The Many Benefits of Learning and Playing Chess

In a previous article, I wrote about one of my many passions — motocross. I’ve ridden for years and I really enjoy it. However, back in early 2021 I suffered a bad crash at a track in Florida. I broke two of my ribs and punctured a lung.

It was a scary reminder of the mortal danger of extreme sports. Afterward, my wife suggested that maybe I take a break from motocross out of consideration for my family’s dependence on me to stay alive and healthy for them. So that’s what I did.

But I still needed something to satisfy my hunger for game and competition — a hobby or sport. I wanted something safe, but something that would still give me an opportunity to learn, hone skills, and burn some of the competitive energy with which I tend to be replete. Believe it or not, I decided to pick up chess.

I know. You’d be hard pressed to find two more different activities than motocross and chess. But chess has always interested me — and there were a few key advantages to my choice here. First, chess is very inexpensive to enjoy. You can buy a kit (a board and pieces) for less than $10. Or you can just play online through platforms like Chess.com for free. It doesn’t require an expensive motorcycle and fancy gear, etc. You can play in your pajamas if you like.