5 ways chess can influence your life

Chess is one of those games that requires a lot of brain involvement and concentration, but at the same time can be really fun and entertaining. But are there any real benefits in mastering this game? I’m sure many of us are still waiting to use that “knowledge for life” we got in algebra class. But chess is a different story. It has lasting real-life effects, so getting a chess set can be a good investment for the family. Be sure to check out Kaoori shop for more info on different options available. 

If you are not yet convinced of the benefits that chess has to offer, let’s go through the list and see what they are!

1. Increase in Concentration 

This is especially true for children. As adults, often, we have already trained ourselves to concentrate to some degree, and not be distracted by minor things surrounding us. But for children, it can be really tough. That’s why it is of absolutely vital importance to interest them in whatever they have to do, so learning doesn’t turn into torture. Luckily, with chess, this task is easily accomplished. And once they are genuinely interested, they are ready to practice more and more, thus, training their ability to concentrate in the process. The same happens for the elderly. They need this ability to keep their mind quick and responsive, and what better way to do it than play chess! While playing, you have to keep your general strategy in mind (which deservingly has a spot on our list), as well as try to guess and trump your opponent’s strategy. Also, look a few moves ahead, to evaluate your chances.  

Needless to say, that an above-average ability to concentrate your attention can have life-long benefits. Every point in life, when you have to learn something new (which we hope you’ll keep up for a long time), you can accomplish the task quicker and more effectively.  

For adults who are just starting to play, the advice is to always have a chess set at home. If you don’t have one and you are looking to buy a chess set that will suit both your heart and pocket, visit Kaoori shop, one of the leading chess stores in Britain. 

2. Memory treadmill 

Chess is a real gym for the brain. With varied exercises and great results. It trains your memory, among everything else. Memorizing is a complex process, involving different parts of your brain creating patterns of sorts, that come in handy when you encounter the object again and recognize it. Well, chess can speed up this process, if you play it frequently enough. First of all, you have to memorize the positions of your chess pieces at any given moment. Again, to push your general strategy forward, you have to evaluate its effectiveness.  And that task can be demanding to your memory. As to the benefits of having better memory, they are quite apparent, aren’t they? A brain trained to memorize quickly and sufficiently will serve you well through life and will confidently back you up in all your aspirations. 

3. Conscious Strategy for Life

We couldn’t possibly make this list without including the concept of strategy. Unfortunately, so many of us go through life without fully realising our goals and dreams, and more importantly, how to make them a reality. All of us want to teach our children how to make mindful decisions and be aware of our actions and their consequences. But we’re not always sure how to emphasize the importance of that lesson. Chess can help us there as well. When children play, they create a simulated environment for real-life situations, and chess does exactly that. Much like in life, in order to win around the chess board,  they have to make conscious decisions and develop a strategy for success. If you expect to just go with the flow and win a chess game, think again. You need both a main strategy and a plan B, which is needless to say, a priceless skill to have in life. 

So, basically, chess trains your mind to set long term goals and devise various strategies to reach them. Who knew chess sets have so many lessons to teach! Conscious strategy brings us to the next order of business

4. Learning to Sacrifice

Sounds too grim for a recreational game of chess, but the message behind it is quite valuable. In order to win a chess match, you have to be ready to sacrifice a lot of different chess pieces to get there. That happens in life more frequently than we would like, but we still have to deal with it. And it’s especially a valuable lesson to learn at a young age. Because, as kids, we want everything and we want it now! But, each decision has a consequence. Each treat has a required price. In chess that’s a described and all-around studied move, granted for various situations. In life, it’s often the only way to get what we want. You have to be ready to sacrifice a lot of time, energy and finances to get a good-quality education. Sacrifice a part of your freedom for the joy of parenthood, or sacrifice that last piece of pie to make your spouse happy after a lousy day.  Big or small, our life is full of them. If we learn how to handle the concept of sacrifice when we are still little, imagine how much easier life will get, and how much more we will be ready to accomplish! 

5. Strong Community

The previous entry was a bit of a downer, so let’s finish the list with a more optimistic one! Chess tends to unite people. It’s a universal language for so many of us, who share the fascination from this game. Chess provides a strong platform for people from all around the world to play together, share stories and experience, as well as have a good time. But we don’t have to go that global to prove our point. Usually, we don’t get interested or learn to play on our own. So who taught you first? Maybe your grandpa, who would spend the Sunday mornings in his study, explaining the rules and the moves of chess to you. Maybe you learned from older brothers and sisters, who got interested in the game first. Or maybe you learned from a teacher, who worked so hard to get you interested and involved in the game. In any case, wonderful and complicated chess creates a bond between people. A bond that is hard to break. 

We don’t think you’ll disagree when we say that chess is one of the most interesting, diverse and intellectual games out there today. And now that we have discussed its undisputed benefits, you are probably wondering where to start your journey and where to get a great set for yourself or a loved one.  Among all the chess sets UK market has to offer Kaoori has a strong position, offering customer-oriented shopping experience, with free delivery and a responsive 24/7 support line. If you purchased a set, but have second thoughts about it, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund. When shopping with Kaoori, you can be sure that you are dealing with a company interested in reaching out to their community. 10% of the profit goes to charity for kids development, and you get a wonderful, durable chess set designed and manufactured in the UK and/or the EU. 

Start your chess adventure with Kaoori, creating a strong tradition in your family for generations to come!