International Chess Day 2023: How playing chess can boost your memory and mental health

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Chess is a game that not only improves brain function but also makes you happier. an authority on the benefits of the game for memory and mental health.

Chess

Chess is a game that can liven up any dreary day and make it enjoyable. The game not only keeps you interested, but it also ensures that you put your thinking cap on and give your brain the much-needed exercise. Chess is the ideal game to play to prevent age-related brain illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, particularly if age is not on your side and you have reached a stage when your brain requires continual stimulation. The Game of Kings is really highly suggested for kids and teens since it may help them develop skills like creativity, problem-solving, and memory function, all of which are crucial in today’s society. The very well-liked board game first appeared in India about the sixth century CE and quickly spread to other regions of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Regularly playing the game benefits your mental as well as physical wellness. Gambit is a social pastime that offers an opportunity to engage with others. Additionally, it calls for your whole focus and functions as a mindfulness practice. Chess assists in stress reduction and generates feel-good chemicals when played.

On the occasion of International Chess Day (July 20), Dr. Neha Kapoor, Associate Director & Head-Neurology, Asian Hospital Faridabad, discusses how the game may enhance cognitive capacities and enhance general wellbeing.

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Enhances memory

Chess may improve your memory since the game requires players to recall openings, tactics, and previous actions while also foreseeing and preparing movements for the future. The brain gets a great workout from this mental activity, which improves both short- and long-term memory. Regular Gambit practice will help you remember knowledge better, which is advantageous in many areas of life, including scholastic and professional endeavors.

The capacity for critical thought and problem-solving

Chess is recognized for its capacity to improve problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. Gambit players must analyze the present condition of the game, predict their opponent’s movements, and come up with clever maneuvers to outwit them. This ongoing mental activity improves one’s capacity for critical thought, situational analysis, and deft decision-making. People can apply these talents to real-world situations, which makes them better problem solvers across a variety of fields.

Focus and attention

Chess requires complete attention and constant concentration throughout the whole game. Players must remain focused and keep themselves from becoming sidetracked since there are many pieces on a board and multiple options at each step. Gambit practice on a regular basis may greatly enhance attention, making it simpler to maintain focus on activities and objectives in other aspects of life. greater productivity and performance, whether at work, school, or on personal projects, may also be attributed to greater attention.

Emotional savviness

The game of chess may help players develop their emotional quotient and resilience. Players go through a variety of emotions when playing a game, such as joy, annoyance, and disappointment. Chess may aid in the development of a crucial life skill: the ability to control these emotions and maintain composure under duress. Players who practice emotional intelligence are better able to handle difficulties both on and off the chessboard.

Stress management and mental health

Chess play may be a nice diversion from the strains of everyday life. The intense concentration needed to play a game draws the player’s attention away from problems and fears, putting them in a state of flow and relaxation. Chess has also been shown to lower stress levels and improve mental health by increasing the amounts of dopamine and endorphins in the brain, which are known as “feel-good” chemicals. Additionally, playing chess may be a social activity that encourages relationships and a feeling of community among players.

Longevity and brain health

Chess may help the brain stay healthy and promote cognitive longevity, according to research. Regular Gambit players have been shown to have better brain function and greater levels of brain activity than non-players. Chess exercises memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and imagery abilities while using numerous cognitive areas concurrently. The risk of cognitive decline and age-related neurodegenerative disorders may be lowered with the aid of this mental exercise.

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