I stumbled onto what I think is an interesting topic and a current obsession of mine for the last few years. That is the game of Chess and I must admit I'm highly addicted to it.

I see a large connection between chess and ADDers because of the way our minds work. I and most others with ADD seem to have a really good visual memory. I can remember the smallest details like light towers off in the background of my grandmas house when i was 7. Funny thing is i often forget what i did 1 minute ago. Horrible short term memory, but a very good visual memory.

Which I can apply directly to a game of chess. My mind calculates these long complicated variations of chess moves, yet I often make horrible mistakes because I often forget the more obvious point blank things like moving a peice that leaves another peice unprotected. Hence my very short memory and attention.

People like me with ADD tend to do things out of order. Kind of react before really thinking about what the possible consequences might be. I've learned to limit these mistakes allot more by thinking more in order and being more careful to think things through before reacting. If you can master this type of thinking in life, you will see improvements in your chess game as well.

I think the reason why I love chess so much is the rewarding feeling you get when you put together a solid plan from start to finish and it works almost exactly how you planned it. I believe it vastly improves your decision making abilities and critical thinking skills.

Also, I am the non-attentive type. I'm not sure the hyperactive sub-type could take chess seriously for more than couple of moves before they can't concentrate anymore. But i would love to hear other opinions on connections between chess and the visual ADD mind.

I play alot of blitz one minuate two minaute games to me that is a good speed where i tend to have an advantage longer games boare me sometimes also sometimes i would get thrown off by something stupid, it's a good game.

I have to learn some new openings i'm sick of playing englsh,byrds, silician, brydsfromm variant.

I have come to love the game of chess. But I have discovered that if my planned attacks or defences does not go as I had planned in my head I get flustered. I need to be able to improvise better. It is a great mental exercise that can help with concentration. Capt Kylos

I absolutely adore chess. I could play game after game for hours on end, but there is no one to play with. It's the perfect game for ADDers because one must focus, concentrate, think ahead, but at the same time think the game backwards. Speaking of backwards, I've always done mazes from finish to beginning. I just seem to 'see' the route better that way. Face it, ADDers have SOPHISTICATED minds!

I was a self-described great chess player in the 4th grade, and one of only a few students who could beat the Teacher. I was good because it was one of my early passions that had enough novelty to "turned on" my brain. I had a book on chess, which described detailed chess strategy that I studied to no end. I relied more on memorized strategic moves than on my deficient working memory. Just as quickly as it caught my interest, it lost its novelty, and my enthusiasm and abilty for playing chess ceased. I can't stand Chess now because I can't peak my interest enough where my brain engages to actually defeat anyone.:cool:

I think this was about the time my focus shifted to girls...