These findings indicate that better performance in chess players is associated with disproportionally longer solution times, although it remains to be investigated whether motivational or strategic di

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• Chess expertise improves rule-guided flexibility and visual working memory precision (2026) · doi

  While the sample was limited to adolescents and only two paradigms were tested, the results provide converging evidence that chess can serve as a natural model for investigating how sustained practice shapes core executive functions.

  Keywords: sample limited adolescents paradigms tested provide converging evidence chess serve natural model investigating sustained practice
• Planning, Cognitive Reflection, Inter-Temporal Choice, and Risky Choice in Chess Players: An Expertise Approach (2025) · doi

  Despite this study not being able to establish causality, the findings highlight the cognitive advantages associated with chess expertise and suggest potential areas for further research on the transfer of cognitive skills from chess to other domains and differences in general abilities between experts and novices.

  Keywords: cognitive chess despite able establish causality highlight advantages associated expertise suggest potential areas further transfer
• Planning abilities and chess: A comparison of chess and non‐chess players on the Tower of London task (2006) · doi

  These findings indicate that better performance in chess players is associated with disproportionally longer solution times, although it remains to be investigated whether motivational or strategic differences account for this result.

  Keywords: indicate better performance chess players associated disproportionally longer solution times remains investigated whether motivational strategic