Lessons for Life from the game of Chess

Chess is one of the most fascinating board games, which can be played by any person once he or she knows the basic elements of chess and learns the rules of the game.

One interesting aspect is that the game of chess teaches you some very important lessons with regard to your life. In other words, chess teaches you how to deal with your life. Sounds interesting - is it not?

In the game of chess, if you make a move, you cannot take it back. This is the very basic rule of the game. If you correlate the same rule with your life, you will find that once you take a decision or do one thing in life, you cannot take it back. You have to face the consequences, good or bad, resulting from your action, just as the consequences of move in a game.

Let me put it the other way. In the game of chess, you have to face problems at every move. You should, as such, plan your moves and decide the strategy for achieving the goal of saying "check mate" to the opponent. Similarly, in the real life, one has to face a number of problems at every point of time. In that way, chess and life are full of problems waiting for solution from you.

While playing chess, you will make a move only after analyzing the consequences of the move, decide whether it is the correct alternative move available at your disposal that would give the desired result. When faced with a problem, you will assess your limited resources capable of overcoming the problem and make the best available alternative. Similarly, when you are faced with a crisis or a problem in your life, the habit cultivated in the game of chess, which is to weigh and consider all possible options, will come to your rescue. Your actions will not be driven by haste and you will start analyzing the problem. This is one great trait which the game of chess teaches us. Anything done in haste will not yield the desired results.

So, playing chess will definitely help you in dealing with life and taking decisions or making moves with a calm, clear and focused mind.

One more important trait that chess teaches us in life is Patience. Patience, as you know, is a virtue. In the game of chess, you make your moves, plan your tactics and apply different chess strategies depending upon the moves of the opponents. If the opponent is a tough nut to crack, you deploy various alternative strategies and wait for the opponent to make the mistake or fall into your trap. You need to plan accordingly - at least 2 or 3 moves ahead - and above all wait for the other person to make the mistake. Constant involvement in the game of chess will, unknowingly, cultivate in you the important aspects such as planning, strategic execution, reacting to opponent's moves, quickly and effectively changing tactics, and above all believing in your skills and biding your time patiently till the other person makes the mistake.

You are only playing a game of chess, but, unknowingly, you will be cultivating all these great qualities - such as planning, defending, reacting to problems in best possible manner, and being patient.

As such, chess is definitely bound to enhance the quality of your life. One more interesting aspect of chess. Chess is also referred to a war game, a game of war between two countries having equal arms and ammunition. It is foolish to go to a war without any strategy, and so, by playing chess, you prepare yourself to play the game of life, which is full of uncertainity, with a measure of confidence.