Chess and ADHD: attention training?
Among the ADHD games often recommended, chess comes up regularly. Only one study has tested chess lessons in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: 44 children in Madrid, with no control group. Parents reported a drop in symptoms, but this type of study does not allow us to conclude that the game had an effect. Chess can be an enjoyable pastime, not a treatment.
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): a neurodevelopmental condition combining, to varying degrees, inattention, motor hyperactivity and impulsivity, with an impact on school, family or working life. Executive functions: the abilities that allow us to plan, concentrate, hold information in mind and inhibit an automatic response.
ADHD games: the only study on chess
The idea is appealing: a game that requires you to stay seated, think before acting and anticipate could train exactly what is lacking in ADHD. A Madrid team tested it.
Blasco-Fontecilla et al., 2016 · Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental
Efficacy of chess training for the treatment of ADHD: A prospective, open label study
- Who
- 44 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 with ADHD (Madrid), 42 to the end
- Type
- Open pilot study, no control group · level of evidence: Low
- Result
- 11 weekly one-hour group sessions: the SNAP-IV severity score completed by parents falls from 39.3 to 31.0; 38% of families note a drop of at least 30%.
- What the study does not say
- No control group or random allocation; only the parents rate the symptoms; 61% of the children were also taking medication.
The figures look encouraging: an average drop in the severity score of more than 8 points, and clearer progress in children with a high IQ. The authors themselves, however, speak of preliminary results, to be interpreted with caution, and call for controlled trials.
What the study does not say
- Whether the improvement comes from chess. Without a control group, it is impossible to separate the effect of the game from that of time passing, of the attention received in a group, or of the hopes of the parents, who alone rate the symptoms.
- Whether the effect lasts. No follow-up after the end of the lessons is reported.
- Whether chess does better than another activity structured in a small group, such as a sport or a music workshop.
To our knowledge, no randomised trial on chess and ADHD has been published since. This study is therefore a lead, not proof.
What the French Haute Autorité de santé recommends
In France, the Haute Autorité de santé (the national health authority) adopted a recommendation in December 2014 aimed at primary-care doctors dealing with a child or adolescent who may have ADHD. Its aim is to help spot the condition, to refer the child and family to a specialist who confirms the diagnosis or not, and to take part in follow-up. The diagnosis and the choice of care belong to these professionals, not to a game.
Within this framework, a pastime such as chess can find a place among the child’s activities, if they enjoy it. It replaces neither the support offered by the care team, nor school adjustments, nor a treatment if one has been prescribed.
ADHD games for children: adapting chess
A child who struggles to stay focused can perfectly well enjoy chess, provided the format is adapted.
- Short games. A ten-minute mini-game is better than a long game interrupted by boredom.
- Variants with a clear goal: the pawn battle, or a “mate in one” to find.
- The right to move: standing up between moves, taking a break.
- The “touch-move” rule relaxed at first, then introduced gradually to work on thinking before acting.
- Encouragement for the process (“you looked at the threats before you moved”) rather than the result.
| Type of game | Examples | What it calls on | Point to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy games | Chess, draughts | Planning, inhibition (not playing too fast) | Length of game to adapt |
| Speed games | Observation and reflex games | Visual attention, reactivity | Can reinforce impulsivity if they are the only ones offered |
| Construction games | Bricks, models | Planning, perseverance | Plan short steps |
| Cooperative games | Games where you win together | Listening, taking turns | Little frustration, good for starting |
| Physical activity | Sports, outdoor games | Burning energy, coordination | A useful complement to seated games |
The more general question of the effect of chess on intelligence and school results is dealt with on the page does chess make children more intelligent?
ADHD games for adults
In adults, ADHD often shows up as difficulty staying focused on long tasks, a tendency to act quickly and impatience. Many affected adults enjoy fast online chess, whose pace matches how they function. It is a legitimate pleasure; you just need to know that playing one blitz game after another can become a time sink. Slower games, at a club or with a friend, work more on patience. No study compares these formats in adults with ADHD.
Improving your concentration at chess
Whether or not you have ADHD, concentration at chess can be worked on with a few simple habits:
- A routine before each move: what are the opponent’s threats? Which pieces are poorly protected? Only then: what do I want to do?
- Sit on your hands, literally or figuratively, when you have found a “good move”: look for whether there is a better one.
- A quiet environment: phone out of reach, no screen switched on beside you.
- Slower games than your usual pace, to train yourself to think.
- Clear principles so you do not get lost: develop your pieces, control the centre, get your king to safety. Le Palais des Échecs sums them up in an article that gives strategy pointers for beginners.
For other related situations, see the pages chess and autism and chess, stress and anxiety. All the studies cited are gathered in the annotated bibliography.
Frequently asked questions
How can you improve your concentration at chess?
By adopting a routine before each move (spotting threats, checking unprotected pieces), playing slower games, removing sources of distraction and applying a few simple principles that stop you from scattering your effort.
Which games for a child with ADHD?
Games they enjoy and whose length is suitable: short strategy games such as mini chess games, cooperative games, construction games, and plenty of physical activity. No game replaces the care offered by health professionals.