The Case for the Board

Why Play Chess?

There are many reasons adults and children should play chess. Some pay dividends right away; others don't show up for years.

Cognitive development

Mastery isn't required to benefit

Chess is easy to learn but hard to master — fortunately, mastery isn't required to benefit from it. Studies from around the world show that the process of regularly working to improve is enough, on its own, to make a difference in other areas of school and life.

Math & problem-solving

Iranian 8th and 9th graders randomly enrolled in a six-month chess program scored better on math tests afterward and showed more developed meta-cognitive skills. Danish students in grades 1–3 also improved on math tests after studying chess, with especially large gains for bored and unhappy students.

Language arts & beyond

Indian 6th graders randomly assigned to a year-long chess program performed better in English, social studies, and science. Romanian students across several grades scored better on language and literary-creativity tests, as well as math, after just ten chess lessons spread over three months.

Reaching every learner

Children with ADHD who played chess twice a week were able to concentrate longer and showed improved listening skills. Low-income students of color who received chess instruction reported a more positive view of school.

Lasting effects

By the end of their teenage years — and for decades afterward — adult chess players show measurable physical differences in the brain, along with better performance on planning and memory tasks, compared to non-players with the same level of education.

Scholarships

Chess can help pay for college

Many large schools offer full and partial chess scholarships. The IAC doesn't maintain a comprehensive list, but a few well-known examples include:

Saint Louis University

Texas Tech University

University of Maryland – Baltimore County

University of Texas – Dallas

Webster University

The US Chess Federation also awards five Scholar Chess Player Awards each year to high school students who “promote a positive image of chess,” and in 2020 a 16-year-old from Madison, Wisconsin won a Samford Fellowship from the US Chess Trust. The Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation offers its own scholarships to tournament winners.

Healthy aging

Protecting the brain later in life

Playing chess can help delay the onset of conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia. In one striking study, playing games like chess reduced the risk of Alzheimer's by 75% — more than playing a musical instrument (64%) and far more than doing crossword puzzles (38%).

Fun

A game the whole family can share

During the cold months when everyone's looking for something to do, there are few better ways to spend time together as a family than a game you can all enjoy.