Chess is a game that I never thought I’d play. It has always seemed far too complicated and impossible to learn on one’s own. Yet, there are so many benefits of playing chess for seniors, adults, caregivers and pretty much everyone else.
As I’ve been learning and playing the game myself, I’ve been surprised at how enjoyable it is. Even the early stages, where it all seemed confusing, still managed to be interesting.
I’m surprised that I’ve ended up playing the game for its own sake, rather than just for the benefits that it offers.
If you’re at all hesitant, read on to find out why chess can be so helpful for seniors. Some of the benefits might be obvious, but there are some surprising ones in the mix too.
While chess is mostly a two-player game that’s played in person, this isn’t your only option. For example, there are sites like SparkChess that allow users to play online against the computer or other players. Such sites can be fantastic ways for users to learn chess and refine their skills too.
There are also products that provide some of the benefits of chess in a single-player format, like Solitaire Chess.
Key Benefits of Playing Chess for Seniors
1. Chess Makes You Think
Let’s start with the obvious. Chess is mentally stimulating.
Players have to think about the moves that they can make, along with the moves of their competitors. While there are only six individual types of chess pieces, each type has its own distinctive movement pattern.
Not only do players need to learn the game, they must also be able to adapt to the actions of their opponent. A game between two well-matched opponents can be challenging indeed.
Plus, chess is never the same game twice. Even when opponents know each other well, there can be plenty of surprises in the mix. This variation is powerful, as other types of games can become repetitive fast.
2. The Game Can Improve Cognition
Exercising your brain is important for improving cognition and for fighting age-related cognitive changes. Doing so requires more than just using your brain regularly. It’s also important to push and challenge yourself with new approaches.
The fact that chess always changes is important for cognition. It means that you’re constantly learning and improving.
Even two people who regularly play against one another will continue to learn and push one another cognitively.
You’re not limited to in-person opponents either. As we mentioned earlier, you can play people online. Or, if you can’t find anyone of the right skill level, why not test yourself against the computer instead?
3. You Don’t Need Much to Play
Playing chess only requires a chess board and a set of pieces.
Because chess has been popular for such a long time, you can easily find an inexpensive chess set. Many secondhand stores will have them. You can often find versions at Walmart and similar locations.
In fact, you’ll often find chess sets for less than $20. Very basic versions might even cost $15 or less. Check out the examples below for some ideas.
If you’re comfortable playing online, then the costs are even less. Most of the websites for online chess have a free version, giving you the chance to play without paying anything.
The online experience isn’t as satisfying as having a physical board in front of you. Even so, you’re still getting many of the advantages of chess.
4. Chess is a Social Experience
Chess works well for connecting two people. The slow and steady nature of the game (most of the time!) helps with this aspect too.
It can be a particularly good way for caregivers to connect with seniors, as there is the chance for the two to grow in skill together. In fact, playing with the same person regularly is powerful for honing cognition and building friendship.
Chess can cross generations too. A senior who already plays chess might start to teach their grandchild. The process is surprisingly enjoyable – and comes with a different set of cognitive challenges compared with just playing the game.
5. Chess Can Connect Seniors
I already mentioned the social side of chess, but there’s more to it than that. Chess is also relevant because it is a game that many seniors play.
This means that seniors can often find chess clubs to join. Such clubs provide a great connection between people of the same age.
Local clubs may be listed in any number of places. Meetup sites are a good place to look, along with local papers. Your local senior center may also know about such groups.
Don’t forget about the online approach either. If you’re looking for the social side of things, find a service that allows you to have a video chat at the same time as playing the game.
6. The Game is Fun
Once you learn the basic rules, chess is a fun game. One of the best parts is just how different it can be from one game to the next. Different opening moves or mistakes by one play can significantly change the nature of play.
7. Chess Helps to Relieve Stress
Chess requires thought and concentration, so it might not sound like the best game for relieving stress. But, these aspects actually work to your benefit.
I’ve found that when I’m concentrating on a game, it’s hard to think about anything that is bothering me. By the time the game is over, my emotional state and thought patterns have changed.
The pattern makes sense. After all, one of the best ways to decrease stress is to put your mind somewhere else.
My Experience Learning Chess
The cognitive benefits of chess were key reason that I started playing too.
Earlier this year I wrote a post on ways to improve cognition. While I found many different approaches in my research, chess stood out as an especially powerful one. It seemed much more practical than having to regularly find new puzzles and games because the previous ones had been learned.
The catch was that I needed to actually learn the game.
My mister had played when he was younger, so we set about teaching me the rules and the tricks.
The process was largely fun and slightly frustrating. I found the rules easy enough to learn, but keeping an eye out for all of the possible moves at any point in time is no easy feat. Honestly, I feel like I just get a grasp on one angle of the game and then get side swiped by another.
To make matters worse (or better?), my mister is learning and refining his own game as we go. While I am getting better, it seems like I’m always one step behind.
I’m confident that I’ll start winning at some point soon, but that’s actually not the point. I’m learning. So is he.
The experience has been pretty amazing really. Chess has been a fun way to connect and to challenge ourselves. We adapt to one another and learn as we go, so no two games are the same.
I can see why chess remains such a popular game and why there are so many benefits of playing chess for seniors.
I haven’t seen any other game that can vary so much from one play to the next – and that’s with us just playing against one another. I can only imagine the challenges that come from engaging with different opponents.
Thanks for mentioning that chess is able to exercise your brain and improve cognitive function because you never experience the same game more than once. My dad is getting older, and he has surprisingly never played a game of chess. I will be sure to recommend he look into getting chess lessons so that he can unlock the cognitive benefits and recreational benefits that the game provides.
Thanks for taking the time to read. Sometimes having a friend or a loved one teaching chess can be a good approach, as this means that there is less stress.
My father has always saying, that he loved to play chess but since he haven’t tought us how to play, he had no game partners. Lately I discovered a book by Makism Aksanov, which is a really nice book to start play chess with your kids. I showed it to my father and his grandkids and it was one of the best ideas. Now my father is happy, because he can play chess again and my kids have a great fun playing with him and practice with this book 🙂
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