How Learning Chess Can Improve Your Life and Career

“The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it,” Benjamin Franklin famously said. “Life is a kind of chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.”

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When you picture the concept of chess in your mind’s eye, what images do you conjure up? An elegant mahogany table overlooking a roaring fire, two glasses of whiskey at the side of the board, perhaps a pair of wing-backed leather chairs flanking the board… There’s no doubt that chess is an intellectual game, something to be enjoyed in the same respect as a smoky nightcap or a good conversation with friends, but if Franklin’s theory holds even a minuscule amount of truth, learning to play chess might just be one of the most enjoyable ways to work on your mindset, and learn to accept life’s little nuances — while having a lot of fun.

Whether you’re completely new to the game or you’ve played a few rounds here and there over the years, the benefits of learning to play chess go far beyond what you learn on the board. Here, we spoke to Danial Asaria, 5-time national chess champion and current number one 19-year-old player on the West Coast of the United States, to get his insights on how the game will benefit you in all aspects of life.

1. Embrace Learning From Your Mistakes

Learning to play chess doesn’t always come easy — even seasoned professionals get frustrated after losing a well thought out game plan. “The game teaches you to embrace losing and learn from your mistakes,” Asaria tells AskMen. “I’ve lost over 5,000 games and two national championships in the last round, but I learned from those experiences and went on to win four national championships and represent team USA in international competition.”

While it can be frustrating to lose multiple games in a row — especially if you’re a particularly sore loser — learning from your mistakes and figuring out new strategies is directly related to your experience at home and in the office, as well. The more you become used to the idea of seeing mistakes and losses as a good thing, the better you’ll be able to shift your perspective and turn negatives into positives outside of the game.

2. Learn How to Plan for the Future

According to Asaria, chess is a great way to work on your ability to plan for the future and plan for, and react to setbacks in a calm and collected manner. “Chess teaches you to think ahead and envision your adversaries' plans before they have even come up with them,” Asaria explains.

3. Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

Chess involves meticulous problem-solving skills, and while figuring out the best way to protect your king or move your pawns might not seem like it will translate into your day-to-day life, you’d be surprised by how much flexing this muscle can aid your problem-solving skills in real life. “Chess teaches you to problem-solve like a professional,” adds Asaria. “No one has ever won a game by resigning… You learn to fight and think of creative solutions in even the most hopeless of situations!”

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4. Lean Into the Art of Patience and Focus

“I once played an 8-hour chess game when I was 10 years old,” laughs Asaria. Like golf, baseball, and even Monopoly, a chess game can last forever — quite literally. Being able to maintain an engaged attention span while waiting out for the other player to lose focus teaches you the art of patience and being able to wait for the results you’re trying to manifest.

5. Accept That There’s No Perfect Solution

You might go into a game thinking you know exactly what plays to make to intimidate your opponent, but as much as you study the art of the game, you’ll never really know what they’re about to throw at you. In fact, there are more than 400 possible board setups, and by the third move, there are more than 121 million possible games—no matter what, you’ll have to choose the best possible solution, even if it means making unwanted sacrifices along the way.

“The game teaches you that there is no perfect solution to chess or life,” says Asaria. “You will never have it completely figured out and there will always be unexpected obstacles that come up. As long as you gave your all then you know you’ve done your part.”

6. Become More Open-Minded

“You can connect with people you have never met around the world in a unique way,” Asaria says. “I traveled to Bolivia for a tournament and played street chess next to farms with kids that didn’t speak English.”

Chess is a universal game that spans beyond language or cultural differences and has been bringing people together for more than 1,500 years. While playing chess for fun may not lead to far-flung travel on its own, being able to pull out a chessboard to play anywhere in the world, or logging into international games of virtual chess is a great way to break cultural barriers and learn about our neighbors from other countries.

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