Here are some points from previous articles by Ferguson & Robert (1995). 1. Focusing - Observe carefully and concentrating. If people don’t watch what is happening, they can’t respond to it, no matter how smart they are.
2.Visualizing - Imagine a sequence of actions before it happens. The game actually helps to strengthen the ability to visualize by training us to shift the pieces in our mind, first one, then several moves ahead.
3.Thinking Ahead - Think first, then act. The game taught us to ask ourselves “If I do this, what might happen then, and how can I respond?” Over time, chess helps develop patience.
4.Weighing Options - Don’t have to do the first thing that pops into their mind. We learn to identify alternatives and consider the pros and cons of various actions.
5.Analyzing Concretely - Evaluate the results of specific actions and sequences. Does this sequence help me or hurt me? Decisions are better when guided by logic, rather than impulse.
6.Thinking Abstractly - Step back periodically from details and consider the bigger picture. Learn to take patterns used in one context and apply them to different, but related situations.
7.Planning - Develop longer range goals and take steps toward bringing them about. We are also taught of the need to reevaluate their plans as new developments change the situation.
8.Juggling Multiple Considerations Simultaneously -We are encouraged not to become overly absorbed in any one consideration, but to try to weigh various factors all at once.
*Any insights or perspectives on the benefits of playing chess are welcome.*