Benefits of Chess

As someone who likes things that are purely intuition-based, learning chess forces me to actually calculate at least a little, or learn to work within systems with rigorously defined rules.

It taught me the value of making trades and exchanges and thinking strategically and tactically. I applied chess principles of give and take, sacrifice in order to win, in a court case I was involved in not too long ago.

I certainly think forcing myself to learn some chess helped my thinking evolve.

I could probably use more of that. However, I have trouble bringing myself to actually study chess.

Chess gave me something to do to pass the time living with mental illness, it stops the voices in my head when I’m playing. Chess saved me although it is mentally brutal it’s nothing compared to schizophrenia. xxx