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10 Reasons Why You Should Play Chess

Viswanathan Anand, India's first Chess Grandmaster, won the coveted titled in 1988 and has never looked back. His rise to fame has since then been meteoric, and today he is an inspiration to a generation of Indians that grew up watching him play, or being inspired by him to play the game of kings. 

Commemorating Viswanathan's achievements in the game, here are top 10 reasons why you should be playing chess right now. 

1. It raises your IQ

A common misconception regarding Chess is that it is only a game for the really smart people, which is simply not true. Everyone knows how to play chess, what people usually lack is the patience to plan ahead and lay traps for their opponents. Nobody is a genius overnight, as with any form of art or sport, you only get good at it when you keep playing constantly, and that has an added bonus of you thinking ahead of the game, which also means more IQ.  

2. It can prevent Alzheimer's Disease

The brain, like any other muscle in your body, will waste away if you don't regularly put it to good use. It needs exercise like any other muscle in the body to properly function, and there's no better way to do so than Chess. A study concluded that people over 75 who play Chess have a lesser chance of developing dementia that those who do not.   

3. Increases problem Solving Skills

Now Chess by design requires you to think ahead as the game progresses, and adapt to your opponent's moves as they are made. This alone encourages active problem solving skills and develops the ability to make solid decisions on the fly. 

4. Keeps both hemisphere of the brain active

Researchers in Germany concluded that, not only does Chess keep the left hemisphere of the brain active, but it also actively fires up the right side of the brain, effectively giving your brain a two side workout. The benefits of this cannot be understated.

5. Improves reading skills

In an oft-cited 1991 study, Dr. Stuart Margulies studied the reading performance of 53 elementary school students who participated in a chess program. Dr. Marguilies concluded that the children who participated consistently scored more in reading tests than those who did not. And we here at stuMagz cannot emphasis enough, how crucial reading fiction is for children. So encourage children around you to play Chess, and don't forget to buy them books to read.

6. It improves memory

Goes without saying that Chess players are required to remember the moves their opponent has made, so as to not fall into obvious traps. Regularly playing chess improves your memory by leaps and bounds, and you can easily remember your boy/girlfriend's birthday. 

Pic credits: Google Images

7. It improves concentration 

Do you have trouble sitting down to study? Are you easily distracted? Then worry not, Chess is here for you. Playing Chess is a fun method of drastically improving your levels of concentration, and if you play regularly, you never have to worry about losing focus doing important tasks, especially studying for exams.

8. It grows dendrites

Dendrites are the short branches of nerve cells which, in very layman's terms, transmit signals from your body to your brain and vice versa. Regularly playing Chess helps in the growth of these branches in your brain.  

9. It encourages creativity

Asking how a game like Chess can boost creativity is a valid question, but keep in mind that with great improvisation comes great creativity. Not only does this encourage creativity in children (and there are studies to prove it does), it also increases creativity in adults. 

10. Most importantly, chess is incredibly fun! 

As with any game, having fun is important, but the feeling of beating your opponents in Chess is very therapeutic and rewarding. The best part is, it'll make you a calm person as aggression in Chess can often lead to defeat, so what are you waiting for? Go pick up a chess board today! 

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