Cognitive foundations of chess performance in novice players

This study investigated cognitive factors associated with chess performance in novice players, focusing on pattern recognition, working memory, and deep search abilities. A cross-sectional design was employed with 51 amateur chess players (mean age = 20.25 ± 1.41 years) with 6-24 months of training. Participants completed cognitive assessments (Corsi task, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Tower of Hanoi, Mental Rotation) and a chess pattern recognition task using real and randomised positions. Results revealed that novices performed better reconstructing real (median 4.70 correct pieces) than random positions (median 3.65 correct pieces), aligning with chunk theory. Elo (a chess rating system ranking players by game results) correlated with pattern recognition accuracy for real positions (rho = 0.51, p < .001) and working memory (rho = 0.31, p = .028). Regression analysis identified real-position reconstruction accuracy as the best predictor of Elo, explaining 35% of variance. However, mediation analysis showed no indirect effect of working memory on Elo through pattern recognition, suggesting these processes operate independently in novices. The study highlights pattern recognition as a critical cognitive skill in early chess development, supporting its integration into training. Future research should explore longitudinal training effects and refine stimuli selection to match novice capacities.