16 Benefits And Advantages of Playing Checkers (Draughts)

Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco

It is absolutely no secret that I enjoy playing Checkers. Checkers has been such a big part of my life since I was a kid. My grandparents taught me how to play, and I remember many a long evening battling it out with my siblings, trying to become what we had dubbed “The Ultimate Checkers Champion”. Still, there are people in my life who have never heard of Checkers or question why I have chosen to keep it such a prominent part of my life and that of my kids. Well, you are about to find out. 

If you are anything like me, the benefits do not even play a role in our obsessive Checkers playing. So, what is it really about for me? For me, it is all about having fun and I must admit that I have found the game somewhat addictive. However, if you need a few reasons to start playing Checkers or teach your kids how to play, just read through each of the 16 benefits listed and unpacked below.

By the way, these are just 16 benefits that I consider the most valuable to Checkers players. These are benefits that I have personally seen in my life and that of my family member’s too. Check them out:

16 benefits and advantages of Checkers (Draughts):

1. Checkers is easy to teach to young kids.

Kids can start learning to play Checkers from about 4 or 5 years of age. You can try to teach them from a younger age, but you might struggle. I find that 4 years is a good stage because they have a little bit of practice with patience by this age. In fact, some parents use Checkers as a stepping stone towards teaching their kids how to play Chess. This is not the route of all parents, but certainly worth looking into. While Checkers and Chess are different games entirely, Checkers is a concept that is easier to learn but still boosts strategizing, confidence, and understanding how rules apply. 

2. Checkers is a fun way to overcome boredom.

If you have ever found yourself struggling to entertain the kids, then you do know the value of finding games that entertain them for more than just a few minutes. And it’s not just about the kids – it’s great playing Checkers with a partner on a night in too. Checkers is a fun way to pass the time and ensures a lot of laughs and competition along the way. 

3. Playing Checkers can boost memory recall.

When you are first exposed to Checkers, you will notice that there are a lot of possible moves (including openings). It might take some time to learn and remember many of these moves, but with time, memory recall develops. This skill can prove helpful in many areas of your life.

4. Checkers teaches how to make sound judgment calls.

Impulsive judgments and decisions simply do not prove fruitful in a game of Checkers. With trial and error, players learn that actions on the board have consequences and that each action, therefore, requires some serious forethought. Players who start out aggressively soon learn to slow things down and be careful. This is a great way to learn how to make sound judgment calls, which is a skill that can be used in other areas of life.

5. Checkers develops concentration skills.

Checkers is, usually, not a quick and easy game. Players need to have focus and pay attention, which, in time, develops concentration skills. If you want to win, you need to learn to concentrate and focus.

6. Playing Checkers regularly teaches patience.

Considering that a game of Checkers could last several hours, it is important for players to have a certain amount of patience. People who do not have patience and can’t settle into the game for some time will not be able to enjoy the game and derive true value from it. 

7. Checkers promotes confident decision-making.

You probably wouldn’t expect to learn confident decision-making skills in a game of Checkers, but you do – with time. Every single move that a player makes on the board has an impact. This means that every move needs to be carefully thought out and the possible impacts/outcomes considered. With consistent play, players learn to become more confident in their decision making and to trust the decisions that they make. 

8. Playing Checkers keeps the brain fit.

Keeping your brain healthy and fit is just as important as staying physically and emotionally fit. As humans age, we need to keep our brains exercised and consistently working in order to keep them current, thinking, and healthy. Being brain fit staves off certain age-related conditions such as forgetfulness and Alzheimer’s disease.

9. Playing Checkers provides a bonding/quality time experience.

Spending quality time or bonding time with family and friends is not always easy if there are no activities planned. Playing Checkers provides a great way to spend quality time with a group of people and have a lot of fun at the same time. Checkers is a firm favorite in my house for once-a-week “Family Board Game Night”.

10. Checkers boosts problem-solving skills.

You might be wondering what problems need to be solved in Checkers. The entire game is a problem to be solved! Checkers is a game of logic. As players develop skills in the game, they must learn how to solve problems in order to win. Players must be able to predict the opponent’s next move and must be able to pick out possible moves during every stage of play. Learning to think logically to solve these problems is the only way to win.

11. Anyone can play Checkers (it is an all-inclusive game).

Checkers is a game that requires, arguably, absolutely no physical abilities. This means that anyone can play and no one has to feel left out. Fully abled people can play, small kids can play, aging people can play, and even the disabled can play. For this reason, Checkers is a great game for children to learn as everyone can be included. 

12. Checkers keeps the brain young.

As the brain ages (along with our bodies), it is important to keep the brain sharp and consistently thinking. When living in a retirement home or assisted living, there is very little for a person to do and so there is a risk of the brain aging faster than expected. The aged are therefore encouraged to keep the mind active by doing crosswords and solving puzzles. Checkers has proven a popular option for many who want to keep their brain fit while socializing and having fun.

13. Playing Checkers reduces stress & lowers blood pressure.

Playing any sort of game, Checkers included, is a great way to help someone get their mind off their worries and allow their body to physically relax. When the body relaxes, blood pressure lowers and stress is reduced. As Checkers provides a means of enjoyment, endorphins are released, which does wonders for minimizing stress and leaving players feeling good.

14. Checkers is an excellent treatment for people with disabilities.

People recovering from accidents/injuries or living with physical disabilities need to do exercises and physical tasks that include the use of fine motor skills to continue to heal and recover. By regularly playing Checkers, disabled people can improve these basic skills that go a long way towards developing dexterity and co-ordination. 

15. Checkers teaches pre-mathematics skills.

Checkers is not a game that requires mathematics skills, but it can be a great pre-mathematics exercise for children. Kids that are taught Checkers at a young age can really benefit from the pre-mathematics skills that the game teaches. Learning Checkers primes a child for learning mathematics. The game does this by teaching the following skills:

• Sorting objects or units by color.
• Logical thinking.
• Reasoning.
• Direction (back, forward, across, diagonal).

16. Teaches effective strategizing skills.

While Checkers is a logical game, players need to be strategic about their moves. Each move can have an impact on the opponent and the player making the move. Because of this, people who regularly play Checkers learn strategizing skills that can be used in many areas of life.

Last Word

Playing Checkers will not magically transform your life, but it will certainly add some value to it. For those who play this board game regularly, the benefits are already known. Those who are just learning about it or recently introduced to the game have a world of benefits waiting for them.