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That's a pretty unusual conclusion. I would suppose that chess might teach the opposite -- it's apparent that when you practice chess deliberately, you get bet

That's a pretty unusual conclusion. I would suppose that chess might teach the opposite -- it's apparent that when you practice chess deliberately, you get better and better, and that improvement is reflected very clearly in your results. Beating other kids or beating your dad is a kind of improvement that is more concrete than the other kinds of things you learn in school at that age. It might help demonstrate the virtue of directed effort. I personally spent some time a few years ago teaching elementary-schoolers chess in a club after school. A lot of them weren't good students, but all of them took a lot of pride in getting better at chess. I think it would be really worthwhile if we had a tool to get the pleasure of self-improvement into kids' heads.

watmough 16y ago
One of the great things about the internet is the ability to play chess against anyone online, through any of the many sites such as Yahoo! games etc. I used to play a bit online, and as well as improving my chess just through more play, the pressure of playing under time limits really forced me to develop a strategy, something I'd never realized, despite playing many games over the years. Playing on-line, self-improvement should be pretty clear, just from watching your number of wins and rating gradually improve.
dabent 16y ago
I played chess with my co-workers at a former job during lunch. I barely knew the rules when I started and struggled at first. I began to practice somewhat obsessively and I got to the point where I could regularly beat most of my co-workers within a year. It could be argued I have an inclination for something like chess, but the connection between practice and payoff was more apparent playing chess than just about anything else I've ever done. Chess has also taught me to think ahead a few moves and to realize that sometimes a short-term loss is worth it for a long-term gain. All things I see as essential for entrepreneurship. In my youth, I used to just think people were just "good" at something, and there was little they could do to influence it. I did software because I was "good" at it. Over the years, I've realized that an inclination or talent is important, but relentless years of honing one's craft are more important. I've watched a couple of my "smarter" friends waste away due to lack of focus and other people shine seemingly in spite of themselves.

watmough 16y ago

One of the great things about the internet is the ability to play chess against anyone online, through any of the many sites such as Yahoo! games etc. I used to play a bit online, and as well as improving my chess just through more play, the pressure of playing under time limits really forced me to develop a strategy, something I'd never realized, despite playing many games over the years. Playing on-line, self-improvement should be pretty clear, just from watching your number of wins and rating gradually improve.

dabent 16y ago

I played chess with my co-workers at a former job during lunch. I barely knew the rules when I started and struggled at first. I began to practice somewhat obsessively and I got to the point where I could regularly beat most of my co-workers within a year. It could be argued I have an inclination for something like chess, but the connection between practice and payoff was more apparent playing chess than just about anything else I've ever done. Chess has also taught me to think ahead a few moves and to realize that sometimes a short-term loss is worth it for a long-term gain. All things I see as essential for entrepreneurship. In my youth, I used to just think people were just "good" at something, and there was little they could do to influence it. I did software because I was "good" at it. Over the years, I've realized that an inclination or talent is important, but relentless years of honing one's craft are more important. I've watched a couple of my "smarter" friends waste away due to lack of focus and other people shine seemingly in spite of themselves.