Monday, December 31, 2007
Interesting videos
Magnus Carlsen video interview
Victor Korchnoi defeated by .... ?
Vaselin Topalov in Bank ad
Victor Korchnoi defeated by .... ?
Vaselin Topalov in Bank ad
# posted by Chien Ming @ 3:13 PM
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Why should we play chess ?
Chess is a game for people of all ages. We can learn to play at any age and in chess, unlike in many other sports, we don't ever have to retire. Age is also not a factor when we're looking for an opponent --young can play old and old can play young.
Chess develops memory. The chess theory is complicated and many players memorize different opening variations. We will also learn to recognize various patterns and remember lengthy variations.
Chess improves concentration During the game we are focused on only one main goal -- to checkmate and become the victor.
Chess develops logical thinking. Chess requires some understanding of logical strategy. For example, we will know that it is important to bring our pieces out into the game at the beginning, to keep our king safe at all times, not to make big weaknesses in our position and not to blunder our pieces away for free. (Although we will find ourself doing that occasionally through our chess career. Mistakes are inevitable and chess, like life, is a never-ending learning process.)
Chess promotes imagination and creativity. It encourages us to be inventive. There are an indefinite amount of beautiful combinations yet to be constructed. Chess teaches independence. We are forced to make important decisions influenced only by our own judgment.
Chess develops the capability to predict and foresee consequences of actions. It teaches you to look both ways before crossing the street.
Chess inspires self-motivation. It encourages the search of the best move, the best plan, and the most beautiful continuation out of the endless possibilities. It encourages the everlasting aim towards progress, always steering to ignite the flame of victory.
Chess shows that success rewards hard work. The more we practice, the better we'll become. We should be ready to lose and learn from our mistakes. One of the greatest players ever, Capablanca said, "You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player."
Chess and Science. Chess develops the scientific way of thinking. While playing, we generate numerous variations in our mind. We explore new ideas, try to predict their outcomes and interpret surprising revelations. We decide on a hypothesis, and then we make our move and test it.
Chess and Technology. What do chess players do during the game? Just like computers they engage in a search for the better move in a limited amount of time. What are we doing right now? You are using a computer as a tool for learning.
Chess and Mathematics. We don't have to be a genius to figure this one out. Chess involves an infinite number of calculations, anything from counting the number of attackers and defenders in the event of a simple exchange to calculating lengthy continuations. And we use your head to calculate, not some little machine.
Chess and Research. There are millions of chess resources out there for every aspect of the game. We can even collect your own chess library. In life, is it important to know how to find, organize and use boundless amounts of information. Chess gives us a perfect example and opportunity to do just that.
Chess and Art. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia chess is defined as "an art appearing in the form of a game." If we thought we could never be an artist, chess proves us wrong. Chess enables the artist hiding within us to come out. Our imagination will run wild with endless possibilities on the 64 squares. We will paint pictures in our mind of ideal positions and perfect outposts for our soldiers. As a chess artist we will have an original style and personality.
Chess and Psychology. Chess is a test of patience, nerves, will power and concentration. It enhances our ability to interact with other people. It tests our sportsmanship in a competitive environment.
Chess improves schoolwork and grades. Numerous studies have proven that kids obtain a higher reading level, math level and a greater learning ability overall as a result of playing chess. For all those reasons mentioned above and more, chess playing kids do better at school and therefore have a better chance to succeed in life.
Chess opens up the world for you. We don't need to be a high ranked player to enter big important competitions. Even tournaments such as the US Open and the World Open welcome players of all strengths. Chess provides us with plenty of opportunities to travel not only all around the country but also around the world. Chess is a universal language and we can communicate with anyone over the checkered plain.
Chess enables you to meet many interesting people. We will make life-long friendships with people we meet through chess.
Chess is cheap. We don't need big fancy equipment to play chess. In fact, all we may need is our computer! It is also good to have a chess set at home to practice with family members, to take to a friend's house or even to our local neighborhood park to get everyone interested in the game.
