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Brain-Training Exercises You Can Do Online

March 7, 2014 by

When you’re at work, you likely only utilize certain parts of your brain. Accountants utilize the mathematical side, artists use the creative side, and whichever part you don’t use as frequently may become sluggish and underutilized. If you want to maintain full brain function, the fun activities on these websites will help you stay as sharp as a tack.

Games for the Brain
This simply designed website features a variety of brain-training exercises for every type of thinking. NumberHunt improves your basic math skills, Colored Lines uses logic and special reasoning, and Memocoly improves your memory by asking you to remember a series of colors in the order in which they appear on the screen. Games for the Brain even allows you to rack up points to monitor your improvement over time.

Lumosity
You’ve likely heard of the Lumosity website, but it’s worth the hype. This attractive site allows you to create a profile and build a personalized training program, specifying the areas of the brain you want to work on. It incorporates memory, speed, problem solving, attention, and flexibility into its simple games and tests, and it tracks your improvement in each area along the way.

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Learn About Chess Variants Online

February 28, 2014 by

Chess variants are other games derived from or inspired by the game of chess. Most of these games use different pieces, have different game boards, or use different rules from traditional chess. Whether you already play and love chess or you simply can’t get into the game, just about anyone will love to play these exciting and logical alternatives to the historical game of chess.

Chess960
Chess960 is a chess variant that uses the same pieces and the same game board, but the pieces in the first rank are randomized, with opposing pieces mirroring them. This is a great game for expert chess players, because it makes it impossible to memorize opening lines.

Glinski’s Hexagonal Chess
This derivation of chess uses a unique hexagonal board instead of the standard square chess board. The board contains 91 cells in three different colors, and it uses the usual chess pieces, with the addition of one extra bishop and one extra pawn. Glinski’s chess is an incredibly popular variant, especially in Eastern Europe.

Apocalypse
Apocalypse is played on a much smaller scale than regular chess, using only a 5×5 board and two horses and five footmen on each team. The two players make their moves simultaneously, and the game is over when one player captures all of the other player’s footmen.

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Learn to Play the Logic Game Go

February 7, 2014 by

Go is an ancient board game made up of a grid-based wooden board and circular stone pieces in black and white. Opposing players each attempt to “capture” one another’s pieces by fully surrounding them with their own pieces, and the main objective of the game is to cover a larger total area of the board than the other player. While its rules are fairly simple, Go is a strategic game that is believed to improve your logical thinking and even relieve stress.

American Go Association
Like the name implies, the American Go Association connects Go players from all around the country. On their website, you can learn the basic rules of go, research its history, and research strategies before you begin to play. The site also offers a number of different ways to play the game, including online communities, computer opponents and even information about Go clubs in your area.

British Go Association
The British Go Association also offers useful information about the rules and strategy of the game, and it even features a number of video tutorials to teach new players in a more visual way. The site also includes lists of famous Go players and more information on the classic board game.

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Outdoor Games to Enjoy With Your Kids

May 23, 2013 by

Warm weather is here, and that means spending more time outdoors with your children. If you’re looking for some new games to add into your outdoor play repertoire, look no further. Below are some fun, simple games to take outside with you this season.

Pick-Pocket Tag
Put a ribbon, bandana, or piece of cloth in each participant’s back pocket. Once the game begins, the objective is to try to grab each other's cloth without having your own stolen. The individual with the most ribbons at the end wins.

Clown Foot Relay
Give each player 2 shoe boxes, have them tape the lids onto the boxes, and then cut a narrow opening in each box top. Have the participants slip their feet into the boxes and then race.

Blind-Fold Walk
Build an obstacle path from one end of the play area to the other. Have the players line up, and allow them to have a good look at the path. Then, one at a time, blindfold the players, and have them navigate the path without looking. Record each participant’s time to see who does it the fastest.

Body Drag
Split up into 2 teams, and give each team an old sheet or blanket. Have one participant from each team lie down on the blanket, and then the teams must pull the person on the blanket from one end of the yard to the other. Whichever team crosses the finish line first, wins the game.

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