
Now, with the advent of the Internet, online chess makes it much easier for students to gain and sharpen these virtues. Meeting new opponents, who are separated by distance, through Internet and exchanging ideas will further expand their knowledge on chess, and this knowledge helps in gaining more self-confidence.
Let us, as parents, help our children learn the game of chess, develop a passion for the game, and encourage them to play chess online that will make a change in his life for the better.