20 learnings from playing chess in daily life

Hi there! ?? I've been playing chess for over two years, and it has quickly become a passion of mine. Why? Because progress is so tangible—you can feel yourself improving with every day. That kind of immediate feedback fuels my passion like nothing else —?to the extent that I often catch myself dreaming about moving chess pieces!

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how I can apply the lessons I’ve learned from chess to my daily life. In one of my recent posts, I shared that I recently crossed the 97.5th percentile in 10-minute online chess. In response, Katharina Bach recommended a book to me—The Art of Learning—which turned out to be one of the best books I’ve ever read.

One of the most fascinating aspects of chess is how a few simple rules create infinite complexity. The same principle applies to many areas of life—music, mathematics, strategy, or even personal mastery.

In the following, I will share 20 lessons I’ve learned from chess (and from The Art of Learning) that apply to daily life. Many of them may seem obvious, but putting them into practice is not always easy—and chess can help you get better at them. Spoiler: The last one is my favorite! ??

1. Think Before You Move

Every move in chess has consequences—some immediate, others unfolding many turns later. Acting impulsively can lead to blunders, while careful consideration strengthens your position. A well-known chess principle states: “If you find a good move, look for a better one.”

Chess teaches us not to act too impulsively but to assess risks, consequences, and alternatives more carefully. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve moved a piece, only to realize a second later that it was a complete blunder. The same thing happens in daily life—how often have you hit "send" on an email, only to realize moments later that you forgot to attach the PDF?

2. Sacrifices Are Sometimes Necessary

Winning in chess often requires giving up valuable pieces for a greater advantage. The last four words are important—you don't just sacrifice for no reason but always with intention and purpose behind it.

The same holds true in daily life: We must choose which comforts, opportunities, or resources we are willing to sacrifice for long-term success.

In The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson compellingly argues that life isn’t about getting everything, but about deciding what’s worth giving up. The real challenge isn’t just making sacrifices but making the right ones—knowing when to let go for future gains and when to hold your ground.

3. Every Piece Has a Role

A pawn, a knight, or a queen —?each chess piece has strengths and weaknesses, and the best players use them accordingly. The same applies to work teams: a great leader doesn’t try to turn everyone into the same superstar but aligns roles with individual strengths.

Note that roles can also change over time—just as a bishop dominates in open chess games but is less useful in closed games, or a pawn that seems insignificant can transform into a queen.

In most cases, knowing your own strengths and leveraging them—rather than trying to be great at everything—is a key to mastery. Similarly, your weaknesses can become strengths and your strengths might be less useful at times.

4. Adapt to the Unexpected

Even with a flawless strategy, surprises will come in every chess game, your opponent (or life) will throw unexpected ideas your way. The best chess players stay flexible, and recalibrate their plans as circumstances change. In fact, rigidly sticking to a plan in chess is a recipe for failure.

Another crucial chess lesson is “Don’t play hope chess” — don’t rely on your opponent making the exact move you need to succeed. One of my toughest learnings was that I cannot control what moves my opponents will make. Instead, I should focus on what I can control —?my own moves.

5. Patience and Persistence Win in the Long Run

Grandmasters don’t rush their moves—they think several steps ahead, patiently accumulating small advantages that compound over time.

In your own games, resist the urge to rush. You may want to win quickly, but trusting that your opponent’s position will eventually collapse is often the better strategy.

Many beginners chase quick wins—like trying to checkmate in five moves. But as opponents improve, those tactics stop working. The same is true in life: shortcuts may bring temporary success, but they rarely lead to lasting achievements. Small advantages add up, and those who trust the process ultimately come out ahead.

Momentum also matters. One strong move can create a snowball effect, making future moves easier. Likewise, in life, consistent small wins—daily habits, skill-building, and steady progress—lead to long-term success.

6. Mistakes Are Inevitable—Learn from Them

Even the best chess players lose quite often. A grandmaster, for instance, might still lose 20-30% of their games against other strong players. Me, on the other hand, am happy if I lose less than 50% of my games.

In my opinion, what distinguishes great players from hobby players is their willingness to analyze mistakes instead of moving on too quickly.

It's often too easy to play game after game without reviewing past moves. But real improvement happens in analysis—identifying errors, understanding why they happened, and learning from them. This applies to life as well: failure isn’t final, but reflection is necessary for growth.

I cannot emphasize this enough:

In chess, losing 50% of your games isn’t a bad thing—it means you’re playing strong opponents and learning. If you’re not losing often, you’re probably not challenging yourself enough.

This is one of the biggest mental reappraisals I had recently: Be grateful for every mistake you make—it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and avoid repeating it in the future.

