Course teaches students how to master chess so they can master their minds > News > USC Dornsife – USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and…
A seasoned chess pro teaches USC Dornsife students critical thinking, decision-making strategy and history lessons through a 1,500-year-old board game. [5 min read]
Stroll around the USC campus on a clear day when were not in the midst of a pandemic and you might run into Jack Peters, lecturer in Slavic languages and literature, playing a dozen chess matches simultaneously beneath the Tommy Trojan statue.
Once a term, Peters sets up an array of checkered boards and invites passing students to a game. Moving swiftly between opponents, taking only seconds for each move, he often completes 50 games in a couple of hours.
Youd imagine Peters brain to be on the verge of shorting out by the end of it all, but he admits the challenge is mostly physical. I move really quickly, and its usually hot, so I get pretty tired walking around for hours, he says.
Thats because chess allegro is all in a days work for Peters. Hes been an International Master since 1979, a lifetime title of distinction awarded to world-class players, and has squared up against greats like Mikhail Tal, the eighth person to hold the title of World Chess Champion.
Peters was chess columnist for the Los Angeles Times and has published multiple books on the game. Hes taught the class Chess and Critical Thinking at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences since 2002, guiding hundreds of students into the game that he has played since he was 8 years old.
A mind game
To Peters, theres much to learn from chess besides how to best your opponent. Mastering chess is a means to master critical, tactical thinking, which can be applied almost universally to lifes big challenges.
Students have to first recognize the situation they are in and then set priorities: What are the important features here? says Peters. Constant adaptation is also key. One of the hardest parts about chess is that you might have a great idea, but your opponent might also have their own idea, and then the plans change.
Such skills are also attractive to employers the ability to plan, solve problems and analyze information are frequently cited as some of the top desirable traits in recruits.
Its not just for sharpening the mind, however. Peters class touches on a little of everything, from art to science to business. A particular focus is the way chess became intertwined with both Russian cultural identity and Soviet strategy abroad.
After the games invention in India around 530 A.D., traders spread chess into Russia where it became a popular pastime for noble and commoner alike. Ivan the Terrible, ruler of Moscow from 1533 to 1547, was an avid player and earned his name in part for killing an opponent with a chessboard during a game.
After the Russian Revolution in the early 20th century, Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin hoped to empower a demoralized populace by producing a great generation of chess players. The USSR established the Soviet Chess Federation to train children starting at the age of 5 to become formidable players.
Lenins successor, Joseph Stalin, continued Lenins efforts, placing Nikolai Krylenko, public face of the ruthless Soviet justice system, at the head of the organization. Krylenko saw chess as a propaganda opportunity, explains Peters. Skilled players could demonstrate Russian intellectual might on the world stage.
Jack Peters has been an International Master of chess since 1979 and has written several books on the game.
Chess became so synonymous with USSR prowess that a 1972 match between world champion Boris Spassky and upstart American Bobby Fischer turned into a heated, symbolic showdown between world powers poised at the knifes edge of battle.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, chess reverted to something of a Russian export. Over the next 10 years, many of the grandmasters raised in theSovietUnion actually became citizens in other countries and started playing for those national teams.One of the jokes at the chess Olympics was our Russians can beat your Russians, as every team would have one or two Russians who emigrated, recalls Peters.
Despite this history, chess is actually an immensely diplomatic game, Peters reminds us. As long as both players know the rules, no common language is needed to play chess.
Game, set, match
These days, Peters isnt playing chess in person much due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic moved classes online, Peters switched to software, and he plays against students virtually. The transition went pretty smoothly, but he had to adjust his methods for the final exam.
Normally Id set up 20 or so boards in the classroom and play all the students at once. Now, Im limited by the software to only playing eight at a time, says Peters, sounding a bit wistful for bygone days of a chess bonanza played at lighting speed.
He doesnt often get bested. Maybe once a year or so I have someone that beats me, he says.
Losing to the professor isnt a problem in Peters class, however. Their final isnt about winning. They write about the game we played, describe their strategy and any mistakes they made. Theyre graded on how well they understand what happened and the principles of the game.
To Peters, the lesson he wants students to learn isnt one of victory but how critical thinking, careful strategy and learning from ones mistakes can better you for the next challenge.
