Does Playing Chess Have Any Health Benefits?

Bobby Fischer, one of the greatest minds in the chess world said that chess is life. Now, this is a bold claim given that many people would struggle to establish a relationship between chess and health. In this article, we try to put up a strong case in a bid to answer the above question in the affirmative. Here are four surprising health benefits of this two-player game.

Improved IQ

You may be wondering whether it is chess which makes people smart or whether chess is a preserve of the smart people. According to a study done on 4,000 students in Venezuela, it became clear that chess improves one’s IQ. This was a scientific study, and there is nothing to argue contrary to the conclusion. Your IQ gets better with playing chess, period!

Improved Memory

One of the best strategies of beating your chess opponent is to remember their past moves and how you operated to win the game. The more your brain gets used to remembering, the better your memory becomes.

Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease

Playing chess has the ability to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. That is according to a study done at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which established that chess stimulates the functioning of the brain, resulting in the reduced chances of dementia. When your brain remains active most of the time, you will not only keep Alzheimer’s disease at bay but also other psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

Improved Problem Solving Skills

Playing chess involves making fast decisions, which means you should train your brain to think quickly. And, you don’t just make any decisions, but you should strive as much as possible to make the right decisions in order to win a game. The more you make the right decisions, the higher the chances of beating your opponent. This correct decision making can be applied to real life problem solving situations.