Is a persons ability at chess a good measure of their intelligence?

Question

Is a persons ability at chess a good measure of their intelligence?

Answer 1

I think it is a decent indicator of a type of intelligence (logical reasoning and pattern recognition).  But, you can improve your chess game without having any appreciable gain in intelligence.  It is a narrow field of study.  There are dozens of recognized types of intelligence.

Answer 2

I used to play chess and have a relatively high IQ. Ironically though I wasn't great at Mathematics at school....actually I wasn't very academic. However, I do believe it helped me in reasoning and decision making, also thinking "outside the box".....and acadamics is not always related to that. I think to be a good chess player you need to be quite intellegent but just playing chess at an acceptable level is easily within the reach of almost everyone, with practise of course!

Answer 3

Emotional intelligence? Not so sure!

Answer 4

Not really. In children it may help them develop math skills, but it can't be used to determine intelligence. In some ways, its just like a career. If someone is exceptionally good at their particular job, it doesn't necesarily mean they are good in other areas. I remember playing this one 1900 rated player, wiped the floor with me, but when I talked with him afterwards he came across as a socially inept, philosophically lost, and just generally stupid. But, I'd say he was an excellent chess player.

Answer 5

Only in one area of intellect; not necessarily sign of 'greater' intellect...!!

Answer 6

Possibly, seeing as I suck at chess, and am borderline retarded .

Answer 7

I've seen some data that suggest that playing chess can actually improve one's math AND reading skills.  So, in some respects, the question may be putting the cart before the horse.  Perhaps chess actually enhances our intelligence.

Answer 8

I would like to believe so. A good chess player has the ability to pre empt moves and has many permutation and combinations for different moves his opponent makes. He also pre empts counter moves to different moves. I believe a person with high IQ level can be a good chess player.

Answer 9

Yes....you need to make up a good strategy to win

Answer 10

yea, it can judge logic

Answer 11

Not really. Studies have shown that aptitude in chess (like music and maths) is confined only to that particular field and the individual may lack similar intelligence in other areas like handling social situations, making practical decisions in life and doing well in other subjects in school.

You'll also note that chess professionals are generally shabby people who dress badly and scrape for a living (except the top playesr that is, they lead comfortable lives).

Answer 12

Pretty much just chess. Look at Bobby Fischer's life.

Answer 13

That is doubtful. At least I beat people a lot who are far better at mathematics than I am. Quite a few have academic degrees. This doesn't mean they have a higher intelligence per se, but still. Playing chess well depends on knowledge, practice, and intelligence. No doubt all these factors play an important role. I know that most top players have great memories, but have little other extraordinary skills besides chess. I read in an article Anand and Kramnik were awfull at normal calculating, while in chess Anand is a fast player and no doubt great at calculating (visualizing) his combinations!

To conclude, I think intelligence is more than just chess.

Answer 14

If you read a little of Howard Gardner's work you will learn about multiple intelligences theory.  According to multiple intelligences a person who is a good chess player would be particularly strong in visual spatial intelligence, and in mathematical and logical intelligence, and possibly other areas such as intrapersonal intelligence.   So a person's aptitude with chess is an indication of certain types of intelligence.

Answer 15

As far as ability goes, it's usually a very good measure of intelligence. It takes a high degree of intellect to be able to comprehend the game as well as being able to play it well. That's why it was invented in the first place. The exceptions though, are those who are idiot savants. Like the guy in the movie "Rain Man", where there is an astute ability in one precise area but the rest of life is pretty much left in disarray. Aside from all that, you need to consider that, like all artists, chess players fall into the category of being extremely temperamental where they can be very condescendingly and ruthlessly arrogant and aren't afraid to show their mental superiority around others. It's been said that chess is a battle to destroy an other persons mind so that pretty much sums up the persona of what many of these people are all about. Some of the greatest players were also the most eccentric where it seems only natural that the world of chess is filled with those who are composed of clashing temperaments,  wrought with abounding intellect of raging imposing conflict, both on and off the board.