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[deloreskeeper]

Elon Musk vs Cryptocurrency or “When did you become one of the ‘Old Rich’?”

I had always been a fan of Elon Musk. I thought of him as an entrepreneur, someone who encourages technical advancement and wants to make the impossible possible. At least I thought that until recently. His comments about cryptocurrency and “concerns over environmental impact” are not only uninformed, but once analyzed, seem almost sinister.

The type of currency we are used to, fiat currency, is issued by a government and not backed by a commodity. Most modern currencies are fiat currencies, including the American dollar. Fiat currencies have a central bank or governing authority with the ability to regulate the economy because they control how much money is printed. Print too much and you have hyperinflation, print too little and the economy becomes unstable. Additionally, the central bank and all lower banks get paid every time you use your money. Whether from credit card fees, monthly fees for a checking account, wire transfer fees, charges for using an ATM, foreign currency exchange fees, automatic deposit fees, bank transfer fees, or any kind of fee, you are paying to have access to, and use, your money.

Now it is reasonable that the banking system charges a fee for the service it provides; convenient use of funds, but the largest chunks of these fees end up in the hands of a very small group of people who make the decisions about the currency you are using (does everyone remember the million-dollar bonuses CEOs of financial organizations received in 2007 and 2008 during the financial crisis, the crisis whose cause was attributed to the decisions made by these very CEOs?). Cryptocurrency as Proof of Work is designed to change that paradigm. In fact, cryptocurrency was originally conceptualized and created as a way to decentralize finance.

With cryptocurrency you have hashers, often referred to as miners. These hashers facilitate the transfer of currencies for a fee, and introduce new “money” into the market. The same as banks do for a fiat currency. The difference is that these fees and ownership of the new money are spread across millions of hashers, anybody can get a piece of the pie, and every one of those millions of hashers has an interest in keeping the money and the economy safe and strong.

So we have the old system that we are used to, fiat currency, and we have the new-kid-on-the-block, cryptocurrency. And the new kid on the block is being attacked for using too much energy. "Cryptocurrency is a good idea on many levels and we believe it has a promising future, but this cannot come at great cost to the environment," Mr. Musk tweeted. But his comment is not the real story.

* cryptocurrency is designed to replace the old banking system.

* cryptocurrency uses ¼ of the power to hash than our current banking system does to operate.

https://medium.com/@zodhyatech/which-consumes-more-power-banks-or-bitcoins-8302750fe2bc#:~:text=For%20an%20ATM%20with%202%20air%20conditioners%20and,of%20close%20to%20a%20140%20TWh%20a%20year.

* 39% of the energy cryptocurrency hashers use is from renewable sources. (Unlike the Tesla, by the way.)

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Does-Cryptocurrency-Really-Run-On-Clean-Energy.html

* In total, cryptocurrency uses less than 10% of the non-renewable energy that our current system of banking uses.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/21/the-debate-about-cryptocurrency-and-energy-consumption/

The end result of supporting cryptocurrency would be to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint by a staggering amount because it would eliminate the current, bloated, old-school banking system that is creating the real “great cost to the environment”. That is to say, the current banking system that benefits the people that have money. The rich.

Think of the hashers as the 49ers of days gone by, finding gold, doing the work, and making money, while not seriously impacting the environment. The current banking system is the modern strip-mining of gold where 60 tons of toxic waste are generated for every ounce of gold acquired.

https://www.brilliantearth.com/gold-mining-environment/#:~:text=Dirty%20gold%20mining%20has%20ravaged%20landscapes%2C%20contaminated%20water,landscapes%20and%20creates%20huge%20amounts%20of%20toxic%20waste.

So what is the real impact of Mr. Musk making a statement like that if not to ‘save the environment’? Cryptocurrency is not going to go away, so that won't change. Hashers are already moving more and more toward renewable sources of power because it is cheaper in the long run (and hashing is a business to most people, after all), so his statement didn't change that. What changes is the way that hashing is performed.

The form of hashing that allows millions of people to participate for a low investment and generate a little extra money for themselves is called Proof of Work. You set up a machine, let it run, it generates income through the power that is expended. If you add more power (more investment in more powerful machines), you generate more income. There are huge farms that cost millions of dollars that hash cryptocurrency (and still have less of an environmental impact than the banks), but even a small investment of a few thousand dollars will generate some income. And anybody can buy the equipment and join in.

