How Chess Can Make Your Child a Genius

Good parents will make sure that their child is not only physically healthy but mentally fit, too. There are many ways to develop a child’s mind, and playing certain games like chess is one of them. In fact, chess is known to make geniuses out of children. Chess has always been associated with people who excel in critical thinking, but it can be played and enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or mindset.

Many studies show that chess can improve a child or an adult’s critical thinking abilities and memory because it helps stimulate the prefrontal cortex and dendrites that are in charge of coordinating self-control, planning, and judgment as well as conducting brain signals. Students in an NYC chess program were found to have better reading scores compared to non-chess playing students, and another study showed that 4,000 students in Venezuela showed a marked improvement in their IQ scores after four months of being taught how to play chess.

The brain is like a muscle that requires exercise to prevent degradation and injury, and chess is a way to keep the brain active and stimulated. By introducing your child to chess at a young age, he or she is likely to do better in school and become a better team player way into adulthood. Research also showed that chess could boost a child’s problem-solving, math, reading, and critical thinking abilities.

Chess experts and coaches typically recommend getting your child started at chess by second grade, but some kids may be ready to play by the time they are four or five. Chess may help turn your child into a creative genius, too, since it keeps the right brain active. Apart from turning your child into a genius, chess may help build his self-confidence, as well, especially if he gets to play with like-minded kids and older children of different skill levels.

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Advanced Chess Strategies

Learning chess is like learning a new language. You need to play it regularly so you can improve and grasp the skills and strategies needed to win. Chess ‘strategies’ involve setting long-term goals in every game and achieving them, while ‘tactics’ focus on immediate moves. Both aspects go together, since a strategic goal can typically be achieved with the right tactics, and a tactical opportunity is based on the strategy of play you used previously. Signing up for online chess classes can help you understand advanced chess strategies and learn how to use them well. Here are some of the advanced chess strategies you should know about:

• Do not let your opponent open a file on your king if you castled.

• Once you have developed a piece, try not to move it again until you have developed other pieces.

• Develop pieces with the goal of making them coordinate properly with one another. Otherwise, you may find your attacks weak, and you could end up in a losing situation.

• Eliminate communication between the pieces of your opponent.

• Seize the center for control, so you can attack better and gain more play.

• Find a weak spot in the position of your opponent. Knowing and taking advantage of your opponent’s weakness is crucial in chess.

• Avoid any premature attacks on your opponent. Do not attack unless you have enough force in the field to make it successful. Premature attacks typically cause the player to lose.

• Avoid making exchanges that can develop another piece for your opponent.

• Exchange an active piece with an active and similar piece from your opponent.

• Do not be greedy. There are times when you may find it easy to take your opponent’s pawn, but beware—it could be a trap designed to give your opponent the opportunity to become more powerful.

Blog Source URL: http://www.chesscoachonline.com/advanced-chess-strategies