Life is a Game of Chess

Chess is not merely a game; it is a mental workout that offers numerous benefits in work and studies. This board game which consists of 64 black and white squares has proven to hone strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Believe it or not, chess represents life.

This game might seem complicated and confusing, however, there is actually a psychology behind chess. It revolves around strategic thinking, problem-solving and mental endurance. A core part of chess is translated into real life where we have to analyse the pros and cons before making important decisions. We have to plan ahead and think before performing every step. Understanding your opponent’s mindset, anticipating their moves and managing emotions during the game are useful skills applicable to our work environment.

Most importantly, chess teaches us strategizing skills. Every step that we make on the chessboard is a step towards a checkmate, likewise translating to real life where we have to make small steps to reach success. Sometimes we make blunders or mistakes in chess, which imitate the roadblocks and challenges that we face on our lives. We can apply some strategies from chess to plan and find better results in both studies and work life.

Chess helps us with nurturing patience and improving focus. As chess is a slow paced game, players need to focus and take their time to play their pieces right. Most people think that we can only do our best when we spend a lot of time working hard, this might be true in some cases. However, science has proven that working efficiently instead of overworking will generate better results. Just like in chess, we can’t always move forward to attack; sometimes in life we need to move backwards for defence.

Studies conducted by a German scientist have indeed proven that chess does affect our brain in a way that it makes us smarter. It affects the prefrontal cortex which is associated with intelligence and the hippocampus which is associated with memory control. Chess allows both sides of our brains to work creatively which is helpful in a working environment. Statistics show that people who play chess regularly have healthier brains and make better decisions in life. The best part about it is that you don't have to be born smart to be good at chess. Just take Judit Polgar and her 2 sisters who were born in a household of psychologists who wanted to test if chess can be nurtured and not only nature. She and her sisters eventually became the world's best women chess players.

In conclusion, chess does help us get smarter, make better decisions, improve focus and plan better. All of those are essential skills needed to survive. Just like what Allan Rufus said, “Life is like a game of chess. To win you have to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge, and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game called life.”