Another form of hashing is called Proof of Stake. Proof of Stake does not rely as much on how much power you generate to determine how often you earn a transaction fee or find a new coin, it relies on money staked up front for the right to participate. An estimation of the energy usage of Proof of Stake hashing vs Proof of Work puts it at a little over 1/10th the amount. https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/92482/how-much-more-energy-efficient-is-pos-proof-of-stake-than-pow-proof-of-work. Following Mr. Musk’s comment, Ethereum made the decision to switch from PoW to PoS (although they give different reasons for the switch). Gotta save the planet, right? Right. To do that, Mr. Musk (and everyone else taking up the banner), you should be attacking the old banking system that is using so much energy, and support cryptocurrency. But that's not the point of the comment. And true to form, people are falling for the hype and taking up the banner of "Save the planet! Cryptocurrency is dangerous!", without doing the research, and without realizing that they are protecting the very entity that is the real danger to the planet; the current banking system.

What Elon Musk has done is not to save the planet. That would require him to stop accepting fiat currencies in his business, and only accept cryptocurrency, thereby hastening the demise of the bloated, energy-wasting system we have in place now. What he has done is give a rationale to the cryptocurrency groups to lock out the middle and lower class and make sure that the rich continue to make money every time the rest of us want to spend it.

Proof of Stake, in simplified terms, requires a hasher to own some of the cryptocurrency and “stake” it for the right to earn income. In the case of Ethereum mentioned earlier, the stake is 32 coins. At a little over $3000 a coin (Etherium reached $4700 a coin in May), that means you have to put up $100,000. This is not money going into the economy, it is not doing anything, it is removed from the pool of coins available on the market, it is dead money. The majority of the millions of hashers currently earning a little extra income do not have $100,000 sitting around, so they will be removed from the workforce. The people that do have that kind of money sitting around will be a much smaller group. This much smaller group will now be responsible for the release of new coins, facilitating use of the coins, and collecting the income from the use of the currency. All of the decisions associated with the currency will be in the hands of just a few people. All of the income generated from the use of the currency will go to just a few. Does this arrangement sound familiar?

Now having $100,000 may not really put you in the category of the ‘old rich’, but we are not talking about retirement money, or equity in your home, we are talking about having $100,000 that is unneeded. It is money that a person can lose access to, not invest, not make interest on, but just let sit as a bargaining chip. The only purpose for this money is to allow an additional investment in hashing equipment to generate an income. I don’t have $100,000 I can lose access to, and I would say that the majority of hashers don’t either.

Cryptocurrency was originally conceptualized and created as a way to decentralize finance. A side effect of that is replacing the fiat banking system we have now, and a lower energy usage and damage to the environment planetwide. I find it disheartening that supposed champions for the planet like Elon Musk would misrepresent the problem under the guise of concern just so that the money will stay in the hands of the rich. Bitcoin has remained true to the spirit of cybercurrency since the beginning. It is Proof of Work and always will be. Proof of Stake coins like CROM, ADA, TRX, EOS, and very soon ETH, are not true to the spirit of cryptocurrency, but are just in place so that the same old system can continue to exist. Mr. Musk, you used to be an entrepreneur, when did you start thinking of yourself as one of the 'old rich' intent on keeping money under the control of the "have's" instead of supporting the work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit of the working man?

[deloreskeeper]

Six Reasons to Play Chess and Other Board Games

When it comes to games, you not only play for physical fitness but also to build your mental fitness. If you are looking for the best games with these qualities, then chess is of course the first choice (there’s a reason that everyone knows of the game of chess), but other board games can serve this purpose as well.

A board game involves a ‘board’ of course – a defined area where the competition will take place – and pieces that represent you, your army, your resources, or whatever is necessary for the game you are playing. In many board games there may be dice and ‘money’. In chess there are no dice or money, only pieces to represent your army that you deploy against your opponent.

Winning in chess depends solely on the player's skills, other board games may involve luck as well as skill. Despite being old-fashioned, board games continue to be popular and are a great way to socialize. So, the top six reasons to play chess and board games are:

Board games are easy to learn and tough to master

Board games involve rules, usually the rules are easy enough to understand that only a few minutes is necessary before you can begin playing. However, mastering any game is hard and takes time, regardless of your skills in other areas. This means that you keep learning as you play, which makes it interesting.

Playing games increases the function of the brain

Playing a board game involves critical thinking, which stimulates the area of the brain that is responsible for memory formation and complex thoughts. This stimulation stretches your brain cells, strengthens your memory, and builds your thinking skills. Studies have shown that playing board games reduces the chance of developing Alzheimer's, so it is especially important to make a life-long habit of playing board games if you want to stay sharp in your senior years.

Board games strengthen relationships and bring people closer.

Sitting together with family or friends without interruptions may, at times, seem like an impossibility. However, playing board games gives you an activity to engage in while building social bonds. Board games involve two or more people, and whether those people are family, friends, or strangers (such as at a chess tournament 😊), it is a social activity. You will be spending time together, and sharing a common, casual activity. That is the best way to connect with others, naturally.

