Common Benefits of playing Chess over long term

Chess is a game that has been shown to have numerous benefits for players of all ages. It is surprising to see people at the age of 70+ play chess brightly & enjoy it as well. We also have young players who play chess very well and win many titles as well. Chess is truly an ageless & timeless game. To get the full benefits of chess, playing it for a long time is necessary, it is both fun & has many life benefits to it.

Some benefits of playing chess over the long term include:

• Improved concentration and focus: Chess requires players to think deeply about their moves and consider multiple possibilities. They need to think ahead of every possible move of the opponent and also think of a counterattack to those moves in advance.  This is very crucial in chess, as not thinking enough can lead to a blunder move & lose the game. This habit can help improve concentration and focus of the individual to the highest level possible. This also makes one focus on other things just as easily.
• Enhanced problem-solving skills: Playing chess requires players to think logically and strategically in order to outmaneuver their opponents. Players start to think of different possible ways to trap their opponent or different possible ways to take risks. This thinking process is in a loop for every single move played until they see an opportunity. Once the opportunity is seen, the trap is laid. Hence, this sharpens their brain in finding solutions. This can, in turn, help improve problem-solving abilities of one.
• Increased creativity: Chess requires players to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems or to throw complex problems at the opponent. Creative strategy is to be planned and executed without the opponent's knowledge. The opponent is also an excellent player, so normal or weak strategy is seen through very quickly & defended by the opponent, therefore one must try creative strategies to outsmart the opponent. This can help increase one’s creativity level.
• Improves Memory recollection: Chess requires players to recollect the positions of pieces on the board as well as various strategies & theories. In chess we can also play blindfold, it is a technique of knowing each piece placement on the chessboard and storing that memory, after each move, the position changes, therefore restoring the memory in brain, like this the whole game can be played blindfolded. Similarly, many grandmasters play simultaneous chess. It is playing with more than one person at a time. Each chess game will be different, but they still recall the tactic they plan to plant to each of the players playing against them. This is an example of powerful memory recollection. The more we practise and play chess, the easier it is to build blindfold and simultaneous chess playing ability.
• Better decision-making skills: Chess requires players to weigh the pros and cons of different moves and make decisions accordingly. This process repeats throughout the game for every single move made. It needs them to collect the opponent's play style, make a guess of his next move, plant traps and make decisions on a good defensive play as well. This is how it can help improve their decision-making ability.
• Improved critical thinking skills: Chess requires players to analyze situations and consider various options in a short period of time, which can help improve critical thinking skills.
• Improves Emotional Resilience: Chess teaches players valuable lessons in patience, resilience & in emotion control. It exposes the players to circumstances where they must remain composed, in certain cases adapt to unexpected situations & to maintain a clear focus amidst the pressure of time and game. This greatly improves emotional resilience, helping you to navigate challenges with a calm and composed demeanor in life.
• Improved social skills: Chess is played with other people, a chess community is much more than just playing chess, which can help improve social skills such as communication, sportsmanship & fair play of an individual. It fosters respect for opponents, encourages graciousness in both victory and defeat, & promotes integrity. These values shape one's character & positively influences your interactions with others.
• Improved cognitive function: Research has shown that playing chess can improve cognitive function, including memory, left and right brain activation, processing speed, and abstract reasoning, etc.
• Improved mental well-being: Playing chess can be a relaxing and enjoyable activity that can help reduce stress and improve mental well-being if one doesn’t stress too much over the outcome of the game. It provides a sanctuary from the demands of the daily life, allowing players to immerse themselves in a strategic & intellectually stimulating activity.
• Improves sense of achievement: Playing against a player of great strength and winning against them sounds wonderful, right? Yes, that's the sense of achievement one will experience through chess, not to mention if they won any prize, then it will add-on to the wonderful gameplay. This will motivate them to play better the next time.
• Lifelong Learning: Chess is an endless source of learning and personal growth, again it is ageless and timeless game. Regardless of one's skill level, there can always be something new to discover, a new strategy to explore or a new concept to grasp. It helps to keep one's mind stimulated & encourages a lifelong pursuit of knowledge & self improvement.

The above are just a few examples listed on the benefits of playing chess over the long term. Its benefits exceed far more than this. Mainly, the game in itself is very stimulating for the brain that we never get bored playing it. Since it helps develop & stimulate the brain, it is easier to solve complex math problems or find logics needed to solve real-world problems. Hence, learning chess is equal to learning life skills. Whether you play chess as a hobby or take it up as a profession, both have its added benefits to our life & makes other aspects of life much easier & comfortable.

Overall, the long-term benefits of playing chess are numerous and can have a positive impact on various aspects of a person's life.