Is Chess Really That Difficult? Debunking the Genius Myth

Harry Davies

For general people if they are asked about chess they usually portray the game as the ultimate game of intellect. A board game where sharpest mind sit together and compete in mind bending and thrilling games. If for normal people anyone wants to explain what chess is one tell a story about an black and white arena where there are 32 soldiers including Queen and King. They are fighting battle unless one of the queen is taken down. But soldiers are restricted to their movement while battle may end in a day or even in a few seconds depends on how the strategies are made. Imagine the scenario cool huh!

While there are myths that only with great intellect could master such game as it requires lot of thinking and making strategies might seem true for the case. Movies, books, and popular culture often depict chess grand-masters as superhuman geniuses. But is chess really that hard to play? We would explore these question with facts and expert opinions.

The basics: Is chess hard to learn for beginners?

Chess game in itself has very few set of rules which are defined by the position of the pieces and movements allowed for the pieces. Learning these fundamentals for chess typically takes just few hours to a day, many beginners can play a basic game after watching a short tutorial.

According to various sources and experts chess is inherently difficult for newcomers. It’s often described as a sport that is easy to learn but hard to master. If asked about hurdles of the game the hurdle are memorizing how pieces move and understanding concepts like check and checkmate. There is one famous saying in travelling world its not the destination it the journey that counts. We can take that saying and relate it with chess. It’s usually how players strategically place their pieces which helps them reach their goal i.e check mating other players.

So that strategy development is where most of the newcomers and beginners struggle at. It is said that progressing beyond the beginner stage can be challenging as it demands strategic thinking, pattern recognition and foresight. Such skills develop not in a day but over time as they play number of games.

Reasons why it feels hard include the sheer number of possible moves (over 10^120 possible games, known as the Shannon number), adapting to opponents, and mastering openings, middlegames, and endgames. However, with consistent practice like solving puzzles or playing regularly helps in improving and development is achievable for most people. One adult learner reported going from a 300 to 1500 Elo rating (a measure of skill) through focused study, proving that dedication trumps innate talent.

Do You Need to Be a Genius? The IQ Connection

There are common myths that says chess requires genius level IQ. While there is some correlation between cognitive ability and chess skill but in reality it is far from absolute. A meta analysis of study found that there is moderate positive relationship between intelligence and chess performance. But this is stronger among younger players and who are at lower skill levels.

At elite levels, factors like practice hours, experience and specific skills play bigger role. So if anyone thinking that they are limited by their minds actual reality is far from that. Surely naturally speaking there may be some who have been blessed with memory and superhuman memory capability but consistency, resilience and hard work can’t be neglected inorder to improve in the game of chess.

Research from Michigan State University confirms that chess skill is linked to intelligence, but the correlation is not strong enough to suggest IQ is the deciding factor.

For example, a study showed that while higher IQ individuals may be drawn to chess, practice accounts for more variance in skill. Grandmasters (GMs) exist across a range of IQs; some of them have higher IQ levels while some have lower IQ level compared to that with other GMs. Interestingly enough there was recent interview where legendary GMs were asked basic Gk question which most of them answered but few were unsuccessful even Hikaru Nakamura failed some of the basic GK questions. This can’t measure their intelligence related to the game however could be viewed that higher IQ is not only the contributing factor for mastering the game.

Playing chess can enhance cognitive skills like problem-solving and memory, but it doesn’t necessarily increase your IQ. This debunks the idea that only “smart” people excel at it—anyone can improve with effort.

Famous Examples: Chess Stars Without the “Genius” Label

There are several chess greats throughout history who defy the notion of genius. Former World Champion Magnus Carlsen has openly declared that he is “no genius,” attributing his achievement to a remarkable concentration on chess rather than general intelligence. In a similar vein, another World Champion, Vladimir Kramnik, does not regard himself as a genius.

Bobby Fischer, who is frequently regarded as one of the finest, is said to have had an IQ of 180, yet even he isn’t considered a “genius” in the conventional sense because of his chess-specific skill. Because their father, László Polgár, thought that genius is manufactured, not born, the Polgár sisters—Judit, Susan, and Sofia—were brought up in an experiment. All three became elite players through rigorous training from an early age, with Judit being the strongest female player in history. These examples show that while talent helps, perseverance is key.

The Benefits of Playing Chess—Genius or Not

Chess has advantages for everyone, regardless of skill level or IQ requirements. By educating how to deal with losses, it enhances focus, strategic planning, and even emotional resilience. According to studies, it can improve scholastic achievement in subjects like reading and math, making it a useful tool for people of all ages. Additionally, it’s easier than ever to get started—no brilliance is needed—thanks to online resources like Lichess and Chess.com.

The game of chess isn’t as difficult as it looks. It takes time and practice to grasp the fundamentals, but you don’t have to be a genius to play or get better. There are correlations between IQ and success, but they are exaggerated; hard work, not luck, is what makes people successful. Chess is a game for everyone, so pick up a board and get playing, regardless of your level of experience.