Chess

Chess is one of the oldest and most famous strategy games.  Competitive chess began sometime in the 14th century and is one of the most popular strategy games in the world.  Its a great game for the family because it teaches them about strategy.  Chess is the ultimate mind game and can really teach children to play strategically.  It might not be as 'fun' as a game of bags, but nothing gets your mind thinking like chess.

The rules of chess are hard to diagram in a paragraph, but you can do a search for chess rules and get the jist of the game.  In summary, there are certain pieces that move in certain directions.  THe goal is to trap your opponents by positioning your army in places of advantage over theirs.  Its a game that is taught in schools around the world and even in the army as a way to teach strategy.  I think one of the most important things about chess is that it teaches you to be a long-term strategic thinker.  You have to literally be thinking many steps ahead and try to guess what your opponent is going to do.  Chess teahers players to be strategic and tactful in their thinking.  Benjamin Franklin said "The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it. By playing at Chess then, we may learn."

Its a great game for the entire family and a great game to teach your kids early on. What I kind of like about the game is that you can keep a game going for weeks upon weeks.  Just leave the game board in the family room and when you get a chance, study the board and make your move.  Then when your opponent comes down and sees that you've made a move, he/she can take a few minutes to study the board and figure out a move.  Chess tends to be a long game and this tends to make it easier to deal with when you're not constantly waiting on your opponent. You can just come and go at your leisure.  We've had games take weeks in our house!  This is a great family game and definitely gets my vote!