7. Play the Player, Not Just the Game

Chess is as much about psychology as it is about mechanics. Some players prefer structured positions, while others thrive in chaos. The best players recognize their opponents' strengths and weaknesses, adjusting their strategy accordingly.

Life often works the same way. Understanding what motivates and drives people—whether in negotiations, leadership, or relationships—can provide a significant advantage.

But chess is also about one's own psychology. A common occurrence in chess is that players blunder—and then immediately blunder again. Just as a single mistake on the board can lead to a downward spiral, in life, one misstep can trigger a chain reaction if emotions take control. Recognizing this pattern can help prevent a minor setback from turning into a major defeat.

8. Timing Matters

A move that’s brilliant in one situation can be disastrous in another. Chess has the concept of tempo—controlling the pace of the game by making moves that force the opponent to react. In life, too, timing is everything.

A great business idea, career shift, or relationship decision must align with the right moment. Sometimes waiting is the best strategy; other times, acting decisively creates momentum. Mastering timing means knowing when to hold back and when to push forward.

In chess, tempo is just as valuable as a material advantage—sometimes, sacrificing a piece is worth it to gain control over the game's pace. Similarly, I would argue that time is often more valuable than money or resources. Wasting time on unnecessary things can be as costly as blundering a queen.

9. Never Give Up Too Soon (But Also Not Too Late)

Many games are lost not because the position was hopeless, but because the player thought it was hopeless. For beginners, one key lesson is “Never resign.” Novice opponents also make a ton of mistakes, and it is not rare for unexpected comebacks to happen.

The same principle applies to life—perseverance can often turn the tide. However, once you start to get better, wisdom lies in knowing when to let go. Clinging to a failing strategy out of sheer stubbornness can be just as harmful as giving up too soon.

10. A Strong Foundation Paves the Way for Success

A well-executed opening lays the groundwork for the rest of the chess game. Likewise, in life, solid fundamentals—education, discipline, and habits—set the stage for future achievement.

That said, a strong foundation isn’t limited to chess openings. Some players, like Josh Waitzkin, approached chess by mastering the endgame first, focusing on fundamental positions before advancing to complex strategies. There’s more than one way to build a strong foundation—but without one, progress becomes an uphill battle.

11. Overconfidence Can Be Your Downfall

I've lost so many games not because I lacked skill, but because I assumed I've already won. Confidence is valuable, but overconfidence blinds people to risks.

Losing your king means losing the game, no matter how many strong pieces you have, and how well you played during the game. A strong opening and a solid midgame are meaningless without the ability to close effectively.

Staying humble and focused ensures continued growth. A chess game is not won until the opponent resigns, runs out of time, or is being check-mated. In chess and life, a single careless mistake can undo even the best efforts—that's why it's so important to bring your project or whatever you're working on over the finish line, not just close to the finish line!

This reminds me of a great Op-Ed from Adam Grant, who said that effort is important, but it's not equal to success: “An A is for excellence, not for effort.”

12. Initiative Puts You in Control

Chess often favors the player who takes the initiative, forcing the opponent to react rather than dictate the game. In life, proactive individuals—those who take action rather than waiting for opportunities—tend to achieve more. For instance, consider launching a podcast instead of hesitating for the "perfect moment," or applying for a job before a position is even advertised. Similarly, a startup founder who boldly introduces a disruptive product forces competitors to adjust their strategies rather than playing catch-up themselves.

It's often easier to shape outcomes when you're leading rather than defending. By setting the pace and making the first move, you not only influence how events unfold but also gain the confidence and momentum that come with taking control.

13. There’s Always More to Learn

This one is simple and almost too obvious: You can always improve and get better at something.

Even grandmasters keep studying and refining their skills, understanding that mastery is an endless journey. The moment you believe you've learned enough, stagnation begins.

The best in any field—business, art, sports—embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Growth isn't about reaching a final destination; it's about constant evolution.

14. Sometimes You Need to Step Back to Move Forward

Retreating in chess isn’t always a sign of weakness—it can be a strategic move to reposition for a stronger play. Many beginners (myself included!) forget that knights and bishops can go backward too, not just forward. A well-timed retreat can open up new possibilities and create the space needed for a winning move.

In life, stepping back—whether to reassess, take a break, or gain perspective—can be the smartest way to ultimately move forward. Just like in chess, a temporary retreat doesn’t mean surrender; it means setting yourself up for a more confident and effective next step.

15. Dead Positions—When Waiting is the Best Strategy

Some chess positions are so locked that neither player can make progress, making it futile to force a move. In such cases, experienced chess players rely on “waiting moves,” subtly shifting pieces without altering the position, forcing their opponents to act first and reveal their plans. The ability to recognize these moments separates experienced players from novices, as impatience can lead to unnecessary risks.

