# Chess performance and IQ

Are there formal studies relating chess performance (e.g. ELO) and IQ? I found a proposed Levitt equation (also mentioned in thechessworld):

Elo ~ (10 x IQ) + 1000

Is there some systematic evidence to back this formula, and/or propose a better one, and how well do such regressions fit, i.e. what's their goodness of fit (R), or alternatively stating this last part: how well does ELO (or some equivalent measure) correlate with IQ?

Regarding the question linked: this one is not even remotely a duplicate. The other question asks if playing chess can improve IQ. (and the answer seems to be no.) None of the answers there even talk how much IQ affect chess performance. The answer to my question is a qualified yes, by the way. Just think of the limit case where IQ were "set at birth", and your chess performance depended 100% just on IQ. You could still play chess all day and your IQ wouldn't change.

• Didn't take me long find a good study: sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160913124722.htm I'll summarize it later if someone doesn't beat me to it. – Fizz Jul 18 '18 at 10:46
• – Arnon Weinberg Jul 18 '18 at 16:23
• Possible duplicate of Chess to enhance human cognitive abilities? – Chris Rogers Jul 18 '18 at 21:56
• @ChrisRogers: read that other question carefully. This is not even remotely a duplicate. – Fizz Jul 18 '18 at 22:06
• @ChrisRogers It's two separate questions to ask: (1) Does chess training improve cognitive performance? (2) Does high cognitive ability result in better chess playing? Two quite separate questions to tackle. – Eff Jul 20 '18 at 15:45