| Brainpower games are those games which | | | | grocery-store check-out displays. Though |
| exercise your mental capacity. My | | | | it's all about numbers, it isn't really |
| personal favorite is Chess, but there | | | | about math skills as much as it is about |
| are many others, some of which you | | | | deductive reasoning. Like crossword |
| probably already play or have played. | | | | puzzles, it also has the advantage of |
| Here is a look at a few of the more | | | | being a one-person activity, and a small |
| common ones and how they may help your | | | | book of these puzzles can be carried |
| mind. | | | | with you anywhere. |
| Crossword Puzzles | | | | Poker |
| For many years people have noticed that | | | | Whether played for money or just chips, |
| older folks who regularly did crosswords | | | | poker is one of the best of the |
| seemed to stay mentally sharper as they | | | | brainpower games because it requires so |
| aged, compared to those who didn't | | | | many different kinds of mental skills. |
| exercise their brains in similar ways. | | | | You need to understand probabilities and |
| Recent research has supported this idea. | | | | how to analyze a hand in relation to all |
| As a mental exercise, one of the primary | | | | the other information you have. You need |
| advantages of doing crossword puzzles is | | | | to be observant to gather that |
| that it's a brainpower game you can play | | | | information from the players around you. |
| by yourself. | | | | Learning to "read" other players is a |
| Chess | | | | big part of the game too. Poker is |
| Historically THE thinker's game, chess | | | | directly useful in training you for real |
| is not - contrary to what many think - | | | | life decision making, because it |
| just a left-brain analytical contest. | | | | develops your intuitive grasp of what a |
| Playing well requires both hemispheres | | | | "good bet" consists of. |
| of the brain. Your left-brain will be | | | | Boggle |
| analyzing possible moves and predicting | | | | While not as popular as it used to be, |
| responses of your opponent. Your right | | | | you can still buy a Boggle game in many |
| brain will be grasping the spatial | | | | department stores. It is a word game |
| relationships on the board and providing | | | | based on observation and fast thinking |
| an intuitive grasp of good positioning. | | | | more than vocabulary. Attempting to |
| An interesting note: many top players | | | | quickly find words in the letters is |
| are also musically talented, and | | | | great for training your mind to look for |
| handling music is right hemisphere | | | | patterns. Once you notice an "s" for |
| function in most people. | | | | example, you can look at every noun |
| Scrabble | | | | thereafter to see if the "s" can be |
| You may think that this classic word | | | | connected to it to create another word |
| game is all about vocabulary, and it can | | | | and more points. It is a vocabulary game |
| really help you learn a lot of new | | | | in part, but decent pattern recognition |
| words, especially if you play with an | | | | skills are the best advantage you can |
| open-dictionary rule. But to really play | | | | have. |
| well, you have to learn strategy. You | | | | Some Other Brainpower Games |
| have to figure out where to place your | | | | The game of dominoes can be very |
| words, and how to make multiple words in | | | | analytical if you play it well. Card |
| one play. A good understanding of how to | | | | games like gin rummy are good for |
| score the most points on each turn can | | | | developing pattern-recognition |
| make you a better player than an | | | | abilities. The classic board game, |
| opponent with a larger vocabulary. | | | | Monopoly, or the pricier "Cash Flow" |
| Sudoku | | | | game by Robert Kiyosaki, are both good |
| Sudoku has recently become very popular, | | | | brainpower games, as well as being good |
| with the puzzle books appearing in most | | | | for learning real estate investing |
| bookstores now, and even at | | | | principles and habits. |