IQ tests are grossly inaccurate and only give a general idea.  If Kasparov had put focus on a wider range of subjects and general knowledge during his life ... IQ question type stuff instead of chess, his IQ might have been a LOT higher.   I have zero faith in the IQ tests.

And no, I didn't have my IQ tested and scored badly.  In fact, I scored quite well, somewhere around 160, but I noticed that many of the questions were not at all indicative of general intelligence, more general knowledge and subjective experience.

Kasparov had an IQ of 160?

Thats not that high.

I never took an IQ test - but I once got an A in gym - I still can't run a marathon - does that make me a bad cook?

anyone know of any savant chess players?

Both my parents have IQ's of over 160, possibly 180. I have never taken an IQ test myself but I suspect I measure up their with my parents, as I have gotten all sorts of academic, chessic, and other things that had to do with mental capabilities, awards. I was on the top 100 list in the uscf for players my age from 10-14 before I took a break from chess. I just started up again in the winter of 2008 and I am making my way back onto the list. I would say high I.Q. goes hand in hand with high level chess skill.

Everytime I tell someone how high my IQ is it goes up a point or two. I've told many people. My IQ is 455.

how about asking erik to introduce an free IQ test here and we can compare that with thier ratings to solve the issue..

Maybe some of the best chess players of the modern era have had IQs in certain areas...i.e. mathematics, spatial organization, etc...are we alking a generalized IQ or specific...we seem to as hung up on IQ points as we are rating points...

THere are so many factors involved in chess OTHER THAN IQ I think....passion,

natural talent, etc...the jury is still out on the subject...it will be ongoing...

by the way....2+2+5 (it really does!!!!!!!!!!)

Hmm i think they should have a big experiment to find the relationship between chess and IQ.

 I would be really interested in this...I think I remember reading somewhere that Rubinstein was classified as a savant by some modern psychologist, but I can't quote it exactly as it was written...

it is pretty clear though that some great players have had their share of mental trouble...makes you wonder if the diagnosis simply did not exist at the time?

No it's not the same thing at all.

bill wall has contributed a content about this.

take some time to read.

http://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-and-iq

Well I am getting my masters in mathematics (which should imply some mathematical intelligence ) this summer and I am still not too great at chess.. I think the reason why Tal, Kasparov and Fischer were great at chess and at the same time scored high on IQ-tests is because chess to some extent is a matter of pattern recognition (especially in the middle and end game), as is most IQ-tests... Supposedly because this rids the test of any racial or cultural bias..

Of course you could claim that pattern recognition is a part of mathematical intelligence, and in that sense I would say: yes mathematical intelligence does increase ones winning statisitics, but this only comes into play if you survive the opening =) ---

I knew a surgeon who could not change a light bulb or fix a flat on his kid's bike - honestly, this guy had no mechanical ability - and yet - he was a practicing proctologist.  Very smart in his field - but would you want him wiring your house?

IQ probably has something to do with chess skills seeing as i lack both. coincidence? i think not.

As I said before more than half lies about his or her identity on the web.
Thanks to all your posts I can size this down to 75% to 85%.
(I thought it was 80% it only seemed to high before.

Advise on lying about your IQ:
- Don't overdo, IQ's DO have a limit (your parent's will probably not be smarter than Einstein and Hawking together).
- If you are smart (as your IQ implies) you would probably not boast about it too much on the internet (probably not at all). Not very credible.
- Understand what you are lying about. And whether your chosen IQ suits your personality.

ps. My IQ is 3689
(being specific makes it more credible as well)