In life, knowing when to pause, observe, and let events unfold can be just as strategic as taking decisive action. In group discussions or classes, I often find myself speaking during pauses simply because I struggle to endure the silence—or, in other words, others can endure the silence longer than I can.

Sometimes, stepping back allows unseen opportunities to emerge or hidden dynamics to play out in your favor. Whether in career decisions, personal relationships, or negotiations, mastering the art of waiting can be a powerful tool for success.

16. Being Inspired by and in Awe of Experts

Chess has become incredibly popular on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. There’s something mesmerizing about watching a grandmaster predict their opponent’s moves, react instantly, and dominate the game with ease. Their mastery feels almost supernatural, like watching magic unfold in real-time. Even when they’re explaining their thought process, the sheer depth of their intuition and calculation is astonishing.

I think one reason why chess videos have gained such a massive following is that they make us feel as if we're playing alongside the experts. Their victories feel personal, much like watching our favorite athlete score a goal or a musician perform flawlessly on stage. There’s a vicarious thrill in witnessing such skill, a mix of admiration and inspiration. It motivates us to take action and try the game ourselves—though in my case, that often means playing a few matches and promptly losing (haha).

17. Learning Rules vs. Learning Intuition

Chess begins with strict rules—how pieces move, tactical patterns, and general principles. Beginners follow these rigidly, counting every possible move, while masters rely on intuition, instantly recognizing the best moves without conscious calculation. Over time, what once required effort and analysis becomes second nature, allowing experts to navigate the game fluidly, as if seeing the board in larger, more meaningful patterns rather than individual pieces.

This is like learning numbers to stop using numbers—we learn basic math so that, over time, we don’t need to count fingers; we just know that 7+5 is 12. We first follow structured learning before developing intuitive expertise. Chess master Josh Waitzkin describes this transition vividly: early on, he saw each chess piece in isolation, calculating moves in a slow, deliberate process. But as he advanced, he began to think in "chunks," understanding not just individual pieces but the way they interacted as groups, forming patterns that his mind grasped instantly.

Waitzkin ties this to a broader idea—true mastery often means transcending the very tools we start with. Just as we internalize numbers to the point where we no longer consciously add, elite chess players no longer “see” individual moves but rather feel the game as a flow of interwoven dynamics. The paradox of expertise is that structured learning is essential, yet mastery emerges when the structures themselves fade into intuition.

18. Paying attention to the chessboard —?but really!

There’s a difference between seeing and truly seeing. Just as we can passively read a book without absorbing its meaning, we can stare at a chessboard without genuinely processing its position. This also happens in daily life when we go through routines on autopilot, failing to engage fully with what’s in front of us—whether it’s a conversation, a task, or even a moment of stillness. The difference between passive observation and active perception is the ability to notice subtleties, anticipate changes, and respond with intention.

The best chess players develop active awareness—constantly asking, “What’s changing? What threats exist? What pattern can I recognize?” Training ourselves to engage deeply, whether in chess, reading, or daily life, can enhance both our performance and understanding.

19. Learning to Find Good Moves vs. Learning Not to Blunder

There are two paths to improvement in chess: actively finding good moves and avoiding bad ones. Many beginners improve first by eliminating blunders before they make strong plays, gradually building a foundation for more advanced thinking. The same principle applies beyond chess—progress in any field often starts with cutting out the most common mistakes before we master complex strategies.

My key takeaway here is to become aware of what you are practicing at any given moment. Different situations call for different approaches, and knowing which mindset to adopt can make all the difference. Sometimes, we need to push ourselves to be creative, take risks, and proactively seek the best moves. Other times, it’s wiser to focus on caution, discipline, and avoiding costly missteps. Mastering both approaches—and knowing when to apply each—is what ultimately leads to lasting growth.

20. Winning Requires Seeing Beyond Yourself

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from chess is this: We tend to focus too much on our own position—our goals, strengths, and plans—while overlooking what the other person is trying to achieve. Many assume that simply playing their best moves is enough, but true strategy requires understanding the opponent’s intentions.

Strong players consistently ask, “What is my opponent trying to do?” just as great leaders, negotiators, and problem-solvers consider the perspectives of others to anticipate and adapt: “What does the other person want?” When was the last time you have asked yourself this question?

Thank you for reading my thirteenth newsletter! I hope you found it valuable and insightful. If you'd like to dive deeper into my ideas, I post fresh content on LinkedIn every weekday, Monday through Friday.

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