‘Lady’s Gambit‘is one of those series that crochet. Not only because of the protagonist, Beth Harmon, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, but also because of the game she plays. It is also one of those television series that stirs up movements. The series has really taken off in the chess world. Sales of chess games on eBay grew 250% and Google is looking for ‘how to play chess“They were the highest in nine years. In addition, the number of players on Chess.com had 2.5 million new registered users in November alone,” said Alberto Chueca, FIDE (International Chess Federation) teacher, coach and professional chess player.
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The benefits of chess
“He Chess It is one of the activities that most help to exercise the mind. Some of these benefits are the development of creativity and imagination by calculating variants, memorization, which is constantly exercised, patience to handle competition games of up to five hours and the concentration on designing strategic plans, ”he explains. is in turn a sport that is practiced individually, so it also teaches independence and improves decision-making.
As we can see, chess is a fascinating game and the miniseries ‘Queen’s Gambit’ helps many to discover it and get started in this discipline, something that will undoubtedly result in better mental health. And, as this chess player explains, “at the health level, there are associations and programs that use chess Prevent Alzheimer’s or fight ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity) “.
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An activity suitable for everyone
If you are wondering if you can start playing chess, the answer is yes. What’s more, we want to tell you not to hesitate, thanks to all its advantages. “Today we all understand the importance of physical activity, both in gyms and outdoors. The health benefits associated with this are innumerable. However, not so much importance is given to the fact that train the mind when it is the key to our lifealthough it is true that this trend has notably reversed in recent decades ”, Alberto Chueca recalls.
But if you are in doubt because you think you are no longer old or are afraid of not being able to learn it, give it a try because you will be surprised. “In the past, chess was falsely associated with an activity intended for highly intelligent people. That idea has already been banned and it is known that anyone can play chess and chess the tool that transforms people by developing their mental capacities. They are not intelligent people who play chess, but playing chess allows people to develop their full mental potential ”, says this specialist on the board.
The teacher also assures that after a decade dedicated to teaching a large number of students and currently training a world champion ‘sub10’, he could say that 98% of the chess level can be acquired through learning, constant work and practice. It is only 2% which corresponds to natural, biological or innate talent. From this we could conclude that you can reach even the elite without innate talent. That innate virtuosity that does not depend on ourselves is very limited and would be the difference between belonging to the elite and being a world champion.
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Chess does not understand ages
Therefore, if you liked the Queen’s Gambit so much that you want to learn this technique, go ahead. It doesn’t matter how old you are. And, as the chess player explains: “it is a sport that can be practiced at any age. Strangely, there have been several instances where a 5-year-old has taken part in an official tournament against a 95-year-old, which is very rare in other sports. From the age of 4 and 5 you can start to recognize the pieces, learn the basic rules and movements and from the age of 5-6, children can start calculating positions and combinations from 1 move to 2 later and calculating gradually become more difficult. By recognizing tactical patterns, they relate ideas that are repeated in many positions ”.
Finally, if you are interested in learning and improving quickly in chess, there are three fundamental factors that Alberto Chueca lists and explains:
- The first is the advice and methodology of a professional. He support from a chess coach is essential, especially in those parts of conceptual understanding. The most practical part, such as arithmetic or tactics, can be worked on more individually. Almost all people who participate in chess, even in low-level tournaments, regularly teach or have a coach behind them.
- The second factor would be the constancy. As in any discipline, you can only achieve big quality improvements if you are active and exercise regularly.
- And finally, the to interest, which would even be above talent. If a student is interested, the coach’s job becomes easier and concepts are acquired more quickly.
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