Chess is a board game that utilizes a great deal of mental focus and strategy. Each player starts with 16 playing pieces, and through strategy and skill, proceeds to capture the other player's pieces. When the other player's king has been trapped and is unable to escape, it is known as checkmate and you are the winner. There are many different brain functions at work during a game of chess, and certain brain exercises can keep them in game shape.
Knight Game
The knight game will help with your chess strategy and visualization of the board. Place a knight in the corner of a chess board. Move it as you would in a game of chess, and try to cover every square on the board with the least possible number of moves. if you can accomplish it in 65 or less, you are doing well. use pennies or other small markers to cover the squares after you've landed on them.
Rubik's Cube
The Rubik's Cube is a classic brain testing puzzle, and a good exercise to sharpen your mental muscles for chess. It will increase your spatial intelligence, which involves interpreting different dimensions of space that you cannot see, which is beneficial for thinking several moves ahead in chess.
Opposites
By using your opposite hand to move the chess pieces around the board as you play, you will strengthen neural connections in your brain and even create new ones. This will give you a new perspective of the board and the game and can increase your level of play. it may feel uncomfortable at first, so stick with it.
NLP Anchoring
NLP stands for neuro linguistic programming. NLP Anchoring is a brain exercise that will put you in whatever state of mind you want, whenever you want it. This includes the state you were in during your very best chess match. Visualize the best game of chess you ever played. See the board, the moves and feel the emotion of playing a flawless game. Continue to visualize until you feel you are at the height of the emotional experience, then firmly squeeze your middle finger and thumb of your right hand together. This will be the trigger to bring you back into that flawless state when it comes time to play again.
Deep Breathing
Although not technically a brain exercise, deep breathing will provide your brain with the one thing it needs more than anything else, which is oxygen. Sit comfortably, and inhale deeply through your nose. Hold the breath for a few seconds, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat 10 or 15 times twice per day.
