This essay is based on a presentation I gave in February, 2024 at McMinnville Kiwanis, a nonprofit that’s dedicated to improving the lives of children everywhere, and it’s re-presented here to help share some of the benefits and values that chess provides.

I believe in the values of learning, playing, and improving in chess — and in the power that chess has to develop the skills for a successful life.

Having been both a teacher and a life-long chess player, I was delighted to realize later in my life how many life skills chess has taught me, and these are the skills I teach my students.

• Teaches players etiquette and how to win and lose
• Can help develop focus
• An educational tool
• Helps players realize the consequences of their actions
• Develops creativity and creative thinking
• Builds confidence
• Develops problem-solving skills
• Helps players remain calm under pressure
• Exercises the brain and benefits the body
• Brings people together

---

Chess teaches players etiquette and how to win and lose

Chess teaches good sportsmanship and the virtues of both winning and losing, from shaking hands at the start of a game to gracefully accepting the outcome.

The sense of excitement and achievement from winning makes learning fun, while losing can provide valuable lessons in the importance of learning from mistakes, humility, and resilience (my favorite).

Chess can help develop focus

Chess is a game that requires intense focus and concentration. Players need to analyze the board, make a plan, anticipate their opponent’s moves, and adapt accordingly in order to come up with a winning strategy.

Maintaining this kind of focus for extended periods of time translates to the ability to concentrate both over-the-board and in everyday life.

Chess is an educational tool

Chess can be a valuable addition to any curriculum, and scholastic chess (chess programs for school-aged children) give students fun and challenging opportunities to become better learners and problem-solvers.

There’s an enormous wealth of books, magazines, and videos on chess, and there’s always the chance to learn something new. With the right guidance and resources, players can enjoy and learn immensely not even realize that they are learning and improving.

Chess helps players realize the consequences of their actions

Chess requires players to think several moves ahead and consider how each decision impacts the overall game. Each and every move can lead to a cascade of outcomes, teaching players the importance of foresight and strategic planning. This awareness not only informs their gameplay but also translates into real life situations where it’s important to make decisions carefully.

Chess develops creativity and creative thinking

Chess encourages players to think about their thinking, which helps develop an awareness and regulation of one’s cognitive processes. This process, or metacognition, has untold benefits not only in chess but also in creative thinking in the real world away from the board.

Successful chess players practice reflective thinking and can assess their own thought processes, and this helps creativity and brilliance emerge. An example of this “thinking about thinking” that can lead to insights and innovation is when a player “sees the board,” identifies patterns, and draws connections between them.

Chess builds confidence

As players improve their skills and experience more victories and camaraderie, they gain a sense of accomplishment and self-identity that reinforces their confidence and self-esteem. Facing challenging situations head on and overcoming setbacks promotes resilience (my favorite), and this boosts confidence even further — both in chess and in everyday life.

Over the years, I’ve seen countless players become more confident and comfortable in themselves as they’ve developed not just their skills and familiarity with the game, but also a healthy sense of self-identity. The mental switch from thinking, “I can play chess” to “I am a chess player” is a powerful one, and it’s a joy for me to see every time.

Develops problem-solving skills

Chess teaches many mental models and problem-solving skills, including critical thinking, strategic planning, pattern recognition, adaptability, decision-making, creativity and ingenuity, and (my favorite) resilience and emotional regulation.

A important life skill learned through chess that’s especially helpful is inverted thinking. Instead of asking, Why can’t I get what I want?” in a game, we can ask “What’s stopping me from getting what I want?” and thinking backwards from the desired solution and finding the right sequence of moves.

Chess helps players remain calm under pressure

Chess creates a high-stakes environment where critical decisions must be made during every game, and often under time constraints.

Players practice managing their emotions and maintaining their focus, and each and each and every game is an opportunity for both deep concentration and clear thought, even when situations become tense. Over time, this type of repeatable experience translates into real life scenarios, enabling individuals to handle stress and pressure with greater confidence and composure.

Chess exercises the brain and benefits the body

Positive mental stress (eustress) can contribute to a motivation to improve, such as climbing the chess ladder with a nationally-recognized rating or beating a beloved family member.

It’s not just the brain, however, Chess can also be a good way to burn calories through the positive physical stress of the game. It’s been reported in several studies that playing chess can burn the same amount of calories as other sports such as tennis and running.

NPR reported in 2019 that due to accelerated heart rates that over the course of a 10-day tournament, high level players lose 10-12 pounds on average.

Chess brings people together

Chess is a platform for friendly competition, social interaction, and collaboration, and it encourage bonding, sharing experiences, and celebrating each other’s successes regardless of differences in age, sex, and even culture and language.

This social aspect helps players cultivate an identity as part of a community and a sense of belonging, and many players join clubs, participate in tournaments, and find other ways to connect with others who share their passion.

Before starting Chess Zendō, I founded the McMinnville Chess Club in 2023, and our local chess club has continually created opportunities for players to meet, make new friends, and learn from one another. If you’re in the Portland and McMinnville area, I invite you to come visit us!