Board games are especially good for couples. They build connections and help to discover new depths in the relationship.

Board games enhance self-confidence and creativity

When playing board games, you tend to open up and come out of your shell as you have to take an active role in the game. Board games are also relaxing, which makes it easier and more natural to interact with others. Being noticed or included in the game gives a sense of fulfillment and raises one's self-esteem. Therefore, for timid adults and shy children, playing board games is a fantastic way to develop a strong sense of individuality and self-confidence.

Board games reduce stress and make us laugh

It is impossible to play board games and not laugh. Laughter is a natural side effect of playing board games. Laughing helps reduce stress. According to a study by RealNetworks, more than 50% of people who play board games do it to relieve stress.

Board games help you build life skills

While a board game may seem simple to play, they all teach patience. You have to wait for your turn, and sometimes it takes considerable time to achieve the objective of the game. You not only learn to be patient during games but the skill transfers to other aspects of your life.

Board games teach you how to be fair and honest and build a sense of compassion and empathy as you engage with other players.

Strategy games such as monopoly and chess help you to develop quick responses when faced with tough decisions in real life.

Conclusion

Board games are not limited to the elderly or the young, the poor or the rich, they are for everyone and they are enjoyed around the world… for good reason.

[deloreskeeper]

Ten Best Family Board Games

Board games involve pieces placed or moved on a board of some type and complying with specific rules. Board games always have a goal that players aim to achieve to claim victory or move to the next step. Board games involve thinking and planning to play

The brain is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the more it can do. Researchers have confirmed that playing board games two times a week increases your brain speed-score. Apart from being fun, board games also exercise your brain. Below are the best, top-rated board games that a family can play.

Spontuneous

Spontuneous is the best song board game of its time. First-timers may be a bit skeptical, but anyone can play it. The rules of this game are simple and provide lots of laughs and opportunities for interaction across generation lines. Searching your memory for songs both old and new to fill out your HitList, and bringing songs to mind from the prompts of other players both have been highly rated as enjoyable by players. While playing the game, you will have the opportunity to sing your favorite tunes in front of family and friends, karaoke with a competitive twist!

Spot it!

Spot it! is an excellent game for all ages. Many of the adults who have played the game have described it to be fun and challenging. Parents have found this game to be engaging for them and their children. Children have been fascinated for hours by the variety of cards and symbols. An excellent game to bring in the car or on the plane when traveling with children, Spot it! will keep everyone occupied and entertained. You will continue playing for hours as long as the cries "again! Again!" persist.

Home alone board game

This game will bring back a dash of early 90s joy to a family. It is a strategy card game for 2-4 players from Big G Creative. The players can choose to be Kevin or a wet bandit. Kevin is a creative and quick-thinking character, and the wet bandits are the woeful and unprepared antagonists. The wet bandit’s goal is to accumulate loot while Kevin’s goal is to set traps to stop the would-be thief. Whichever role you take, the family will have endless fun playing this game.

Mastermind

The game is insanely simple to learn and incredibly challenging to play. Players take turns setting and solving a secret four-color code. There are more than 2000 possible combinations, so every game is new. The family will have fun while playing this game, and develop their problem-solving skills to boot!

Monopoly junior game

We all loved Monopoly as kids, Monopoly Junior allows you to introduce your kids to Monopoly with a twist. Instead of acquiring properties, you take possession of different rides in an amusement park and charge other customers to ride the rides. The house rule of collecting money when landing on ‘Free Parking’ in the old game is now part of the rules with a ‘Loose Change’ spot. The game is aimed toward children, but it is enjoyable by young and old alike. The game is well-paced and not difficult to learn.

Clue

Clue is the best mystery board, family-preferred game of all time. There was even a movie based on the game! The set includes the board, token, weapon, cards, miniatures, dice, and the guide of the game. A murder has been committed and players must eliminate suspects, locations, and weapons to solve the mystery. Reviewers have found Clue to be exciting, and say that solving murder mysteries never get old.

Pandemic

Pandemic is a game with a twist. Instead of competing against other players, all players compete against the game. Everyone will have to work together, strategize, and cooperate to achieve the goal. If you want to build teamwork in any group, the Pandemic board game is the game for you. The most exciting part of the game is that either you all win or lose.

Chess

For over 1500 years, chess has been the game that teaches strategy, tactics, and critical thinking to generation after generation. It takes a bit of effort to learn the moves of the pieces, and once that is mastered, it takes a lifetime to master the strategies and intricacies of the game. Chess has a particular distinction in board games, in that there are world tournaments in chess with thousands of viewers, and titles and monetary awards for winners. Chess is treated as a sport in many ways, but is still an incredibly enjoyable game to play.

