Benefits of Chess

Armies of scholars, scientists and educators work world-wide to offer consistent proof based on academic standards that the game of chess aids the educational process in invaluable ways. This section will bring to attention some of their question marks, research theories, projects but also concrete positive results. It will also highlight relevant news items on chess & education.

Why Chess

"Why Chess" is a paper drafted by Jim Celone, an experienced chess coach and tournament official in New York. It investigates how chess can be a problem-solving tool and reviews the scientific literature about it. Download the paper here.

Useful Introduction

Download an excellent brochure (PDF - 964KB) that may serve as a good introduction. It was made available by Patrick S. McDonald, Youth Coordinator for several chess bodies in Canada: The Benefits of Chess in Education: A Collection of Studies and Papers on Chess and Education (Compiled by Patrick S. McDonald)

So Why is Chess on the Rise?

Evan Levy asked this question back in 2001 in TIME Magazine (April 14, 2001) at a time when the number of under-14 chess players exploded from merely 4000 to 30.000 in ten years in United States. His answer? Download the full article.

A Research Summary

Chess in Education: Research Summary is a 15-page document made available by Dr. Robert Ferguson Jr., Exectutive Director of American Chess School. It offers a very interesting read and worth-studying statistics.

Cognitive Benefits

" Chess has long been regarded as a game that can have beneficial effects on learning on development, especially when it is played from a young age. below are some of the most critical benefits that chess can provide to a child:

Develop analytical, synthetic and decision-making skills, which they can transfer to real life.

Learn to engage in deep and thorough chess research which will help them build their confidence in their ability to do academic research.

Help children gain insights into the nature of competition which will help them in any competitive endeavor.

When youngsters play chess they must call upon higher-order thinking skills, analyze actions and consequences, and visualize future possibilities.

In countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in math and science."

Source: Susan Polgar Foundation

Project Chess

"Chess-in-the-Schools alums will:

Be analytic thinkers

Be motivated learners

Be critical problem solvers

Think before they move

Take pride in their accomplishments

Be graceful winners AND losers"

Source: Chess-in-the-Schools NY City

Chess in Schools World-Wide:

Success Stories & Experiences

Learning Students...

"Chess can also help students perform where it matters most, at least for their schools: on standardized tests. A 1997 Texas study showed that regular, non-honors elementary students who played in the school chess club showed twice the improvement on state achievement tests in reading and math as non-players."

Read more how chess improves the lives of Claudine-Brown Elementary School (USA) in Charlie Smith's "Students learning rules, strategy of playing chess", [Greenwood Commonwealth, Feb 9, 2009].

Because They Love the Game!

"The students are more focused...There are a lot of arms attached to the sport. It's the number one sport in the world", concluded about chess a substitute teacher in one of Detroit's Bates Academy, a primary level school of choice. The Bates chess team receives the same sport honours as the leading football or basketball players. Read more in R. Riely's "Chess is a sport..." [Detroit Free Press, February 3, 2009].

Chess as Education Strategy

“So many kids spend their time plugged into video games, iPods, television and so they are more isolated...They learn give and take in chess. There are courtesies that you follow. It has been really beneficial for them.” - declared Deborah McCoy, a teacher who implemented a pilot chess program in Idaho. Read everything about it in D. Loeb McClain's "Idaho Turns to Chess as Education Strategy"

[The New York Times, March 20, 2008].