Does Chess Make You Smarter?
Separating fact from myth about the relationship between chess and intelligence.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: People love to say that chess makes you smarter, and I understand why — it makes for a great headline. The truth is more nuanced but still encouraging. Chess exercises specific cognitive skills that are genuinely useful in daily life. Whether that counts as "making you smarter" depends on how you define intelligence.
What the Research Actually Says
The relationship between chess and intelligence is a topic that has been studied for decades, and the findings are more complex than headlines suggest. Some studies have found correlations between chess skill and scores on cognitive tests, while others have found that chess training improves specific skills without raising general intelligence measures.
What seems clear from the research is that chess strengthens particular cognitive abilities: pattern recognition, working memory, planning, and spatial reasoning. These are real, measurable improvements that transfer to academic tasks like mathematics and reading comprehension.
What is less clear is whether chess raises general intelligence as measured by IQ tests. Some studies suggest modest gains, others find no significant effect. The honest answer is that chess probably does not make you globally "smarter" in a way that would show up as a dramatic IQ increase, but it does make you better at specific types of thinking.
Specific Skills Chess Develops
Even if chess does not dramatically raise your IQ, the specific skills it develops are valuable in everyday life. Pattern recognition helps you quickly assess situations and make decisions. Working memory improvements help you hold and manipulate information. Planning skills transfer to project management, financial decisions, and strategic thinking at work.
Chess also develops metacognition — the ability to think about your own thinking. When you analyze a chess game, you are reflecting on your decision-making process: why did I choose that move? What did I miss? How can I think more clearly next time? This habit of self-reflection is one of the most valuable skills anyone can develop.
Perhaps most importantly, chess teaches you to handle complexity. The game presents you with positions where there is no obvious right answer, multiple factors must be weighed, and uncertainty is inherent. Learning to make good decisions under these conditions is a form of practical wisdom that serves you well beyond the board.
The Honest Answer
So, does chess make you smarter? The honest answer is: it depends on what you mean by "smarter." If you mean a dramatic increase in general intelligence, the evidence is mixed. If you mean becoming better at specific types of thinking that are useful in academics, career, and daily life, then yes, chess almost certainly helps.
Chess is a form of mental exercise, and like physical exercise, its benefits depend on consistency. Playing one game a month is unlikely to produce noticeable cognitive changes. Playing or studying regularly over months and years will strengthen your mental capabilities, just as regular running strengthens your cardiovascular system.
The most important thing is not to play chess for the purpose of becoming smarter. Play chess because you enjoy it. The cognitive benefits are a welcome side effect of engaging deeply with one of humanity's most enduring intellectual challenges.
Common Questions About Chess and Intelligence
Are chess players smarter than non-chess players?
Research suggests that chess players tend to score higher on certain cognitive tests, but this may reflect self-selection — people with stronger spatial and logical abilities may be more drawn to chess. The causal relationship is difficult to establish definitively.
Can chess help my child do better in school?
Multiple studies suggest that regular chess instruction correlates with improved academic performance, particularly in mathematics. The skills chess develops — focus, planning, pattern recognition — are directly applicable to schoolwork.
Is chess better for the brain than other games?
Chess is particularly effective because it combines so many cognitive demands simultaneously. However, other strategic games and puzzles also provide cognitive benefits. The best mental exercise is the one you actually enjoy and will do consistently.
Professor Archer says: Play chess because you enjoy the challenge, not because you read that it will raise your IQ. If it happens to sharpen your thinking along the way, consider that a delightful bonus.
Quick Quiz
What is the most accurate statement about chess and intelligence?
- Chess definitively raises IQ by at least ten points - This overstates the evidence. While some studies show cognitive benefits, a dramatic and universal IQ increase has not been established.
- Chess has no cognitive benefits whatsoever - This understates the evidence. Multiple studies suggest that chess strengthens specific cognitive skills like pattern recognition, working memory, and planning.
- Chess strengthens specific cognitive skills but may not raise general intelligence dramatically (Correct) - Correct. The research supports that chess develops particular cognitive abilities that are useful in daily life, while the evidence for dramatic general intelligence gains is more mixed.
- Only people who are already smart can benefit from chess - Chess benefits players across all ability levels. In fact, some research suggests that lower-performing students may show the largest improvements from chess instruction.