Why chess should be taught in schools | Sourav Bhattacharjee | TEDxYouth@ISE

who here thinks that being a good

who here thinks that being a good planner is important can I see hands yes

planner is important can I see hands yes

planner is important can I see hands yes right most of us it’s an important skill

right most of us it’s an important skill

right most of us it’s an important skill isn’t it in fact it turns out the skill

isn’t it in fact it turns out the skill

isn’t it in fact it turns out the skill of planning falls under a larger

of planning falls under a larger

of planning falls under a larger category called life skills not talking

category called life skills not talking

category called life skills not talking about tying your shoes now we have that

about tying your shoes now we have that

about tying your shoes now we have that earlier but it turns out that most of

earlier but it turns out that most of

earlier but it turns out that most of these life skills are vital in our daily

these life skills are vital in our daily

these life skills are vital in our daily lives but notoriously difficult to

lives but notoriously difficult to

lives but notoriously difficult to develop so what is the solution to

develop so what is the solution to

develop so what is the solution to really mastering these skills chess

really mastering these skills chess

really mastering these skills chess I met the game of chess as a six year

I met the game of chess as a six year

I met the game of chess as a six year old and over the next 10 years grew into

old and over the next 10 years grew into

old and over the next 10 years grew into a top dutch national chess player in my

a top dutch national chess player in my

a top dutch national chess player in my age category and this is why I’m here oh

age category and this is why I’m here oh

age category and this is why I’m here oh well thank you this is why I’m here to

well thank you this is why I’m here to

well thank you this is why I’m here to explain how the skills I’ve learned from

explain how the skills I’ve learned from

explain how the skills I’ve learned from chess are helping me in my education and

chess are helping me in my education and

chess are helping me in my education and help me become a better learner right

help me become a better learner right

help me become a better learner right the first skill I’d like to share with

the first skill I’d like to share with

the first skill I’d like to share with you today is the skill of time

you today is the skill of time

you today is the skill of time management a skill that is of great

management a skill that is of great

management a skill that is of great importance to all of us especially

importance to all of us especially

importance to all of us especially students splitting up time in between a

students splitting up time in between a

students splitting up time in between a social life and your school homework is

social life and your school homework is

social life and your school homework is one of our biggest challenges right well

one of our biggest challenges right well

one of our biggest challenges right well let me explain how chess is helped me

let me explain how chess is helped me

let me explain how chess is helped me here you see in the game of chess we

here you see in the game of chess we

here you see in the game of chess we have what’s called a chess clock a timer

have what’s called a chess clock a timer

have what’s called a chess clock a timer both players are given some initial

both players are given some initial

both players are given some initial amount of time but once your time

amount of time but once your time

amount of time but once your time reaches zero you lose the game

reaches zero you lose the game

reaches zero you lose the game regardless of how you were doing

regardless of how you were doing

regardless of how you were doing this is why time management is of great

this is why time management is of great

this is why time management is of great importance during the chess games we ask

importance during the chess games we ask

importance during the chess games we ask ourselves questions like how much time

ourselves questions like how much time

ourselves questions like how much time would we spend to really find the best

would we spend to really find the best

would we spend to really find the best move a lot of time or little or is it

move a lot of time or little or is it

move a lot of time or little or is it may be a better idea to try and spend

may be a better idea to try and spend

may be a better idea to try and spend less time to find a reasonable

less time to find a reasonable

less time to find a reasonable alternative to the best move and how

alternative to the best move and how

alternative to the best move and how much time would be spent to find the

much time would be spent to find the

much time would be spent to find the best quality these are all questions

best quality these are all questions

best quality these are all questions which we as chess players ask then also

which we as chess players ask then also

which we as chess players ask then also the initial amount of time you’re given

the initial amount of time you’re given

the initial amount of time you’re given in a speed chess game both players are

in a speed chess game both players are

in a speed chess game both players are given only two minutes to start off with

given only two minutes to start off with

given only two minutes to start off with which means well they end up playing

which means well they end up playing

which means well they end up playing something like this

something like this

something like this right but in a slower chess game players

right but in a slower chess game players

right but in a slower chess game players are given up to as much as two hours

are given up to as much as two hours

are given up to as much as two hours each in which case they play a lot

each in which case they play a lot

each in which case they play a lot slower time management important now let

slower time management important now let

slower time management important now let me bring it back to education here say

me bring it back to education here say

me bring it back to education here say you as a student are given math homework

you as a student are given math homework

you as a student are given math homework and French homework and you’re given 20

and French homework and you’re given 20

and French homework and you’re given 20 minutes to complete both what would the

minutes to complete both what would the

minutes to complete both what would the quality of your work be interesting

quality of your work be interesting

quality of your work be interesting question right now say you had two hours

question right now say you had two hours

question right now say you had two hours to complete the same two tasks your

to complete the same two tasks your

to complete the same two tasks your quality would be different then a side

quality would be different then a side

quality would be different then a side of that we as students also have to

of that we as students also have to

of that we as students also have to think of how we’re going to split up our

think of how we’re going to split up our

think of how we’re going to split up our time if we have two hours would we spend

