Does Indulging in Chess Help Players in Real Life? The love for chess is rapidly increasing on the global level. Chess is not just a game but also an activity that helps gather people online and offline. क्या शतरंज खेलने से खिलाड़ियों को वास्तविक जीवन में मदद मिलती है?
According to Healthline, studies have shown that the pandemic increased the number of audiences from all over the world who devote their time playing online games like chess due to the increase in internet usage.
A majority of players choose chess over other games because it helps build an individual mind in a challenging way which proves to be beneficial for both mental and physical health.
With the advancement of technology in this digital era and the increase in internet users, chess has made a prominent spot on several platforms where players from all over the world log in and connect to compete at a professional level. Online chess allows players to check their fast-paced ability to think and make decisions on the spot because online platforms come up with many gaming modes. For example, one of them has a time-controlled interface where time plays an essential role for players in making quick decisions. Speed Chess and Blitz are other game modes introduced on the respective online gaming platforms. Due to the launch and addition of a newer version of game modes, players tend to play the game with increased focus and enhanced thinking ability with the motive to avoid blunders and mistakes in the time-controlled environment.
Fortunately, the recent addition of how to download the game, learning the rules and regulations for playing the game online, and gaining in-depth knowledge of chess online have helped newcomers greatly. So, for now, let us move forward and learn more about how playing chess could benefit a person’s health in real life.
- To Think from Other’s Perspective
To become a skilled chess player is to anticipate the opponent’s next move. When two players compete in a chess game, one must consider the opponent’s next move. Therefore, the ability to predict future outcomes in one’s mind gets more vigorous. Moreover, predicting and knowing from another viewpoint can exercise essential brain empathy and socially build healthy relationships.
- Enhances Memory
An expert chess player can memorize things faster than a regular player without chess experience. In addition, a study has shown that playing chess could increase the hearing and visualizing power of one’s brain, which benefits the person to visualize things better so that they can memorize various combinations with their outcome. Therefore, a chess player recollects memory more efficiently than a non-chess player. Hence, playing chess could help a person recognize and understand patterns quickly.
- Increases Concentration
When a person is in the middle of a challenge, the body releases hormones that allow the brain to enter a deep state of mind. During such a state, the brain starts thinking of ways to win and get out of the situation and accelerates the brain’s thinking capacity. Therefore, in difficult situations, the efficiency in concentrating reaches its peak to perform better. In short, the win ratio of a person in any game increases.
- Boosts Creativity
During school research, an expert researcher gathered two groups of students. One group consisted of students who played chess regularly, and the other didn’t know how to play chess. Then, a test was conducted where students were shown several everyday items and had to devise an alternate use. As per the result, the researcher found that the students who played chess scored higher than the ones who didn’t know how to play chess. Hence, playing chess increases the ability to think creatively and divergently.
- Enables Better Planning Skills
Playing chess usually requires time and time to contemplate better decisions to consider the next move. A chess player regularly plans ponders and reflects on cognitive health. During study research, a researcher learned that a group of chess players was given beads and pegs and took time to plan and measure before making a decision. On the other hand, players with no chess experience were busy making quick decisions without even thinking of the possible favorable outcome.
- Instills Awareness
Some counselors tend to play chess with their patients to know the means of stress level and self-awareness to build a positive therapeutic relationship with the patient. With the help of this therapy, counselors can study the respective patient’s behavior by playing chess with them. This method helps them predict and analyze the patient’s reaction when completing a challenge. The amount of stress a person takes can be studied easily by counselors.
- Curbs the Development of Dementia
Dementia in older people can be curbed if a person plays chess regularly from a very young age. This is because mental flexibility can be revised by playing chess regularly and thus help protect aging people from dementia. In addition, research has shown that games that boost critical thinking ability, solving visual patterns, and spatial skills can help decline a person’s cognitive thinking, resulting in postponing the initial effects of Dementia as people age with time.
In short, chess can help overcome specific health deteriorating issues such as dementia, panic attacks, and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). In addition, recommending kids to play chess can increase the chances of developing problem-solving, relationship building, and social skills and enhance the brain’s thinking capacity.
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