How Classic Games Can Improve Critical Thinking Skills

“Obstacles, of course, are developmentally necessary: they teach kids strategy, patience, critical thinking, resilience, and resourcefulness.” This quote by Naomi Wolf teaches us that we develop critical thinking when we encounter hurdles.

But what is critical thinking? It refers to the ability to:

• Think about the various aspects of a situation
• Consider them
• Come up with a solution to deal with them.

One of the ways you can develop this ability is by playing card games like Rummy or other games like chess.

Continue reading below to learn how.

How Classic Games Help You Develop Critical Thinking

How do classic games like chess and rummy games like Gin Rummy help you develop critical thinking? Take a look below.

Enhancing Logical Reasoning and Strategy

Be it chess, Cluedo, Rummy online, or any other game, you cannot get far without using strategy. For example, chess is a game that involves sixteen pieces on either side of the board.

Each of the pieces in the game has its predefined names and roles, along with the style of movement.

For instance, the Horse piece can move:

• One square ahead from its position and then diagonally to the left or right
• One square ahead from its position and then two places to the left or right

On the other hand, the castle or rook piece can move any number of squares in a straight direction, to the left, right, forwards, and backward.

So you have to understand which piece to move and when to decisively win the game by defeating the King. For example, if the King piece is placed to the diagonal right of the Horse piece, then it’s a Checkmate situation.

Boosting Decision-Making Under Pressure

Let’s say you’re playing a game of Rummy online like Gin Rummy. You’ve melded only a few of your cards into valid sequences and sets and have a high deadwood. In such a situation, what do you do?

You discard those unmelded cards and draw cards from the ‘draw pile’ to reduce your deadwood and meld your cards into other sequences and sets.

To do that, you have to see which cards you must discard, the rank and suit of the cards that remain, and then consider the possible melds you can make. Naturally, you cannot do all of that if you are tense.

That’s why you need to be calm during the round to make the right move.

However, let us say that you make a mistake during that round and end up with deadwood higher than ten. You lose points, but you understand how to not repeat the same mistake in the next round.

Let us now talk about some of the games with the help of which you can develop critical thinking.

Top Classic Games You Can Play To Develop Your Critical Thinking

Continue reading to learn about these games below.

Chess – The Ultimate Strategic Game

The game involves sixteen pieces on either side of the board, which are black and white, respectively. You can start the game if you are on the white team.

Players have to move the pieces in such a manner that they defeat the King piece and end the game.

The other pieces involved in the game on either side are the Rook or Castle, Horse or Knight, The Bishop, Queen, and eight pawns. There are two Rooks, two Horses, and two Bishops, each on either side.

You must know how each piece can move to plan your moves in advance.

For example:

• The Bishop can move across the board diagonally
• The Rook can move in straight lines.

So you can determine how to trap your opponent before the game begins.

Obviously, you’ll have to play a few games with your opponent to understand how they play, their preferred opening moves, and game strategy.

Card Games (Poker, Rummy) – Decision Making

Card games like online poker or Rummy games teach you how to understand your opponent’s thinking and playing patterns. Playing on a rummy app helps in this process. That’s because these games involve:

• Raising blinds
• Using chips to increase or influence the stakes
• Forcing opponents to reveal their hands

Generally speaking, if applicable, Rummy involves one or two standard card decks with Jokers during the games. During the game, you have to meld (group) the cards you receive into sets and sequences.

Sets refer to melds of three or more cards of the same rank (or number printed on them), irrespective of the suit (design printed on them). For example, a meld of three Number Four cards is a valid or pure set.

If you use a Joker card to complete the set, it is known as an impure set.

Sequences refer to the melds of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, a meld of Number Four, Five, Six, and Seven of Hearts is a valid or pure sequence.

If you use a Joker card to complete the sequence, it is known as an impure sequence.

Players who meld all or most of their cards into valid sets and sequences and score the fewest points are the winners.

On the other hand, poker involves a standard deck of cards, some of which are distributed to the players, while the others become community cards. Community cards are those cards kept on the table and which all players can use to make the required hands or melds.

Since there are many variants of both online poker, the winning hands differ, but some remain common, like:

• Flush: A meld of consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, a meld of Number Three, Four, Five, and Six of Diamonds is a valid flush meld.
• Three-of-a-kind: A meld of three cards with the same rank and one additional card (known as a kicker card). For example, a meld of three Number Six cards and one Number Seven card is a three-of-a-kind.
• Two Pair: A meld where you have five cards, of which there are two pairs of the same rank and a kicker card. For example, a meld involving two pairs of Number Five and Seven cards, with one Joker, is a Two Pair.

Since even one or more of your cards can impact your score and winning hands, you must carefully make your decisions.

Final Note

Playing classic card games can, therefore, help you develop critical thinking skills like quick decision-making, understanding your opponents, and improving your logical reasoning capabilities.

Do remember to play practice games on reputed websites to develop a better understanding. Have a great time!