time if we have two hours would we spend

time if we have two hours would we spend an hour for math and an hour for French

an hour for math and an hour for French

an hour for math and an hour for French or maybe an hour and a half for math and

or maybe an hour and a half for math and

or maybe an hour and a half for math and half an hour for French or vice versa

half an hour for French or vice versa

half an hour for French or vice versa or maybe even another way these are all

or maybe even another way these are all

or maybe even another way these are all questions which is a chess player have

questions which is a chess player have

questions which is a chess player have been able to answer right speaking about

been able to answer right speaking about

been able to answer right speaking about decisions like that brings us very

decisions like that brings us very

decisions like that brings us very nicely to our second skill the skill of

nicely to our second skill the skill of

nicely to our second skill the skill of decision making now this is a skill that

decision making now this is a skill that

decision making now this is a skill that is of great importance to US students as

is of great importance to US students as

is of great importance to US students as well it’s sure do you agree with me that

well it’s sure do you agree with me that

well it’s sure do you agree with me that it’s extremely important to be able to

it’s extremely important to be able to

it’s extremely important to be able to choose or subjects in our higher

choose or subjects in our higher

choose or subjects in our higher education because they lead to our

education because they lead to our

education because they lead to our further education and university and our

further education and university and our

further education and university and our job opportunities in the future it’s

job opportunities in the future it’s

job opportunities in the future it’s important right well chess has helped me

important right well chess has helped me

important right well chess has helped me here as well let me demonstrate this is

here as well let me demonstrate this is

here as well let me demonstrate this is just a standard chess position one from

just a standard chess position one from

just a standard chess position one from one of my games as a matter of fact and

one of my games as a matter of fact and

one of my games as a matter of fact and so when a chess player sees a position

so when a chess player sees a position

so when a chess player sees a position like this

like this

like this he often notices several options to

he often notices several options to

he often notices several options to start off with what should I do

start off with what should I do

start off with what should I do move the King maybe move the knight

move the King maybe move the knight

move the King maybe move the knight maybe move upon maybe a rook these are

maybe move upon maybe a rook these are

maybe move upon maybe a rook these are all questions which we as a chess player

all questions which we as a chess player

all questions which we as a chess player have to answer and so what we do is we

have to answer and so what we do is we

have to answer and so what we do is we make something which looks like this a

make something which looks like this a

make something which looks like this a tree diagram now each of these arrows

tree diagram now each of these arrows

tree diagram now each of these arrows represents what we in chess call the

represents what we in chess call the

represents what we in chess call the variation a different a different move

variation a different a different move

variation a different a different move order and so what we do we analyze all

order and so what we do we analyze all

order and so what we do we analyze all the possibilities we have look at them

the possibilities we have look at them

the possibilities we have look at them one by one and then make the best

one by one and then make the best

one by one and then make the best decision decision-making doesn’t this

decision decision-making doesn’t this

decision decision-making doesn’t this sound very much like the way we choose

sound very much like the way we choose

sound very much like the way we choose our school subjects we lay out all our

our school subjects we lay out all our

our school subjects we lay out all our in front of us math physics history

in front of us math physics history

in front of us math physics history English Dutch and then we choose the one

English Dutch and then we choose the one

English Dutch and then we choose the one which seems like the best right another

which seems like the best right another

which seems like the best right another thing I’d like to share with you goes

thing I’d like to share with you goes

thing I’d like to share with you goes hand in hand with this decision-making

hand in hand with this decision-making

hand in hand with this decision-making skill is called the process of

skill is called the process of

skill is called the process of elimination you may have heard of it

elimination you may have heard of it

elimination you may have heard of it well we as chess players often while

well we as chess players often while

well we as chess players often while analyzing notice that a certain move

analyzing notice that a certain move

analyzing notice that a certain move will definitely lose so why would you

will definitely lose so why would you

will definitely lose so why would you play it if you’re going to lose the game

play it if you’re going to lose the game

play it if you’re going to lose the game anyway so what we do is we put this big

anyway so what we do is we put this big

anyway so what we do is we put this big red cross as you can see over here

red cross as you can see over here

red cross as you can see over here through those variations we remove them

through those variations we remove them

through those variations we remove them from our tree and what does that do that

from our tree and what does that do that

from our tree and what does that do that limits our options allows us to make a

limits our options allows us to make a

limits our options allows us to make a decision which has a higher chance of

decision which has a higher chance of

