ChessWired Blog Posts RSS

Being a senior today There is a lot of focus these days on the next generation. Parents everywhere are using supplemental education facilities to give there children a competitive advantage. As a result learning centers are packed with students all trying to live up to their potential. Meanwhile, another group of people are being ignored and even neglected. I am talking about older people, those 65 and above. I have been told many times, particularly by seniors, that there is a sense of neglect in their community. "It is like I walk around and nobody even sees me" one senior...

Why play USCF rated chess tournaments? Here I will convince you of the value and importance of USCF rated chess tournaments. There are many things that make playing in these events worthwhile, especially for children and young adults. It is true that these events come with a bit of stress, and I have known many parents who have decided it was too much for their child. Of course that is their decision, and may have even been the best one depending on the circumstances. However, it cannot be denied that stress is a part of life. As parents our job...

How to begin learning chess Whether you are learning how to play chess or how to pilot a 747, you always start with the basics. In the case of chess the basics are how to move the pieces correctly. When learning chess it is impossible to learn everything at once so we break the learning into sections. At ChessWired, the first lesson is on pawns and all the rules that control their movement. Pawns are the only piece that cannot move backward and the only piece to earn promotion when reaching the end of the board, making them quite unique. Pawns are arguably...

There is some debate about whether there is a place for chess in education Chess in education is a popular subject these days.  and arguments on both sides that have their supporters. The idea of chess as an educational tool very old though many think it’s a newer issue. In fact many benefits to being skilled in chess are well known. Some of these are more obvious than others such as better memory and concentration. However chess also helps in other areas that are not as well known. Cognitive development, creativity and adaptability are just a couple of examples. Studies on chess in education There are many...

Below is a chess experiment you can try every time you speak with a person Ask them if playing chess makes you a smarter person. Most people will answer “Yes” immediately. Some may be more reserved and say “Probably” or “Not necessarily”, but it is quite rare to get an answer of “No”. While it seems that there is an agreement that chess helps the mind, many people when pressed do not know how. As part two of the chess experiment, ask them how it makes you smarter and observe their reactions. Very few people will answer this question without...