Chess is widely regarded as more than just a game—it’s a powerful tool for teaching important life skills, such as decision-making, foresight, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. Recent research conducted by Wang-Sheng Lee, Asad Islam, and Aaron Nicholas has explored how intensive chess training can impact primary school students, particularly in the context of a developing country like Bangladesh. The study highlights how chess can help children develop critical life skills that extend far beyond the chessboard.
As Puneet Jaiswal, a chess academy operator in Delhi, notes, “Parents are realizing that chess is a game that teaches lessons about life such as decision making and foresight.” This sentiment is backed by scientific evidence from a randomized control trial in rural Bangladesh, where chess training was shown to have lasting benefits on students’ cognitive and non-cognitive development.
The Research: Teaching Chess in Rural Bangladesh
In the study, the authors conducted a field experiment to examine the effects of an intensive chess training program on fifth-grade students in rural Bangladesh. These students had no prior exposure to chess. The program was built around free instructional materials provided by the Chess in Schools Commission of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), and over 400 students participated in the randomized trial.
The program lasted three weeks, with each student participating in a 30-hour chess training course. The students were taught by qualified chess coaches, and their progress was monitored for nearly a year after the intervention ended.
One of the most significant findings of the study was that chess training led to a decrease in risk aversion among the students, even nearly a year after the program had ended. This suggests that the lessons learned through chess—particularly the strategic thinking and decision-making involved in the game—can help children become more comfortable with calculated risk-taking in real-life situations.
Additionally, the study found that the students who participated in the chess program showed improvements in their math scores. They also exhibited a reduction in time inconsistency, meaning they were better able to make decisions that aligned with long-term goals rather than being swayed by short-term impulses. The training seemed to have a positive impact on the students’ ability to delay gratification and make more consistent, forward-thinking decisions.
The Role of Chess in Teaching Risk-Taking
The concept of risk is central to many aspects of life, from financial decisions to personal relationships. The ability to take calculated risks—those that are well thought out and based on reasoned judgment—is a skill that can be developed from a young age. Chess, with its emphasis on strategy, foresight, and consequence, provides a perfect environment for children to learn this crucial skill.
In chess, players are constantly faced with decisions that involve risk—whether to sacrifice material for a stronger position or to take an aggressive opening against an opponent. These choices mirror the risk-related decisions we encounter in everyday life, helping players to develop an understanding of when risks are worth taking and when they should be avoided.
The study suggests that by exposing children to these situations through chess, they can develop a better appreciation of risk. By regularly facing the possibility of losing a game or a piece, they learn how to handle setbacks and embrace failure as part of the learning process. This can help children develop resilience and a healthier attitude toward risk in their future lives.
Chess has often been likened to a microcosm of life itself. Much like real-life challenges, chess requires players to think ahead, anticipate consequences, and make decisions based on incomplete information. The lessons learned through chess can, therefore, translate into broader life skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making under pressure.
For example, when choosing an opening move in chess, players assess various risks and rewards, just as they might in real-life situations when deciding on a course of action. The game teaches them to calculate the potential benefits and drawbacks of each move, which can help them make more informed decisions in other areas of their lives.
In the same way, chess teaches children to recognize opportunities and threats, and to act decisively when necessary. Whether it’s in an academic setting, a career path, or personal relationships, these skills are essential for success and personal growth.
Learning chess from an early age can give children an edge in developing important life skills. In particular, it fosters a mindset that embraces critical thinking, calculated risk-taking, and resilience in the face of failure. By learning the strategies and concepts embedded in the game, children become better equipped to navigate the uncertainties and challenges they will inevitably face as they grow older.
The research highlights that helping children develop a healthy relationship with risk—learning when to take it and how to manage it—can significantly improve their ability to make smart decisions in the future. As the study shows, chess can be a powerful tool in shaping the minds of young people, not only as future chess players but as individuals capable of making informed decisions throughout their lives.
