Is chess good for teaching critical thinking?

[MinnesotaBrant]

By early resignation, I would presume.

A sadistic genius at that; one who would let you take the middle just to toy with you for a while before overwhelming your positional edge with his superior tactical skill. I wish I had a nickel for every time it happened to me.

No I played amateur chess at the state tourney. They did have some better players in there because they wanted to win. I played interesting games that sometimes drew large crowds because I played a good game with most of the peices still on the board during the end game. Your right I still got beat most of the time even with the middle of the board coverd. I did beat the state amateur champ, I played 9th board on a bad team and beat the 9th board on a good team. I played 2nd board once. I didn't study moves much at all.