CHESS IS FUN! This isn't just another one of those board games. No chess game ever repeats itself, which means we create more and more new ideas each game. It never gets boring. We always have so much to look forward to. Every game we are the general of an army and we alone decide the destiny of your soldiers. We can sacrifice them, trade them, pin them, fork them, lose them, defend them, or order them to break through any barriers and surround the enemy king. We've got the power!
Chess develops memory. The chess theory is complicated and many players memorize different opening variations. We will also learn to recognize various patterns and remember lengthy variations.
Chess improves concentration During the game we are focused on only one main goal -- to checkmate and become the victor.
Chess develops logical thinking. Chess requires some understanding of logical strategy. For example, we will know that it is important to bring our pieces out into the game at the beginning, to keep our king safe at all times, not to make big weaknesses in our position and not to blunder our pieces away for free. (Although we will find ourself doing that occasionally through our chess career. Mistakes are inevitable and chess, like life, is a never-ending learning process.)
Chess promotes imagination and creativity. It encourages us to be inventive. There are an indefinite amount of beautiful combinations yet to be constructed. Chess teaches independence. We are forced to make important decisions influenced only by our own judgment.
Chess develops the capability to predict and foresee consequences of actions. It teaches you to look both ways before crossing the street.
Chess inspires self-motivation. It encourages the search of the best move, the best plan, and the most beautiful continuation out of the endless possibilities. It encourages the everlasting aim towards progress, always steering to ignite the flame of victory.
Chess shows that success rewards hard work. The more we practice, the better we'll become. We should be ready to lose and learn from our mistakes. One of the greatest players ever, Capablanca said, "You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player."
Chess and Science. Chess develops the scientific way of thinking. While playing, we generate numerous variations in our mind. We explore new ideas, try to predict their outcomes and interpret surprising revelations. We decide on a hypothesis, and then we make our move and test it.
Chess and Technology. What do chess players do during the game? Just like computers they engage in a search for the better move in a limited amount of time. What are we doing right now? You are using a computer as a tool for learning.
Chess and Mathematics. We don't have to be a genius to figure this one out. Chess involves an infinite number of calculations, anything from counting the number of attackers and defenders in the event of a simple exchange to calculating lengthy continuations. And we use your head to calculate, not some little machine.
Chess and Research. There are millions of chess resources out there for every aspect of the game. We can even collect your own chess library. In life, is it important to know how to find, organize and use boundless amounts of information. Chess gives us a perfect example and opportunity to do just that.
Chess and Art. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia chess is defined as "an art appearing in the form of a game." If we thought we could never be an artist, chess proves us wrong. Chess enables the artist hiding within us to come out. Our imagination will run wild with endless possibilities on the 64 squares. We will paint pictures in our mind of ideal positions and perfect outposts for our soldiers. As a chess artist we will have an original style and personality.
Chess and Psychology. Chess is a test of patience, nerves, will power and concentration. It enhances our ability to interact with other people. It tests our sportsmanship in a competitive environment.
Chess improves schoolwork and grades. Numerous studies have proven that kids obtain a higher reading level, math level and a greater learning ability overall as a result of playing chess. For all those reasons mentioned above and more, chess playing kids do better at school and therefore have a better chance to succeed in life.
Chess opens up the world for you. We don't need to be a high ranked player to enter big important competitions. Even tournaments such as the US Open and the World Open welcome players of all strengths. Chess provides us with plenty of opportunities to travel not only all around the country but also around the world. Chess is a universal language and we can communicate with anyone over the checkered plain.
Chess enables you to meet many interesting people. We will make life-long friendships with people we meet through chess.
Chess is cheap. We don't need big fancy equipment to play chess. In fact, all we may need is our computer! It is also good to have a chess set at home to practice with family members, to take to a friend's house or even to our local neighborhood park to get everyone interested in the game.
CHESS IS FUN! This isn't just another one of those board games. No chess game ever repeats itself, which means we create more and more new ideas each game. It never gets boring. We always have so much to look forward to. Every game we are the general of an army and we alone decide the destiny of your soldiers. We can sacrifice them, trade them, pin them, fork them, lose them, defend them, or order them to break through any barriers and surround the enemy king. We've got the power!
# posted by Chien Ming @ 5:40 AM
