When comparing Battlestar Galactica vs Chess, the Slant community recommends Chess for most people. In the question“What are the best board games?” Chess is ranked 12th while Battlestar Galactica is ranked 38th. The most important reason people chose Chess is:
It's been an important mode of entertainment and education for more than a thousand years.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros

Pro Hilarious party interactions due to hidden cylon players
The game is at its core cooperative. However, the fact that there is at least one Cylon in every game, the distrust between players provides interesting party dynamics.

Pro Well reflects the series' atmosphere
If you are in atmosphere while playing a board game - this is the one to go with. The heavy use of the Battlestar franchise gives a sense of depth that is missing from other similar types of games. With the extra expansion available there is even more depth and atmosphere added to the game as well.
Pro Classic
It's been an important mode of entertainment and education for more than a thousand years.
Pro Improves decision making ability
Pro Boosts memory
You are constantly forced to come up with new offensive strategies or defencive strategies, based on what your opponent is doing. Since there are practically infinite ways to play any situation, you will have to think several moves ahead and remember various possible scenarios that might play out in any possible strategy.
Pro Chess can be an enjoyable obsession
Pro Widely available
And if you can't find a chess board, pieces, and even another player, you can make your own.
Cons

Con Needs a few playhthroughs to learn all the rules
With 3 expansions, which add their own rules and mechanics, fully understanding all the game rules can take some time.
Con Chess serves no real purpose outside itself
