Chess - I am 15. By playing chess at my age, can I still improve my skills at it?

Question

I was wondering whether I could or not. The more you play chess the better you become at playing right? I mean, I'm not too old to become good at it am I? :(

It would also help you improve your maths capabilities I heard. Is this true? So, technically it can make you more logical and intelligent in some aspects? (I am aware of the fact that intelligence has a very broad meaning, but you know what I'm talking about)

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Yes, studies have shown that students who play chess do better at academic skills involving memory, visualisation, concentration. And in a number of countries, Spain and Portugal to name but two, chess is part of the curriculum because of the evidence that is beneficial.

Most top grandmasters learned chess by the age of 5 or 6. And the age at which the world's youngest grandmaster gains the title has steadily been falling since Bobby Fischer achieved it at almost 15 years old, nearly 50 years ago. Judit Polgar gained hers at age 14 and a somewhat smaller number of months in 1991.

The Chinese player Bu Xiangzhi and the Azerbaijani player Taimur Radjabov lowered the record to 13 years old and Sergey Karjakin, a Ukrainian, and the current record holder, Norway's Magnus Carlson, got theirs at 12.

These 5 players are all in the world's top 50:

7th Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2747 (b 1987)
13th Polgar, Judit g HUN 2727 (b 1976)
22nd Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2693 (b 1990)
27th Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2686 (b 1990)
48th Bu, Xiangzhi g CHN 2656 (b 1985)

So I think that demonstrates that, at the very top level, learning young gives you a head start and crucially it shows that, as in music and maths, young people can rapidly become the intellectual equal of adults at a very tender age.

Obviously, we don't all get the kind of flying start Judit Polgar got (at the age of 5 she was taken to Moscow to get chess coaching from top Russian players and was home-educated along with her sisters Zsofia and Zsuzsa to maximise their chess training time) but it is up to each of us, if we are enthusiastic about chess, to grab the opportunities we do have with both hands and make something to be pleased with and proud of, from our raw talents.

Swimmers are regarded as over the hill at 15 but in chess the hills just start to get more interesting as you turn 15.

Answer 2

I am glad that other people are taking an interest in chess...
I am also 15 years old, and I am on my way to becoming a master. I learnt when I was 5, and I feel that at the age of 15 if you are still learning the rudiments, you will face a tough time. However, you are still young enough, as there was this 20 year old I once knew, who came in the local chess magazine. He started playing at the age of 16, and he had already won the local tourney!
It is never too late to learn chess, and the experience is certainly beneficial. Another answerer here said about all the other young kids being grandmasters before you even started learning chess!

I recommend getting a chess program like Fritz or something, and then play against it and learn the typical strategies. Also get the book, 'Reassess your Chess' by Jeremy Silman.

Chess teaches you how to visualize when you think. How to hold positions in your head. I personally train everyday blindfolded, and I can hold up to 6 moves ahead in my head. Also chess teaches you analytical thinking I think. You have to be able to make plans from what you have on the board.

Answer 3

Chess can improve your memory, imagination, organization in thinking and yes, it can help you improve at maths as well. About the age - I know of a romanian grandmaster from the 80's, Mihai Suba, who started playing at the age of 28 i think.. and in 10 years he became a grandmaster and beat some of the best players in the world.15 is a very good age and you can improve a lot in my opinion if you play a lot and try to analyze your own games and to observe games played by masters or grandmasters. There are many good educational books on all aspects of chess which can be found in old bookstores or maybe even libraries; besides, there are many online resources too though i don't recomend most of them. Try them if you can and see what can help you the most.

Answer 4

It's not always true that "the more you play, the better you'll get".

The way to get better at chess is to look at the games you lose, and figure out WHY you lost.

It doesn't do you any good to just keep playing more and more if you're going to make the same mistakes over and over again.

Try to learn from the games you lose, and try not to repeat the same mistakes in the future.

And, I'm sure that you can never be too old (or too young) to learn about chess. It's something that players can keep learning about their whole lives.

Answer 5

After a period of intense study, most players will experience a rather sudden increase in playing strength as the increased knowledge gets reflected in actual play. For me that sudden spurt happened when I was a senior in high school. I gained about 400 rating points in only a few months. As far as I know, I wasn't working any harder as a senior than as a sophomore or junior (when my rating improved hardly at all), but suddenly everything seemed to come together.

So I would say, yes, very definitely you can dramatically improve your skill when you are 15. That's not too old by any standard.

Answer 6

Yes, I believe almost at any age you could practice it and improve at chess. As for improve math skills and such, playing chess will help you improve your brain power and you will be able to understand the new math concepts easier. For example, playing piano also helps improve math and brain power, because playing both hands at the same time and reading the music using different parts of your brain at the same time. This also help improve concentration. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Yes, the more you play, and the harder your opponents are, the better you will become. Age has nothing to do with it.

I've never heard that it will make you better at math, nor do I think it will make you more logical or intelligent. Working out with your mind is the same as working out with your body. The more you exercise the stronger, more agile you will be, mentally or physically

Answer 8

You can certainly improve but the chances of you getting to master levels if you aren't already a master is really slim. Anyone that is under 13 and is rated over 2000 has a good chance of becoming a master

Answer 9

Of course. You can improve your chess skills if you was 150 years old. It definitely improves your math skills, too. you are never too old to get better.

Answer 10

try study chess class. Visit http://www.todoajedrez.com.ar/curso.php