Chess is among the most popular board game of all time around the world. Even though it is known as the game of geniuses, it is not the first game that comes to mind when considering STEM activities. How one of the eldest board games is a perfect mind exercise for today's kids? Let’s give a closer look at the history of chess first to understand it better.

Who Invented Chess?

Did you ever wonder where and when chess was invented? Chess was invented in India around the 8th century and spread around every region of the world. The earliest form of chess was called chatrang and changed over the centuries by the Arabs and Persians and finally formed by the medieval Europeans who changed the name of the pieces and symbols to adapt to the court of England.

How to Play Chess?

To understand how to play chess, first, you have to know how to set up a chess board. In a chess set, there are 32 pieces, 16 per side. There are 6 chess pieces in total, and they are ranked according to their values ​​as follows: the pawn, the knight, the bishop, the rook, the queen, and the king. A chessboard should be set like this:

Chess pieces cannot move in every direction on the chess board. All pieces have a unique move, and you need to build a different strategy with every piece.

How to Win Chess?

There are four ways to win a chess game: checkmate, resignation, and win on time.

Checkmate: The king is the most valuable piece and the winner has to check the king the has no chance to move.

Resignation: If one player resigns, the opponent may win the game.

Win on time: In games with timing, if a player runs out of time the opponent wins.

Forfeit: If players violate the rules, they can be forfeited.

Is Chess Can be Considered a STEM Game?

Chess has everything that a STEM game should have. After all, it is a game based on geometrical patterns and logic, just like math. 

Here are some of the STEM skills that a kid can develop by learning and playing chess regularly:

• Problem-solving
• Analytical thinking
• Concentration
• Abstract reasoning
• Creativity
• Memory
• Adaptability
• Strategical planning

Why Should Kids Learn Chess?

There is a reason why chess is playing by millions of people throughout history: it still gives the basic skills in today’s world. It is proven that playing chess at an early age improves the cognitive flexibility and coping skills of kids.

As well as chess is a great activity to develop crucial skills, what makes it great is that after all, it is a game. In that way, it is a gamified and fun way to introduce kids to math and logic which makes it a perfect STEM activity. It is also why every primary education school should give chess classes.

How Can Kids Learn Chess?

Chess is a very easy-to-access game to learn, and all you need to have is a chess set if you want to play it over the board. However, it might not be easy to find an opponent whenever you want to practice the game.

Online Platforms

Making chess practice on online learning platforms is so much easier to learn the game. Either with a trainer or with a computer player, learners can make a lot of practice easily. Online learning platforms are perfect for kids who want to play chess. As a STEM education provider, we started a partnership with a chess training platform, ChessKid. In ChessKid, your kids can watch tutorial videos, take lessons, and do workouts on the platform.

Another way of following chess events and games is through streaming platforms such as Twitch. It is the main center on the web that chess enthusiasts prefer the most. The tournaments that chess grandmasters attend take place on the platform, which is a great chance to improve chess skills and explore new strategies. Both ChessKid and Hub21Learning channels are active for those who want to learn chess or are just willing to follow some competitive and fun matches!