decision which has a higher chance of being correct and so if your mistakes I

being correct and so if your mistakes I

being correct and so if your mistakes I encourage all of you to do this as well

encourage all of you to do this as well

encourage all of you to do this as well use the decision-making tree use the

use the decision-making tree use the

use the decision-making tree use the tree diagram use the process of

tree diagram use the process of

tree diagram use the process of elimination

elimination

elimination it really helps right third and final

it really helps right third and final

it really helps right third and final skill risk taking a skill that is really

skill risk taking a skill that is really

skill risk taking a skill that is really important to all of us to in fact let me

important to all of us to in fact let me

important to all of us to in fact let me lay out a scenario here say you as a

lay out a scenario here say you as a

lay out a scenario here say you as a student are given some guidelines by

student are given some guidelines by

student are given some guidelines by your teacher for a homework task right

your teacher for a homework task right

your teacher for a homework task right but you’re going to be a bit rebellious

but you’re going to be a bit rebellious

but you’re going to be a bit rebellious and not follow the guidelines you decide

and not follow the guidelines you decide

and not follow the guidelines you decide I’m going to try something different

I’m going to try something different

I’m going to try something different something new

something new

something new something original well two scenarios

something original well two scenarios

something original well two scenarios may occur number one you get an

may occur number one you get an

may occur number one you get an excellent mark your teacher applauds you

excellent mark your teacher applauds you

excellent mark your teacher applauds you for your creativity your parents applaud

for your creativity your parents applaud

for your creativity your parents applaud you for your creativity your friends are

you for your creativity your friends are

you for your creativity your friends are like oh my god how did you do that right

like oh my god how did you do that right

like oh my god how did you do that right or the other end of the spectrum yes

or the other end of the spectrum yes

or the other end of the spectrum yes indeed you get a terrible mark you get

indeed you get a terrible mark you get

indeed you get a terrible mark you get shouted at by your teacher you get

shouted at by your teacher you get

shouted at by your teacher you get shouted at by your parents and your

shouted at by your parents and your

shouted at by your parents and your friends are just like come on man you

friends are just like come on man you

friends are just like come on man you serious right so both of these things

serious right so both of these things

serious right so both of these things may occur now

may occur now

may occur now chess is very much like this we take

chess is very much like this we take

chess is very much like this we take risks as well in chess and they lead to

risks as well in chess and they lead to

risks as well in chess and they lead to often incredible wins satisfying

often incredible wins satisfying

often incredible wins satisfying victories hard work victories and other

victories hard work victories and other

victories hard work victories and other times they lead to catastrophic losses

times they lead to catastrophic losses

times they lead to catastrophic losses see in the game of chess the types of

see in the game of chess the types of

see in the game of chess the types of risks we take are trading one advantage

risks we take are trading one advantage

risks we take are trading one advantage for another advantage sometimes we’re

for another advantage sometimes we’re

for another advantage sometimes we’re willing to spend a lot of time in order

willing to spend a lot of time in order

willing to spend a lot of time in order to find the best move

to find the best move

to find the best move now what is the advantage we’re giving

now what is the advantage we’re giving

now what is the advantage we’re giving away here our time as I said time is of

away here our time as I said time is of

away here our time as I said time is of essence in the chess game and the

essence in the chess game and the

essence in the chess game and the advantage we’re gaining is a better

advantage we’re gaining is a better

advantage we’re gaining is a better position higher chance to win now this

position higher chance to win now this

position higher chance to win now this may lead to a win because of course if

may lead to a win because of course if

may lead to a win because of course if you have a better position you can win

you have a better position you can win

you have a better position you can win but if you lose on time and there comes

but if you lose on time and there comes

but if you lose on time and there comes the risk should you do it should you not

the risk should you do it should you not

the risk should you do it should you not do it now I encourage all of you to take

do it now I encourage all of you to take

do it now I encourage all of you to take risks make sure they’re calculated risk

risks make sure they’re calculated risk

risks make sure they’re calculated risk though not reckless risk was that’s just

though not reckless risk was that’s just

though not reckless risk was that’s just stupid

stupid

stupid right take calculated risks they really

right take calculated risks they really

right take calculated risks they really pay off let me give an example from my

pay off let me give an example from my

pay off let me give an example from my life there was a subject in which for

life there was a subject in which for

life there was a subject in which for one toss I decided not to follow the

one toss I decided not to follow the

one toss I decided not to follow the guidelines try something new try

guidelines try something new try

guidelines try something new try something different and as you can guess

something different and as you can guess

something different and as you can guess it did not go that well I got a terrible

