chess merit badge benefits of chess and chess etiquette by joseph l. bell © 2011

Chess Merit Badge

Benefits of Chess and Chess Etiquette

by Joseph L. Bell

© 2011

What Is Chess ?

• A Game – play it with your friends• A Sport – a hard fought competition,

and an Olympic competition• An Art – with beauty in its

complexity• A Science – a disciplined field of

study

7/20/2011Chess Merit Badge

Benefits of Chess

• Developing critical thinking skills• Practicing concentration skills• Improved decision-making skills• How would these skills help

with other areas of your life ?


Your Brain On Chess• Abstract Reasoning – Thought using

symbolic representations, and past info• Analysis – Break problem into smaller

parts• Concentration – Directing your thoughts• Critical Thinking – Apply logic &

reasoning• Evaluation – Determining worth & value• Pattern Recognition – Apply experience• Problem Solving – ID problems & solve• Strategic Planning – Effective use of

resources• Synthesis – Combine knowledge for

unique solutions and applications7/20/2011Chess Merit Badge

Benefits of Chess• Chess instills in players a sense of

self-confidence and self-worth• Chess builds a sense of team spirit

while emphasizing the ability of the individual player

• Chess teaches the value of hard work, concentration and commitment


Benefits of Chess (cont’d)

• Chess demonstrates that each person is responsible their own actions and must accept the consequences

• Chess teaches players to try their best to win, while accepting defeat with grace


“I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.”

- Bobby Fischer


• Chess provides an intellectual, competitive forum through which you can express hostility, i.e. "let off steam", in a socially acceptable way


“Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent's mind.”

- Bobby Fischer


• Chess provides many bright youth with their first opportunity to use their intelligence in an exciting, rewarding and continuing way

• Chess instills a sense of intellectual success which encourages trying other endeavors



• Chess allows girls to compete with boys on a non-threatening, social plane

• Chess can provides an easy, safe forum for gathering and discussion


“Chess is as much a mystery as women”

- Cecil Purdy, International Master

An Excuse to Play More Chess

• Chess results in higher grades, especially in Math and English studies– Developing plans, considering all

implications of choices, improves logic, reasoning and writing composition.

– Research found that Chess was more efficient than any other extracurricular activity in improving academic performance.


Chess Etiquette• Not another lecture on manners• You live manners when playing

Chess, and it makes the game more enjoyable


Chess Etiquette

• Shake hands at the start and end of a game

• Do not distract your opponent, make noises, tap on the table…

• Be a good loser, and a good winner• Cell Phones: You will be banned from

most Chess tournaments if your cell phone rings or makes noise. No texting.


Rules Enforce Etiquette

• Ask for a draw on your own clock time• Annoying actions or noises can result

in a forfeit (declared by the tournament director)

– Complaining that your opponent annoys you by making good moves will not work.

• Touch Move Rule: If you touch a piece, and it can legally move, you have to move that piece.


Rules Enforce Etiquette

• “20A. Conduct of Players. Players shall participate in the spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship, and must observe the USCF Code of Ethics.”


Know the Rules to Be Polite

• Good manners help you get ahead in life

• Avoid unnecessary problems• A Scout is … Helpful, Friendly,

Courteous, Kind …, Clean• “A true gentleman is one who

is never unintentionally rude.” - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)


A World Champion’s Perspective

• “How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves from the Board to the Boardroom” – by Garry Kasparov

• Kasparov had the highest chess rating in the world for 255 consecutive months (over 21 years).


How Life Imitates Chess– Losing can persuade you to change

what doesn’t need to be changed– Winning can convince you everything

is fine even if you are on the brink of disaster

– Only when the environment shifts radically should you consider a change in fundamentals


How Life Imitates Chess (2)

– Rote memorization is far less important than the ability to recognize meaningful patterns

– Opposite pairs work in harmony to improve decision-making: Calculation & Evaluation, Patience & Opportunism, Intuition & Analysis, Style & Objectivity• Success comes from balancing these

forces and harnessing their inherent power• The only consistent method for achieving

such balance is to avoid your comfort zone



– Things we usually think of as advantages (Having more time to think & analyze, Having more information at your disposal) can short-circuit what matters even more:• Our Intuition

– Attacking requires perfect timing as well as nerve. Pushing the action gives us more options and greater ability to control our fate.



– Psychological muscles atrophy from disuse just as physical ones do

– Every enterprise has an opening, a middle games, and an endgame. Knowing where you are lets you hone your strategy and enables you to identify and eliminate weaknesses


Questions ?


chess merit badge benefits of chess and chess etiquette by joseph l. bell © 2011

Documents