Keep calm and play on
Despite the mental rigor chess demands, Peters class is a popular one. Vespera Luo, who is majoring in chemistry at USC Dornsife and journalism at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, enrolled after seeing recommendations for the class on the USC Reddit forum, and members of USCs chess team sometimes pop by for a game or to recruit new players.
Its enduring popularity likely has to do with Peters calm, expert approach. Mr. Peters is so patient with a beginner, he doesntfeed you answers but leads you to the right path of thinking, says Luo.
Its also a rare opportunity for chess enthusiasts to try their hand against an expert. I really enjoyed playing against Jack and seeing in person how good someone can be at chess, says Tristan Tausch, a business administration major at USC Marshall School of Business.
For Luo, lessons from the class extend to the meditative as well, referencing a memorable anecdote from Peters. While working for the L.A. Times, Peters found himself hastily writing an article on the infamous match between Russian chess master Gerry Kasparov and IBMs computer Deep Blue. (Kasparov was defeated, marking a shift in humankinds perceived mental power over machine.)
Mr. Peters said it was the first time his editor rushed him to write something because there are no emergencies in the chess world. I remember him saying this sentence, and it just struck me somehow, says Luo. Were living in such a fast-paced world today, and at that moment I realized I prefer some quietness and slowness in my life.
- Global Chess League: How Magnus Carlsen blundered against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to lose with white - The Indian Express - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Magnus Carlsen: Play chess against Mo Salah? I would love that - The Guardian - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Chess grandmaster from Madison to compete in US Championship - WKOW - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Andres Iniesta played scrabble on a chess board... here's why the Spain and Barcelona legend will go down in h - Daily Mail - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Mark Pope has 'intense chess match on the board' for top recruiting target - KSR - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer - San Francisco Examiner - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer - Phys.org - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- 2024 Team Chess Battle 2: Mother-Daughter Duo Overcome Team ChessKid, Advance To Semifinals - Chess.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- The Chess Revolution: How Chess Impacted Culture And Was Impacted by AI & The Internet - Chess.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- It's Spooky Season: New Halloween Bots Have Appeared! - Chess.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Inspiring The Next Generations Of Women To Create - Chess.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer - Northwest Georgia News - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- CHESS ELO RANKED 2511-6114-7042 by whiskerymaple - Forever Fortnite - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Alexandra Botez On Sibling Rivalry, Magnus Carlsen Crush, And Family Tension - Chess.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- GothamChess Visits University Of Florida For Lecture & Blitz Against Old Foe - Chess.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer - The Elkhart Truth - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer - Citizentribune - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Geller and Kramnik among inductees to the 2024 World Chess Hall of Fame - Chess News | ChessBase - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Meet Shreyas Royal, the boy who helped his family avoid deportation with his chess and is now UKs youngest ever GM - Sportstar - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Wei Yi: Gukesh, Pragg and Arjun may be top players in the world - Chess News | ChessBase - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Record-breaking Viewing Figures for the Budapest Chess Olympiad - Hungary Today - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Jon Speelman: Beauty in London and Budapest - Chess News | ChessBase - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Anichess Launches Public Alpha and Partners with Yield Guild Games to Expand Web3 Chess Strategy Game in Southeast Asia - PlayToEarn - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Magnus Carlsen alleges Nihal Sarin made illegal chess moves, panel says, nothing illegal about it- The Indian Express exclusive - The Indian Express - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer - Brenham Banner Press - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Alireza Firouzja, the giant-killer who has scalped Carlsen, Nakamura and Anand in the last week - The Indian Express - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad 2024 Round 7 Highlights: Gukesh defeats Wei Yi to hand India victory; Vantika Agrawal, Vaishali help womens team win - The Indian... - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- 2 Indians feature in top 5 of live chess rankings for the first time in history | R Praggnanandhaa is ranked 10th | Inshorts - Inshorts - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Charlene Chess Obituary (1934 - 2024) - Bryan, TX - The Bryan-College Station Eagle - Legacy.com - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Gukesh Grinds Out Endgame Masterpiece, Both Indian Teams On Perfect 14/14 - Chess.com - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- The Unexpected Advice Given To A Future World Champion - Chess.com - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Aronian, Mamedyarov, Arjun Live Dangerously As Top Teams Win - Chess.com - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: Gukesh wins 6-hour marathon battle vs Wei Yi after China prevent him facing Ding Liren - The Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- China prevent Gukesh vs Ding Liren battle at Chess Olympiad by resting world champion after defeat in previous round - The Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Russia