Senior Living News

Chess is a complicated game hiding behind a simple board and two sets of pieces. How complicated? Consider this: The number of potential moves in chess is large enough to trump the total number of atoms in the entire universe! There are more than 318 billion moves just for the first four actions of any game.

Around 600 billion people across the world know how to play the game. There's no age limit on learning or playing chess, and there are many benefits for seniors who want to get into this classic board game. Whether you're looking to play against online opponents or set up a chess tournament in your assisted living community, get some tips for playing chess as an older adult below.

The Benefits of Playing Chess as an Older Adult

Before we dive into ways to learn about chess or improve your tactical game, let's look briefly at why older adults might want to play more chess. Here are just a few benefits associated with playing the game:

• It's inexpensive. You don't need a lot of bells and whistles or technology to play chess. You can purchase a chess board and all the pieces in a set at discount or department stores for as little as around $5. And if you do have a smartphone or computer, you can find plenty of free apps and online opportunities to play digital versions of chess.
• It puts your mind to work. Chess is a game that requires thought. At the very least, you have to be able to think about the possible moves you can make at any given time and whether they'll put your pieces at risk. In more tactical games, you're required to think ahead as many moves as you can and employ strategies to make it impossible for your opponent to make winning moves. Within this spectrum, you're putting cognitive functions to work in some way, and that can be a good brain exercise to help keep those functions working now and in the future.
• It's social. If you're playing with other people, chess provides a social setting. You can chat with your opponent as you enjoy the game or talk to others who have gathered round to watch or play the winner. Even if you play online, you may be able to chat with your digital opponents via chat windows. Engaging in social activities can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, an important consideration for people of all ages and especially older adults who may be experiencing changing social dynamics in their lives.
• It can help reduce stress. Sitting down and forcing yourself to focus on the game in front of you can help take your mind off things it's worrying about, and that can lead to reduced stress and anxiety.

Tips for Seniors Who Are New to Chess

You're never too old to learn chess! Here are a few tips for seniors who want to learn to play chess for the first time:

• Get a book. Order a book off Amazon or check one out from the Anythink or Thornton Public libraries. Options include, but definitely aren't limited to, How to Play Chess for Beginners by Daniel Reese or How to Play Chess from DK Publishing. The latter is written with preteens and teens in mind but provides ample information about play.
• Watch YouTube videos. Go to YouTube and search "how to play chess." You'll find hundreds of videos explaining everything from basic game rules to strategy and tactics.
• Practice playing. Once you understand the basics of how each piece moves on the board, start playing. Ask friends, family members or fellow assisted living residents to play a game with you. It doesn't matter if you're very good — it's about practicing each new skill set you learn.

Tips for Getting Better at Chess as an Older Adult

Anyone can play chess once they know how all the pieces move. But to get more skilled at winning the game, you need to learn tactics and strategies. For the most part, chess tactics involve learning, recognizing and responding to patterns. That does involve some memorization.

You can start with books and videos for that too. Older adults who may not want to memorize entire books on chess — or may not be able to — could start with something simpler like a few opening strategies. Choose one skill and work solely on it until you've got it close to mastered and know you've memorized it. Then, you can move on to another to slowly build chess-playing skills. You may never be a master chess player, but that's okay. Keep in mind that it's about enjoying the game and spending time with others.

Whether you're looking for something fun to do with other residents at Park Regency assisted living in Thornton or you just want another option for improving your mind, chess may be a great investment of your time.