5 Lessons We Can Learn About Life from Chess

Chess is a game of strategy, and when a casual chess player starts to advance their game, it becomes a complex, life lesson. A game of concentration, changes and wit, chess has a lot of lessons that it can teach us if we pay attention.

Life lessons can be learned from chess.

1. Learn to Recognize Opportunities

Chess champions have played chess for tens of thousands of hours. Memorization plays a major role in their success because they remember how boards are set up and played. But there comes a time when the opposing player makes an unexpected move.

There is a point in most games when a player recognizes opportunities, and these opportunities lead to a clear line of success.

Missed opportunities, however, can lead to failure.

2. Zugzwang Occurs in Life, Too

Zugzwang is a situation that occurs in life, too. In the game of chess, zugzwang is when a player is in the position that no matter what move they make, it’s a bad move. In life, difficult decisions often occur where no one will be happy.

The move may often lead the player into disadvantage.

Zugzwang also teaches a person to be flexible. Sometimes, things do not go as planned, so it’s an important life trait to be able to adjust to these situations and continue on in life. Dwelling on a move that another player makes, or a decision of another person, is often not a good option.

3. Take Action and Stop Procrastinating

Strategy is a key part of chess, and without it, the game is based on luck. Strategy is what helps one player take action as the chess pieces move on the board. Yes, you may try to envision the opposing person’s next move, and when they make a mistake, you need to capitalize on it and stop procrastinating.

Otherwise, the other player may correct their mistake and win the game.

If you’re not taking action, you’re letting opportunities pass you by.

4. Small Moves Make a Big Impact

Life is a game of moves. You choose not to study for a test. Maybe you pass, or maybe you don’t. You choose to play video games and not exercise, and maybe you never achieve the dream body you hoped to achieve.

But small, precise moves are what make the game of chess so much fun.

Success often rides on these precise moves. In life, it’s often the small things, done consistently over a long period of time, that are life-changing. A person that goes to the gym for an hour a day is really spending 7 out of their 168 hours a week exercising.

In retrospect, this is a small amount of time, or a small move, that will lead to: more muscle mass, better health and maybe even longevity.

5. Don’t Get Stuck in Regret

Chess, much like life, consists of a very limited number of moves. You need to make good use of these moves, but when you do make mistakes – everyone does – it’s important to let go of that regret. Learn to move on from your mistakes.

Life’s too short to regret what you did in the past and can’t change.