making a bid to overturn FIDE ban in chess - Chess News | ChessBase - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: IM Vantika Agrawal fights severe time pressure to beat grandmaster Bella Khotenashvilli - The Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- 45th Chess Olympiad R06: India emerges as sole leader in both sections - FIDE - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Cuban teams return to action in Chess Olympiad - Radio Habana Cuba - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- 45th Chess Olympiad R03: Netherlands and Germany fall, several favorites stumble - FIDE - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiads Bermuda Party tales: When a GM got punched for dancing with a girl, when Uzbeks were prohibited from attending - The Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: Indian teams seal seventh successive wins - The Tribune India - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: India's men and women teams continue winning run to stay on top - The Times of India - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess: England seeded eighth as Carlsen targets gold at Budapest Olympiad - The Guardian - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Ding Liren on Gukesh: He is playing extremely well, he is a favourite to win World Chess title - The Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: Two years after Chennai heartbreak, Gukesh on another winning spree - The Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: Is Indian team a hot favourite to win gold? Heres what chess legends and GMs have said - The Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: Vantika Agrawal scores crucial win over Georgian rival - The Times of India - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- 45th Chess Olympiad Begins in Budapest, Both Teams Improve to 30 - uschess.org - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad: Gukesh leads India to victory over China as womens team dominates Georgia - The New Indian Express - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- In Ding decision, larger picture considered - The Times of India - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad: Armenia beat England in Round 7 - Public Radio of Armenia Official Web site - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad 2024: Indian teams remain unbeaten in third round - ESPN India - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- New Book Spotlights the Connection Between Chess and Culture - HYPEBEAST - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- When the stars align: how the chess revolution is being televised - The Hindu - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Chess: Ethan Pang, nine, beats three grandmasters but misses 2300 rating - The Guardian - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Pokrovsk & Eastern Ukraine..Chess by Two Men Named Andrei(y). Ukraine Trains More Mech Brigades - Daily Kos - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Streamers Take Over the Maia Chess Open! - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Play Against The New Discord Chess Bots On Chess.com - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- September 2024 FIDE Ratings: Niemann Storms To 16th In The World - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- JBWSCC Quarterfinals: Ju Wenjun, Lagno Advance To Semifinal Clash Of World Champions - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Watch The Best Chess Content On Your LG SmartTV And On Fubo - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Navrotescu Wins With Stunning Perfect Score In London - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Danny Ainge shares a story of Bill Walton being obsessed with chess but being at it: "We thought he was a chess genius" - Basketball Network - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- September 3, 2024 Titled Tuesday - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Before Vishy Vs. The World, There Was Kasparov Vs. The World - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad Open Section: Who will reign supreme in Budapest? - Chess News | ChessBase - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Faustino's Run Through The Record Books - Chess.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Friday Knight Chess- Hosted By Atlanta Checkmate Club - Creative Loafing - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Chess Olympiad 2024 Preview: Power-packed India eyes glory and gold in Hungary - Sportstar - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Magnus Carlsen vs Hans Niemann: For 1st time since cheating scandal, rivals play face to face, but in online event in Paris - The Indian Express - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Chess Beyond the Board: Exciting side events at 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad - ChessBase India - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Binances CZ Out of Jail? Why This is a Major Bullish Catalyzer For an Altcoin Season - Live Bitcoin News - August 25th, 2024 [August 25th, 2024]
- Russian chess player Amina Abakarova seen poisoning rival with mercury - Yahoo! Voices - August 9th, 2024 [August 9th, 2024]
- Russian chess champion allegedly tries poisoning rival with mercury, caught on camera - Hindustan Times - August 9th, 2024 [August 9th, 2024]
- Chess: Carlsen loses in 23 moves but beats Ding and wins Titled Tuesday - The Guardian - August 9th, 2024 [August 9th, 2024]
- Female Russian chess champion is caught on CCTV smearing pieces with mercury to poison her childhood rival ahe - Daily Mail - August 9th, 2024 [August 9th, 2024]
- Chess player allegedly tried to poison rival by smearing mercury on chess board (video) - Boing Boing - August 9th, 2024 [August 9th, 2024]
- Chess and life expectancy - Chess News | ChessBase - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]
- Chess: England and US win gold at world senior teams in echo of Soviet era - Financial Times - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]
- 2024 U.S. Junior, Girls' Junior, and Senior Championship Preview - uschess.org - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]