08-06-2025 • Written by Enroute 2 Success

The Benefits of Chess: Scientific Studies

At Enroute 2 Success, we believe every young mind deserves the chance to thrive—and sometimes, that journey starts with something as simple as a chessboard. This timeless game sharpens focus, fuels critical thinking, and builds confidence in students, opening doors in and beyond the classroom.

Chess Builds Critical Thinking and Confidence in Youth

Academic and Cognitive Thinking Benefits

Research shows that chess training transfers to classroom success. A large Danish study found that replacing a weekly math lesson with a chess-based math lesson raised students’ test scores, especially among the most disengaged, suggesting chess “may be an important and effective tool” for improving math ability. Meta-analyses confirm this: chess instruction yields moderate improvements (measured by Cohen’s g) in overall cognitive and academic skills, with mathematics benefiting most. By engaging pattern recognition and strategic thinking, chess strengthens the same analytical faculties needed for STEM learning and standardized tests [4]. 

In practice, chess players outperform their peers in problem-solving and reasoning tasks: children trained in chess show improved spatial reasoning, planning, memory and decision-making skills directly linked to better grades [2]. 

Notably, a U.S. evaluation of an elementary chess program found that participants scored significantly higher on state math assessments than those who were a part of the chess program. Additionally, a higher percentage of chess members met or exceeded math benchmarks (93.0% vs 88.3% statewide) [5]. 

Executive Skills & Focus 

Chess inherently teaches executive functions and concentration. As one education review notes, chess “gives the student the habit of concentrating on a single subject” [3], instilling focus and patience. Players learn to anticipate consequences several moves ahead, testing hypotheses and managing impulses; this constant planning and reflection builds critical thinking and meta-cognition [4]. Not only this, but good chess players aged sixteen to eighteen years old presented high spatial, numerical, administrative-directional, and paperwork abilities. This means that because chess requires an individual to pull from a range of aptitudes, a range of aptitudes and then refined. Dr Robert Furgeson reflects that these findings indicate that “a large number of aptitudes all work together in chess”. Given the multifacetedness of the game of chess, it is no wonder that in June of 1999, the International Olympic Committee recognized chess as a sport [1].

In short, children who play chess routinely practice decision-making, memory and self-control – cognitive skills that generalize to all school subjects [2]. Teachers and researchers report that chess instruction develops logical thinking and creativity beyond what traditional drills achieve [3].