Why chess? What is chess?
Chess is a game for people of all ages. You can
learn to play at any age and in chess, unlike in many
other sports, you don't ever have to retire. Age is
also not a factor when you're looking for an opponent
- young can play old and old can play young.
Chess develops memory. The chess theory is
complicated and many players memorize different
opening variations. You will also learn to recognize
various patterns and remember lengthy variations.
Chess improves concentration. During the game you
are focused on only one main goal - to checkmate and
become the victor. Chess develops logical thinking.
Chess requires some understanding of logical
strategy. For example, you will know that it is
important to bring your pieces out into the game at
the beginning, to keep your king safe at all times,
not to make big weaknesses in your position and not to
blunder your pieces away for free (although you will
find yourself doing that occasionally through your
chess career). Mistakes are inevitable and chess, like
life, is a never-ending learning process.
Chess develops imagination and creativity. It
encourages you to be inventive. There are an
indefinite amount of beautiful combinations yet to be
constructed.
Chess teaches independence. You are forced to make
important decisions influenced only by your own
judgment.
Chess develops the capability to predict and foresee
consequences of actions. It teaches you to look both
ways before crossing the street.
Chess inspires self-motivation. It encourages the
search of the best move, the best plan, the most
beautiful continuation out of the endless
possibilities. It encourages the everlasting aim
towards progress, always steering to ignite the flame
of victory.
Chess shows that success rewards hard work. The
more you practice, the better you'll become. You
should be ready to lose and learn from your mistakes.
One of the greatest players ever, Capablanca, said,
"You may learn much more from a game you lose than
from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of
games before becoming a good player."
Chess and Science. Chess develops the scientific way
of thinking. While playing, you generate numerous
variations in your mind. You explore new ideas, try to
predict their outcomes and interpret surprising
revelations. You decide on a hypothesis, and then you
make your move and test it.
Chess and Technology. What do chess players do
during the game? Just like computers they engage in a
search for the better move in a limited amount of
time. What are you doing right now? You are using a
computer as a tool for learning.
Chess and Mathematics. You don't have to be a genius
to figure this one out. Chess involves an infinite
number of calculations, anything from counting the
number of attackers and defenders in the event of a
simple exchange to calculating lengthy continuations.
And you use your head to calculate, not some little
machine.
Chess and Research. There are millions of chess
resources out there for every aspect of the game. You
can even collect your own chess library. In life, is
it important to know how to find, organize and use
boundless amounts of information. Chess gives you a
perfect example and opportunity to do just that.
Chess and Art. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia
chess is defined as "an art appearing in the form of a
game." If you thought you could never be an artist,
chess proves you wrong. Chess enables the artist
hiding within you to come out. Your imagination will
run wild with endless possibilities on the 64 squares.
You will paint pictures in your mind of ideal
positions and perfect outposts for your soldiers. As a
chess artist you will have an original style and
personality.
Chess and Psychology. Chess is a test of patience,
nerves, will power and concentration. It enhances your
ability to interact with other people. It tests your
sportsmanship in a competitive environment. Chess
improves schoolwork and grades. Numerous studies have
proven that kids obtain a higher reading level, math
level and a greater learning ability overall as a
result of playing chess. For all those reasons
mentioned above and more, chess playing kids do better
at school and therefore have a better chance to
succeed in life.
Chess opens up the world for you. You don't need to
be a high ranked player to enter big important
competitions. Even tournaments such as the US Open and
the World Open welcome players of all strengths. Chess
provides you with plenty of opportunities to travel
not only all around the country, but even around the
world. Chess is a universal language and you can
communicate with anyone over the checkered plain.
Chess enables you to meet many interesting people. You
will make life-long friendships with people you meet
through chess.
Chess is cheap. You don't need big fancy equipment
to play chess. CHESS IS FUN! This isn't just another
one of those board games. No chess game ever repeats
itself, which means you create more and more new ideas
each game. It never gets boring. You always have so
much to look forward to. Every game you are the
general of an army and you alone decide the destiny of
your soldiers. You can sacrifice them, trade them, pin
them, fork them, lose them, defend them, or order them
to break through any barriers and surround the enemy
king. You've got the power!
To summarize everything in three little words - Chess
is Cool! |
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