Sequence

There have been sequence games before, but this one is based on strategy. It is the best overall and will become the next best family game. The game is not complicated for kids and is full of tricks to challenge the adults.

Settlers of Catan

You should add Catan in your favorite game-night list. Its adventure-based, and perfectly suited for 3 or 4 players. Playing the game involves bartering to collect the resources you need, and building settlements on Catan, which is an island. Settlements and territory you control give you a greater chance to accumulate more resources which you can then barter with other players to increase your influence on the island. An engaging game with a lot of player interaction.

I hope you enjoyed my list of the ten best board games. If you have any favorites that missed the list, please feel free to let me know.

[deloreskeeper]

How tactical chess grandmasters are the embodiment of ‘living in the moment’

Chess grandmasters are known to read the events on the board and react to the new challenges in each turn. This way, the player takes a tactical stance of dwelling on the dynamics of the game and responding to them rather than only thinking ahead of the opponent. Seeing how the game develops and responding to these changes accordingly has a lot in common with the Buddhism concept of ‘Living in the Moment’.

By being tactical you:

Stop worrying about your next move and your future

A tactical grandmaster simply responds to what is happening on the board at a specific time. Likewise, the concept of living in the moment encourages individuals not to dwell on the past or worry about the future but rather focus on the current state of their lives. Tomorrow will happen after all, whether you worry too much about it or not. Worry itself has never helped anyone to achieve anything other than draining their mental energy. “Be right here right now”, or so a life coach would say.

Conquer addictions

Tactical grandmasters never develop habits that might tie them to a list of predetermined strategies that they must apply in every game. Very much the same, living in the moment encourages individuals to avoid getting addicted to any specific routine in their lives. When a routine is removed abruptly or fails to work, the individual addicted to that routine ends up distraught.

Don’t adopt old solutions to new problems

Tactical grandmasters don’t use old strategies for every new opponent they meet, no matter how successful those strategies were. The same thing can apply to life. For you to live in the moment and lead a happy life, you need to view new challenges as being unique. Responding to a new challenge ‘as is’ without revisiting old solutions is actually a great way of shunning your past, and that’s highly beneficial for your mental wellbeing.

Improve your performance by not overthinking it

Very much the same way a tactical chess grandmaster improves their performance by simply addressing the challenge at hand without necessarily overthinking about their next move, you can live in the moment by being easy on yourself and addressing life as it unfolds.

Design the future by concentrating on the present

This might look paradoxical but concentrating on the present actually makes your future better. Tactical chess grandmasters don’t concentrate on the outcome but rather on the moves their opponents are making on the board at the moment. Likewise, concentrating your efforts on current events is better than worrying about what could happen tomorrow. So, instead of thinking how the future might turn out to be – which is actually a waste of good time – you can make the future better by living the moment and doing what you need to do according to the demands of today.

Pay attention to small things

The same way a chess grandmaster pays close attention to the opponent's moves on the board so that they respond to them appropriately in real-time, you can really live in the moment by paying attention to smaller things that that happen in your life. Sometimes we overlook minor things in our lives in pursuit of happiness forgetting that those small details that cultivate positive experience. Slurp some ice cream, blow bubbles, listen to nice music, and watch these small details improve the quality of your life drastically.

Accept the past mistakes, refuse the future

Chess grandmasters don't let the last mistake they made dominate their minds and affect how they respond to the moves made by their opponents on the board. You can do the same in your attempt to live in the moment; accept your past failures and mistakes and don’t let them affect your current quality of life. Accept the fact that the future hasn’t happened yet and so should not be where you live.

Bottom line

Grandmasters who take the tactical approach rather than trying to foresee the millions of possible moves on the board can be models for anyone who wants to live in the moment. By living in the moment of each game, a grandmaster can see how the game will progress without having to computer every possible outcome. We should all be grandmasters of our lives by existing where we are now. Be aware of the future, but don’t live there.

[deloreskeeper]

To Slave Over a Chess Board, or Play With Lightness – What Buddhism Teaches About Chess

We all have those mornings when you wake up and your mind begins to buzz. As you surface from sleep, your mind begins its narrative:

“What day is it? Thursday. What time is it? That’s the clock striking five. OK that means, I need to get up NOW and turn the hams. I wonder if those hams are going to sell. Or would I be better making sausage? Let’s see, better get to the market early this morning, last week I was late and the best vegetables were sold. I wonder if Thelma will be there, how can I ask her nicely to pay that money back that she owes me? And if she pays me back, shall I use the cash to pay the phone bill, or buy that new blender I need? If I get the new blender, then I can try that blue cheese dressing, that might be a good seller. Oh goodness, the truck needs to be taken in for servicing, can I fit that in before I have to pack the cheese for market day tomorrow? Do I have enough blue cheese to make dressing to sell?” And on, and on., with what Buddhists call the Monkey Mind.

