Human beings are wired to think linearly about the world around them, expecting that small incremental changes can only result in small incremental outcomes.

Nature is full of non-linear phenomena. As a simple example, consider a block of ice; when you raise the temperature, it heats up but nothing seems to change; eventually it reaches the critical temperature, and then melts.

Chess is also non-linear. A very simple move can be a huge blunder and reverse the outcome of the game. This provides a unique opportunity for young chess players to   learn the possibility of non-linear results when considering choices and outcomes.

By the way, programming has some similar properties. A small coding mistake can have significant negative implications on the functionality of the code.