The Right Exercises Can Make You a Better Chess Player

The World Chess Championship is currently taking place in Singapore, with India’s Gukesh Dommaraju (also known as Gukesh D) challenging China’s Ding Liren (not known as Ding L). Only 18, Gukesh is attempting to become the world’s youngest chess champion.

Chess is a popular sport in India, and Gukesh is the Virat Kohli of chess. (If you don’t know who Kohli is, he’s the Patrick Mahomes of cricket. If you don’t know who Mahomes is, he’s the Lionel Messi of American football. If you don’t know who Messi is, which planet do you live on?)

The World Chess Championship has created so much interest in the sport that I decided to write a special chess advice column, answering questions from people of all ages. Some are trying to become better chess players, while others are trying to become better chess parents.

QUESTION: My husband and I are expecting our first child. He will be born in just three months. I’ve heard that it’s important to start children on chess at a very young age. Is there something I can do to expose my son to chess while he’s still in my belly? Should I swallow a bishop and knight, so he can get familiar with them?

ANSWER: I wouldn’t advise swallowing a bishop. It’s too pointy. Besides, your son is in your womb. Even if the bishop keeps moving diagonally, it probably wouldn’t reach him. Instead, ask your husband to speak into your belly, reciting chess phrases such as “Your move,” “Checkmate” and “Ha ha. Your queen is mine!” After your son is born, you can order a stuffed bishop for his crib from The Vatican Store and a stuffed pawn from your local pawn shop.

Q: I will be playing in my first chess tournament in Pune next month, but I am not sure what to wear. I’ve noticed that Gukesh likes to wear suits for his matches. Should I wear a suit too? Will it help me win my matches?

A: It’s not what you wear that matters, it’s how you feel. Dressing your best can make you feel more confident. But it’s also important to feel comfortable. If you don’t feel comfortable in a suit, you might play better in just a nice shirt. Whatever you do, don’t wear a tie. It’s very important, when playing chess, to keep the blood flowing to your brain.

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash

Q: I am thinking of buying the book “1001 Chess Exercises for Beginners.” But before I do that, I wanted to ask you what exercises you recommend for chess?

A: I recommend running and dumbbell curls. Running can help you improve your endurance. Some chess games last several hours and can be quite tiring. The more endurance you have, the better you’ll perform. Dumbbell curls can develop your arm muscles, which will help you lift the chess pieces, not to mention the winner’s trophy.

Q: My daughter wants to be a grandmaster one day and is practicing chess for three hours a day. What food can I feed her to help her play better? I’ve heard that fish is a good brain food, but she won’t even eat Goldfish crackers.

A: Yes, fish has been linked to better brain power, but so have other foods, including green vegetables, colorful berries, beans, nuts and seeds. Dark chocolate is also good for the brain. In general, a balanced diet is good for athletic performance — and even for chess.

Q: I am 12 years old and want to become a chess champion. What is the best way to become a chess champion? Does it help to have good chess genes? My father was a school champion, back in the ancient days.

A: Whether you have good genes or eat lots of beans, the best way to become a chess champion is to eat, breathe and sleep chess. Most importantly, once you have learned the rules of chess, you need to play lots of chess. You can play online, play against your father, or play in tournaments. Don’t worry about losing. Losing is part of chess. You may lose your king or your queen, but you’ll eventually find them if you keep searching under your couch.