We game plan, we strategize, we try to figure out the right chess moves in our lives.

By contrast, we could be living in the moment. We could just get up, start our daily chores without overly planning or thinking ahead. We can notice our surroundings, appreciate the sunrise, and that first cup of coffee. If hams don’t sell, we can consider what to do then. If Thelma pays what she owes, let’s sense what we should do with the money when it happens. We don’t waste time worrying and speculating about choices we may not need to make, or things that might never happen. We are mindful, we live in the moment, as suggested by Buddhism, we respond to life events in the here and now, without endless speculation.

Two very different approaches to life, and perhaps to chess, but is one better than the other?

Arguably, if our life is simple, we can operate in a more mindful way. If we are retired, living alone, with just a cat and a garden to care for, then we might have the luxury of not over-thinking our lives. Equally, when playing chess, you may rely on your instincts, and simply sense the right moves, as many Grand Masters are said to do. We can’t precisely anticipate the actions of others, any more than we can precisely anticipate the moves a chess opponent will make.

On the other hand, if you are busy running a business and a family, just kicking back and smelling the flowers is not going to get the many needed chores done in an organized way. And in chess, in order to develop those mindfulness instincts, you have to study, play a great deal, and understand the strategy of the masters of the game. We can attempt to understand our opponent, and try to figure what make his or her chess brain tick.

So which is the better approach? From Zen masters to Christian mystics, all those who seek mindfulness will tell you that it is built on a foundation of work and good practice. Hours of prayers, fasting, meditation and study are needed in order to achieve that lightness and effortless which is childlike mindfulness. Only the very greatest spirits, or the most simple, can achieve that state without years of input and effort.

The same applies to the game of chess. If you want to develop feather light instincts, so that you just sense the right move, without planning five, six, seven or more moves ahead, this can only be built on a platform of effort. You need to memorize thousands of great games, understand countless strategy options, and develop your own game over years of practice. This is the foundation which really can’t be avoided. However, once the foundation has been built, experiment with deploying a more mindful, less tense style of play. Play chess as if it’s a game!

When we achieve living in the moment, it all looks and seems so simple; the moves may just make themselves. This kind of effortless, dream like experience has been reported by some of the Grand Masters of chess. But it is built for most of us on the basis of a lot of hard work and planning.

[deloreskeeper]

How Chess Computer Programs relate to Real Life - Continued

First, I want to thank everybody for their input from my last article “The Game That Teaches About Life”. The information on other areas of people’s lives that the lesson applies to has been very enlightening. The lesson, for those of you who haven’t read the article, is that it is often beneficial to  pay more attention to defense than attack. So here is another article with more examples, and expansions on previous examples. But first, a more thorough introduction to the concept for those who didn’t read the first article:

Programmers have developed software to make computer chess games faster and more challenging. One of the most notable contributors is Richard Lang who revolutionized computer chess by coming up with a new algorithm for how the game makes its decisions. In his algorithm, he focused more on threats made to the computer than the attacks from it. This way computers were better able to analyze their positions, anticipate attacks and more effectively plan their game.

This out-of-the-box decision by Richard Lang – to put more emphasis on what the opponent is going to do to hurt your position than on what you are doing to beat them – is not only applicable in chess programs but it can also be applied in some areas in our day to day lives.

·      Business

I want to touch on business again, because the lesson is so very applicable in that aspect of our lives. Attracting customers and clients can be an uphill task which leads to business owners finding themselves preoccupied with outshining their competitors. This preoccupation can lead to forgetting internal factors that are the pillars that hold any business, such as finances, quality of services and products, staff treatment, integrity and ethics. Building on these factors makes a business more able to intelligently expand and outdo their competition.

·      Relationships

Many relationships crumble because people focus more on the weaknesses of the other party than on their own weaknesses. For example, if you ask someone why they broke up with an ex, they are likely to provide you with a list of what the other person didn’t do to meet their expectations.

According to Dr. Eva Salhub a doctor, author, and contributor to HuffPost, it is important to first focus on yourself before focusing on your partner to enjoy your relationship.

“In short, you want to get on the path to loving yourself. Do things for yourself that feels good, you radiate goodness. Everyone else wants to be around you and you do not lose yourself in relationships.” Dr. Eva Salhub

·      Socializing

Birthday parties, weddings, hikes, clubbing and house parties are all ideal ways to have fun. They help us unwind and relax away from our daily hustles. But many times, drinking or smoking are a part of these activities. These activities should be participated in with moderation – protecting yourself from their attacks on other parts of your life, such as hangovers, health ailments, addiction, depression, and loss of money. If not protected against, this “socialization” could take away from your internal peace and joy, which are very important.

