Any benefit of getting better at chess?

Playing chess develops many skills, but once those skills are developed, do they continue to grow as long as we continue getting better at chess?  Or is the only thing that's been developed is been better at the game?

Learning about all of these chess openings, endgames, tactics, strategies, etc, that you'll commonly find in chess are specific to the game itself.  To me, learning these things aren't useful in anything else besides the game of chess, and yet knowing them is what makes the better chess players.  To me, it's like memorizing the attack patterns of hard games like dark souls. 

Sure, you're good at the game because you've memorized the enemy's attack patterns, but it's not applicable to anything but dark souls.

I love developing strategies and tactics, as well as playing chess, but as for developing my strategic mindset, does getting better at chess really help?

Nope.

Recently beat Dark Souls. Wasn't so hard. Then again I've played maybe only 2 video games since I was a kid. And as a kid I played NES games. Most were unbeatable because of my age. Some were unbeatable period lol.

Chess relies heavily on pattern recognition, but there's merit to what fiveofswords says too. Personally I especially like the part about needing good character to be able to make a lot of improvement.

But in general, skill in chess is just skill in chess. Nothing else.

Thanks for the answers guys, I hope I didn't reply too late!

I never thought of it that way Fiveofswords, dedicating yourself to master a subject whether it's a martial art or chess, builds discipline, mindset, patience, etc.  It feels good to know that as long as you stick with it, you'll be building yourself as person for your entire life!

Here's another question then.  Sun tzu, Musashi and other brilliant strategists and tactitians throughout history, how did they become so brilliant?  Now I'm not saying that I want to be the best like no one ever was, but I want to develop a strategic mindset to a good level. 

What is the process?  Or is there a process at all?

Was Sun Tzu born with a great strategic mindset or did he develop it over time?  If over time, how did he do it?  Did he have life experiences that developed his mind in one way, and another experience to develop in a different way, and so on? 

A little background on me, I analyze things on a daily basis and always think of what's the best course of action.  I play chess occansionaly.

sadly, life is a team sport.

Chicks dig chess players!

in the stomach or the face ?

So true. I used to be a fide graded 1000 weakling. Stronger chess players with goatee beards and round rimmed specs used to kick metaphorical sand in my face. Then I discovered "Dynamic Tactics" and female chess groupies can't stay away from me !

link please!

Again, thanks for the interesting answers guys! I apologize for my post been so long, but it's all just so interesting!

Beautiful post TheRay1, it feels like there's a gold nugget behind each part of your post! So basically you attack your opponent when he's at his weakest, and if he isn't weak at the moment, then make him weak. When your opponent's resting or relaxing, attack. If he's on his guard, figure out how to lower his guard.

I'm struggling to understand the parts below on a deeper level, could you elaborate more of the following? What are your thoughts?

1. “figuring out what would makes your opponent lower his guard.” Not only in chess, but in other games and professions as well. In regards to business, you would research everything you can about your opponent/target to understand his habits, personality, etc, to better predict his moves. In chess, I notice sometimes that my opponent likes to take pieces more than normal, so I'll be more cautious when my pieces are threatened or I'll setup a trap with one of my pieces as bait.

2. “Let the enemy fight when he is weakest”. Probably a stupid question, but how can you tell when your opponent is at their weakest?

3. “Attack when your opponent thinks you are weakened.” I think this one's probably the hardest to do. Making your opponent think he's won, how would you even do this?

I definitely want to improve Fiveofswords! The more I read about strategy, the more I realize that even against the most overwhelming opponents, whether it's numbers or size, it can be defeated by strategy. It can be found not only with humans, but also with nature(army ants, bees, etc). The sky's truly the limit!

Haha! It's funny that you say that I have a preference for the far east because now that I look at it, those are the only types of strategy books I've ever read. I never even considered western, now there's even more books to read! Like with Napoleon, Epaminondas, and Tecumseh, I just skimmed over them and it makes me sick how I never invested any time in western warfare and strategy books. Do you have any online lists or resources of other great people as well? I would love to know more!

You also have a interesting point about the purpose of why they've written those books. Their books were the product of their knowledge and they wouldn't even bother writing it in the first place if they knew no one could understand them. It makes me appreciate books a lot more now!

The better you get at chess, the FURTHER you get from generalizing what you gain from your chess abilities to real-world abilities.

Beginners probably get the most about analogizing chess to other real-world activities, like developing before attacking, making sure your K is safe, etc.

Once you're at a low-intermediate level, you gotta already start knowing position specifics (including tactics) that aren't so generalizable.

I wouldn't know...