Chess and Real Life

[perseus]

Does chess help you in the real world outside?

Do you think the concentration, problem solving, actually helps in real life situations, in business and fun?

I think it may sometimes, but I cannot think of any examples.

[savin]

Perseus,

There have been a number of studies on chess as a classroom learning aid. It has been concluded over and over again that it is a great learning tool for children. The following link can point you to a number of articles on the subject:

www.uschess.org/scholastic/sc-research.html

or this one:

www.successchess.com/WeibelChess/NY2.html

[ZorMaster]

Dear Chess friend,

That is what i will name: short thinking.

Chess gives a lot. Not only the fun of playing a game which is sport for many and not a game only.
Also it can gives you new social contacts in own country and abroad.
Gives more concentration and it learns you how to lose, i had my problems too how to lose decently but believe me chess gives you some extra tools.

You do not have to agree with me, these is my vieuw on your topic.

Kind regards. Natacha

[yitwail]

i live in the USA but i enjoy interacting with people around the world on the internet as well as face-to-face.

[perseus]

In this regard, Dr Boyd considered that playing chess is likely to promote spatial and analytical intelligence, effective learning and inter-personal skills, problem solving and decision-making, self-esteem and self-confidence. This is not an exhaustive list. For example, at the chessboard, pupils can often appear to be absorbed in what psychologists are now calling "flow", that is a heightened and beneficial sense of concentration, application and enjoyment that truly engages.

www.chessscotland.com/junior/boydteach.htm

[perseus]

www.successchess.com/WeibelChess/NY2.html

I had a look at this page.

My own suspicions are that chess is better than some (perhaps even most) pastimes for improving real life skills, but far short of others. But I often think, if the adversary played chess, I would not have to put up with all the tosh he or she is spouting.

Spatial skills: it only works for me in the flat world dimension. It does not seem to help me with three dimensional jigsaws or in the IQ tests with lots of shapes (which I am poor at).