·      Money

Successful people will tell you that taking risks where no one else dared was one of the major contributors to their success. As if to echo their message, you must have come across ventures that required you to take bold risks, such include investing in businesses, cryptocurrencies, the stock market etc. While some people have reaped numerous benefits from such, it is important to note that some have also experienced huge losses that have brought them down to their knees financially. This means that you should always be careful before investing your cash into anything. It is wise to first ensure your house is in order so that if the deal goes sour, your life will still go on smoothly. Do not just jump into an investment because it excites you.

“An Investment in Knowledge Pays the best interest” – Benjamin Franklin.

Generally, chess teaches you a lot of practical life lessons beyond simple strategy. Learning these lessons will improve your decision making in many areas of your life. Again, if you have any area of your life that this strategy applies to, I would love to hear from you at [email protected].

[deloreskeeper]

The Game That Teaches About Life - Chess

Chess was once a game reserved for the nobility. Kings and rulers believed that it helped them come up with better strategies to govern well. Today, anyone can play chess, and this game of logic has proven to have many practical, real-life lessons we can learn from it. You don’t even have to play against a human opponent, thanks to the invention of chess computer programs. In the 80’s there was a revolution in the algorithms chess computers used wherein more emphasis was put on threats to the computer than on attack. This geometrically improved their playing ability.

So, how does this translate to benefits in your everyday life? Read on – you may be surprised.

Benefits to Business

The ultimate goal of any business is to generate profits. Bigger businesses tend to generate more profits, so every business would like to grow and expand as quickly as possible. Some businesses rush about it. However, business growth and expansion cannot be forced. The business has to expand at its own pace – otherwise, the business’ resources will be stretched too thin to sustain the expansion. If you don’t have the finances for your business set in order, it will go bankrupt, and you will end up losing everything.

One of the lessons that computer chess teaches about business is the necessity of a good defensive plan with an awareness of where you are vulnerable.

An impatient chess player may sacrifice his/her most valuable pieces in a bid to win the game sooner. However, the computer opponent will guard against these attacks, and that strategy would result in a loss for you.

Financial Benefits

Saving money for the future is prudent. Investing is one way to save money. So, what if you were presented with two choices: to either invest your money in an I Bond with an interest rate of 1.9%, or invest it in the stock market for a potential gain of 8 to 15% and risk loss at odds as high as 70%? Would you be willing to take the risk and possibly earn more money, or would you play it safe and settle for the interest of the I Bond?

Looking at the winning strategy of chess will help you make such tough decisions. Consider your option to save your money in an I Bond as a slow, long-term chess strategy against the computer, and the option to invest it in stocks as a quick and risky sort of pre-emptive strategy to win the game. The option you choose determines the outcome.

Health Benefits

It is argued that running is one of the best ways to keep fit. Did you know that running too often can make you six times more susceptible to respiratory illnesses?

It is also recommended that you live in a clean environment and minimize contact with harmful germs. But, studies have shown that using too many disinfectants to kill germs can weaken your immune system.

How does this relate to the strategies used by computers to win chess? It’s actually two different lessons. When running for health, you need to protect yourself first by taking a break occasionally. If you don’t, you may end up losing all the benefits you gained. When using disinfectants (your attack), you have to make sure not to be too aggressive, otherwise the attack will backfire and you will be the victim.

Happiness Benefits

People have been drinking for centuries. Traditionally, alcohol is reserved for celebrations as it helps to improve the mood and happiness of revelers. Today, however, many people drink whenever they wish. Many people drink to suppress their bad moods, which works in the short term. Drinking, however, is a double-edged sword as you have to deal with hangovers the next day and chronic illnesses if you continue. That being the case, it is more prudent to drink only when the occasion calls for it, and not to drink excessively. Again, protect yourself from the attack before aggressively moving forward.

Conclusion

These are some thoughts on how chess relates to life. If you have any other areas of life that you think chess can teach us about, I would love to hear from you.

[deloreskeeper]

Games Hone the Skills We Need as Adults and Have Changed with The Times

Games are an integral part of people’s lives and have been since mankind began throwing stones. From childhood to old age games entertain and amaze us. But have you thought about the fact that they also prepare us for life and help us to hone certain necessary skills? So, how do they do that? Well, here’s a short list of some well-known games, from way back when as well as now, and how they teach and empower us:

Early Children's' Games

·         Hide & Seek honed hunting skills

·         Cowboys & Indians taught the rules of strategy and fair play

·         Hopscotch built muscles and dexterity

·         Jacks taught thinking and manual dexterity

·         Team sports taught teamwork, strategy, and physical prowess

 Games Then…

Back in the good old days (like hundreds of years ago), games were very physical, which was a necessity for children of that period to prepare for adult life. At that time, life was much more physically demanding than it is these days. Kids played non-physical games also, like cards and board games to learn thinking skills.

