Playing “brain games” for cognitive flexibility

Just what is cognitive flexibility, you may ask?  

Well, it is in essence our brain’s ability to adapt to changing situations, overcome habitual responses and find new ways to solve problems. 

Now, playing complex “brain games”, like chess, dominoes and card games can really help us maintain just that. 


So, here are 5 benefits to playing the “Game of Kings”, dominoes and card games: 

#1 helps develop and maintain planning skills

#2 helps develop and maintain strategic thinking

#3 helps develop and maintain problem solving skills and encourages creative thinking

#4 helps develop and maintain deep focus

#5 aids memory and information retention 


These are especially important during our teenage years, when the brain is capable of rapid development; especially when it comes to executive functions, like planning, concentration, attention, self-regulation and inhibition.

And as we get older it becomes important to maintain and nurture our brain functions, as it can play an important role in preventing dementia, as an example. It is a use it or lose it situation. 

So, when it comes to staying mentally fresh, as a neuroscience coach, I would highly recommend playing more of these fabulous “brain games”. 

And, if you don’t yet know how to play, just learn it. The basics of chess are quite simple. We don’t have to play it on a Judit Polgar or Garry Kasparov level, both are chess grandmasters. 

And, the same goes for many card games, the rules are easy to learn for most. Perhaps, start with a game of Solitaire or Rummy and leave the game of Bridge for now. 

And for dominoes, well, we can never go wrong with this much loved game. 


We can play with our kids, our teens, our partners, our parents, our friends, our neighbours; or we can play, as I often do, against the computer. 

We can play them for fun.

We can play them for the “brain game”.

We can play them because winning is glorious. 

And we can play them because losing makes us improve our game. 


So, play some chess, some card games, some dominoes. Your brain will thank you for it. 


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