Is Playing Chess Good for Your Brain?

Chess is popular all over the world with people of all ages. It became even more popular in 2020 when Netflix released The Queen’s Gambit – and everyone had a lot of time on their hands to learn how to play. While it takes a lot of practice and dedication to become as skilled as the fictional Beth Harmon or current world number one chess player Magnus Carlsen, chess can still be a worthwhile casual hobby. There are many benefits of chess so let’s dive in and learn how chess helps your brain. 

What Does Chess Do To Your Brain?

One way that chess is good for your brain is that it improves memory skills. Chess has many rules of which a player needs to keep track, as well as strategies and combinations that can change based on the opponent’s moves. Memorizing complex chess moves also helps players more easily remember and recognize visual patterns in other aspects of life. 

Another benefit of chess games is a player’s ability to plan. Successful chess players need to think several moves ahead. Often during chess games there are long periods of quiet while the players think about what they will do next. Some more advanced chess players even enter a sort of meditative flow state during these periods. This is similar to the phenomenon experienced by runners or performers who become so focused on the task at hand that their awareness of anything else around them seems to disappear. 

A significant chess brain benefit is the potential for playing chess to slow cognitive decline and the onset of dementia. The Harvard School of Public Health recently published an article suggesting playing chess can help cope with changes due to cognitive decline, though whether it can actually prevent decline still requires more research. What we do know is that like all other muscles in the body, the brain works best with a “use it or lose it” mentality. The more the brain is exercised – by doing things that require concentration like playing chess – the healthier the brain will stay. 

Chess also increases self awareness. Some therapists play chess with their clients as a way to monitor problem solving skills and gauge reactions to stressful situations. Creativity is also shown to increase in those who play chess regularly along with problem solving skills. 

Chess requires patience. Games tend to be long, and sitting and waiting for an opponent to decide on a move can feel like an eternity. It is the perfect opportunity to practice patience and stay focused on the task at hand, rather than allowing the mind to wander.

The same need to stay focused can also help reduce stress and anxiety. The structured environment of a chess game calms the mind and gives it a break from everyday stressors.

Finally, while you can play chess virtually against an online human opponent or against a computer, chess is best played against another human in the room, offering an opportunity to socialize. Socialization staves off loneliness and the accompanying depression. And even if the game is not won, there is still a confidence boost from spending time with another, and a game well played. 

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