… & Now

Fast forward to modern-day. Now, many of those games have been replaced by video games for teaching not only hand-eye coordination but also computer use, strategy, and teamwork. Yes, the main focus in gaming these days is on computer games like those played on PlayStation and Xbox or even on smartphones, tablets, and computers. In this day and age, kids need to be preparing for the world of adulthood and its high-tech demands. Is there a game of any kind that has spanned the years and is still popular today? Yes, there is and it's been around for a very long time, too.

Chess

Perhaps the most challenging and relevant game of all time has been around for 1500 years. What is it? Well, it’s chess and it teaches players, young and old, about a number of important things, including:

·         Patience – Waiting for your opponent to move is the obvious example, but you also learn to be patient with yourself as you learn the game and think about your moves for extended periods.

·         Concentration – Keeping your mind on the game and planning your moves, even when it is not your turn takes mental discipline and concentration. Keeping a mental picture of possibilities as the layout of the board changes also teaches this skill.

·         Strategic Thinking – Taking into account the different abilities of the pieces, and their areas of influence. Most importantly though, considering how the different pieces relate to each other.

·         Recognizing Consequences – Every move you make changes the parameters of the board, the strategy, and the life of the game. And every move you make will be met with another move by your opponent. These are the consequences.

·         Imagination – Each move must be pictured in your mind before the move is made. Further, you then have to picture what your opponent can do in response, then what you can do to counter that. A great deal of imagination is used in chess.

And now the game of Chess has been brought into our modern world with computers so it can be played online making the life skills it teaches even more accessible. Chess has been around for 1500 years and has adapted to this modern culture so well because the life skills it teachers are just as useful today as they were for people who lived and played the game 1500 years ago.

Not Just for Fun

It’s something to think about the games that we enjoy so much when we are ‘at play’ are simply tools to train us for the more serious aspects of life, but there it is. It has always been that you are not ‘just having fun’ or ‘wasting time’ when you play games. Sure, you're having a good time, but you're also learning plenty of life skills to boot. And, if you have kids, be sure to encourage them every day to play both the new and the old games so that they can learn the life lessons that they need to grow and prosper.

[deloreskeeper]

Can we enjoy playing chess more than video games?

The games we play as children mirror the experiences we have as adults. Games aren't just things we play to pass the time; games are opportunities to develop life skills. Play is the perfect way to prepare us for the demands of adulthood.

The Evolution of Games

Humans have always enjoyed their games. From chess to the latest version of Scattegories to the newest gaming system, games are part of our lives. They all teach valuable lessons. Every game has an impact on the way we think.

Social interaction and intelligence have always been considered necessary. Games have been used for thousands of years to highlight both. Now they have taken on a life of their own. They began as a way to come together and communicate. Now they can be played in the palm of your hand. It used to be necessary to go outside and have space to play games with real toys and tools. Now you can play one on a screen without having to leave the couch.

No matter the growth of games. No matter the transition of gaming from being outside with nature to inside and sedentary, they all come with a history. Some games, however, stand head and shoulders above the rest.

The Most Fitting Example is Chess

Chess has been played by everyone from child prodigies to kings and queens. It's been played outside at the park and inside prisons. Chess has no boundaries in location or language. While the game is basic, its simplicity is what keeps it a favorite.

You can play video games to build computer skills. Video games also develop hand-eye coordination. Games like "hopscotch" and "red rover" also help with coordination. Many games are focused on physicality, but chess is different.

You learn the simple moves of the pieces on the board. Each piece moves in a certain way, and that is the scope of their responsibility. It's their character. It's what they do and how they make an impact on their world, the chessboard. Some pieces have small moves and others have big moves, but each piece can have significant influence depending on what is done with it. Each move that is made determines that piece’s impact, and each piece has a lifespan dependent on how you play.

Chess teaches many life skills. It teaches responsibility because you are the one who moves your pieces. Chess teaches cause and effect. You only get one move at a time, and each move leads to a counter-move by your opponent. Chess teaches you strategy and how to think a few steps ahead. Chess unlocks your creativity as you come up with new ways to move and see your pieces. The style that you develop can manipulate your opponent's moves or provide momentum to help you win. Additionally, chess tests and builds discipline and patience as you play the game.

Moving slow and slow-moving are two different things. You ‘move slow’ when you don't have enough information. Slow-moving means deliberate thinking. Chess provides you with all the information and encourages deliberate thinking, another useful life skill.