it did not go that well I got a terrible

it did not go that well I got a terrible mark but for for other tasks in the same

mark but for for other tasks in the same

mark but for for other tasks in the same subject I took a risk a calculated risk

subject I took a risk a calculated risk

subject I took a risk a calculated risk of course and I got an excellent mark

of course and I got an excellent mark

of course and I got an excellent mark four versus one good deal isn’t it so

four versus one good deal isn’t it so

four versus one good deal isn’t it so the more risks you take the greater your

the more risks you take the greater your

the more risks you take the greater your chance of these risks paying off of you

chance of these risks paying off of you

chance of these risks paying off of you getting successful results of you doing

getting successful results of you doing

getting successful results of you doing well in your education I encourage all

well in your education I encourage all

well in your education I encourage all of you to take risks like these

of you to take risks like these

of you to take risks like these calculated risk they really pay off now

calculated risk they really pay off now

calculated risk they really pay off now these three are just three of several

these three are just three of several

these three are just three of several skills in fact the ones right behind me

skills in fact the ones right behind me

skills in fact the ones right behind me are several more which chesil teaches so

are several more which chesil teaches so

are several more which chesil teaches so chess really is a solution to mastering

chess really is a solution to mastering

chess really is a solution to mastering life skills and in fact chess even has

life skills and in fact chess even has

life skills and in fact chess even has several advantages over other sports

several advantages over other sports

several advantages over other sports it’s inexpensive I mean how much does a

it’s inexpensive I mean how much does a

it’s inexpensive I mean how much does a chess board cost

chess board cost

chess board cost my English teacher bought me one for 25

my English teacher bought me one for 25

my English teacher bought me one for 25 cents yeah and it’s portable it can be

cents yeah and it’s portable it can be

cents yeah and it’s portable it can be played anywhere you can take it with you

played anywhere you can take it with you

played anywhere you can take it with you you have those many portable magnetic

you have those many portable magnetic

you have those many portable magnetic ones and a side of that it’s universal

ones and a side of that it’s universal

ones and a side of that it’s universal anyone can play it it doesn’t matter

anyone can play it it doesn’t matter

anyone can play it it doesn’t matter what age you are what gender you are or

what age you are what gender you are or

what age you are what gender you are or where you come from and most importantly

where you come from and most importantly

where you come from and most importantly and I’m going to emphasize this point to

and I’m going to emphasize this point to

and I’m going to emphasize this point to all of you today chess is fun yes it’s

all of you today chess is fun yes it’s

all of you today chess is fun yes it’s really fun believe me and I’m going to

really fun believe me and I’m going to

really fun believe me and I’m going to show you some evidence here I mean look

show you some evidence here I mean look

show you some evidence here I mean look at this this is swim chess this is a

at this this is swim chess this is a

at this this is swim chess this is a bunch of swimmers that are playing chess

bunch of swimmers that are playing chess

bunch of swimmers that are playing chess in the water

in the water

in the water interesting to try isn’t it and you’ve

interesting to try isn’t it and you’ve

interesting to try isn’t it and you’ve got this for the Dutch people over here

got this for the Dutch people over here

got this for the Dutch people over here you may know chess is called Saucon and

you may know chess is called Saucon and

you may know chess is called Saucon and table tennis is called apple tennis well

table tennis is called apple tennis well

table tennis is called apple tennis well what happens when you merge the two

what happens when you merge the two

what happens when you merge the two together you get shuffle tennis easy

together you get shuffle tennis easy

together you get shuffle tennis easy right and so what you do here is you

right and so what you do here is you

right and so what you do here is you play table tennis and you play chess and

play table tennis and you play chess and

play table tennis and you play chess and the winner in aggregate wins the

the winner in aggregate wins the

the winner in aggregate wins the tournament sounds great right and inside

tournament sounds great right and inside

tournament sounds great right and inside of that I mean come on Will Smith Katy

of that I mean come on Will Smith Katy

of that I mean come on Will Smith Katy Perry that’s seriously cool is it not so

Perry that’s seriously cool is it not so

Perry that’s seriously cool is it not so I encourage all of you to start playing

I encourage all of you to start playing

I encourage all of you to start playing chess so you can develop skills like the

chess so you can develop skills like the

chess so you can develop skills like the ones I have so you can use them in your

ones I have so you can use them in your

ones I have so you can use them in your education and in your daily lives they

education and in your daily lives they

education and in your daily lives they really help you and they really pay off

really help you and they really pay off

really help you and they really pay off so play chess I promise you won’t regret

so play chess I promise you won’t regret

so play chess I promise you won’t regret it

it

it thank

thank

thank [Applause]