Chess can teach you everything you need to know about life. You can learn discipline, development, faith, focus, strategy, growth, and more. It can be played anywhere. People may speak different languages, but they can communicate through a chessboard. This universality reveals the beauty of the game.

In today's world, gaming has taken a back seat to education. Both are important, but learning can be more natural in a game than in a more formal environment. Video games have led to an interest in programming and computer science, but familiarity with video games and computers doesn’t give the mental training and discipline that is required for the arduous hours of sitting in front of a computer creating the software of our modern world. Chess hones these mental skills. This mental training reveals the value of the game.

Today's world needs people with better and more soft skills. We are heavy on the hard skills - teachable abilities and easily quantifiable skill sets - but light on the soft skills of interacting with people. Chess develops those soft skills while also developing the kind of thinking needed to apply the hard skills in life.

Whether you learn to play chess on a computer, picnic table, or phone, you learn essential soft and hard skills that enable you to impact your world more effectively.

[deloreskeeper]

More on the Psychology of the Chess Set You Are Playing On

It is agreed world over that chess is a mind game. Other than the continuous practicing, chess requires you to have a clear state of mind and clear thinking. Along the way to becoming proficient, you may polish your combination abilities, endgame skills, and opening moves.

Another concern comes up then: Can the style of chess set that you are using on a given day affect the outcome of the game? Does the style of chess set you traditionally play on impact the players in a positive or negative way?

Here are some ideas about the various chess sets to consider for their psychological aspects on your play:

Playing with an expensive chess set that you own may     give an advantage of intimidation

Even though you might be on the same skill level as your opponent, having an expensive chess set gives the impression of more experience or better knowledge of the game. Showmanship has a psychological factor. Someone who has invested a great deal of money in a chess set may be perceived as a serious player. The same argument holds for someone who has a well worn but lovingly cared for chess set.

Chess is very much a game of ego. By failing to have a similarly expensive set, the other player might feel intimidated. Once intimidated, the opponent may make errors in judgment to fulfill their expectation of you as a more serious player. This can raise your chance of winning. It’s not a slam dunk by any means, but when playing against a similarly skilled opponent, even the slightest advantage helps.

Playing with any chess set that you own may give an     advantage in tournament play

Chess is a game in which you develop comfortable strategies over your playing career. One of the lesser recognized comforts is the chess set that you are accustomed to playing on. The more you use a particular set, the more your eyes and hands align to it. Having a chess set that is your own in a tournament gives you a sense of familiarity. Familiarity allows you to execute your strategy more comfortably, thus giving you an advantage, albeit a minor one.

Playing with a non-standard chess set may give a     disadvantage

Official tournaments only allow standard chess sets.

Using non-standard chess sets in your regular play could give you a disadvantage when playing against another player on a more standard set. You will have to spend some small amount of your thinking translating the pieces into comfortable patterns rather than immediately recognizing them and concentrating on your strategy. The same situation occurs when you generally play on a standard set, then you sit down at a friend's house to play on their non-standard set. Some of your edge will be lost.

Does having to replace a piece of favored set affect     your play?

Chess is like warfare. Just as it is in the battle, you use the chess pieces as your soldiers. You develop your moves using the parts; the same way a commander would train and position their soldiers.

Knowing that one of your pieces is not the original will be in your mind. Anything that affects your thinking in chess or that draws your thinking away from the game can be a detriment.

Does honing your skills on a computer chess board hurt     you in a tournament play?

While some players prefer to train on a computer, it is not the best strategy one can employ in the long run. A computer does not give you the real-world feeling of having a crowd and other people watching your moves. Having to think under pressure is a skill you need to learn away from the computer. The computer does allow you to learn by asking questions and exploring certain positions in-depth, but it does not react the way a human player does.

Additionally, when playing against a computer on the screen, as opposed to a computerized chessboard, you become accustomed to seeing the pieces and possibilities in two dimensions rather than three. This change in perspective can hamper your ability to “see” the game clearly as you play.

The ultimate goal of every chess player is to get to play like the grandmaster. The board that you use is not going to affect your game that severely. It will not raise your playing level to that of a grandmaster or hamper your skills so severely that you can never attain that status, but the board that you use can have some affect. Being aware of the possible effects is prudent.

None of this information is new, nothing here is groundbreaking or a surprise to chess players. But it is often said that when you reach a plateau in any skill, it is good to go back to the basics and review them. My comments here are just reminders of the basics to consider.

References

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/is-chess-the-most-egotistical-gamesport

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/chess-strategy-tactics-4102130

https://www.chessbazaar.com/blog/2017/04/19/chess-tournament-rules-regulations-fide-approved/

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32542306