Would you expect a mathematician to make a better chess player than an artist?

I'm not sure exactly what an artist is, or what art is. It seems that art is intrinsically linked to expression. I tend to think that chess leans more towards the precision of science/maths than of traditional arts such as music and painting for example. For me, the computer age is really testing the idea that chess is an artistic pursuit. Expression and logic are vital in music for example; can the same be said about chess, or is it a game of logic? I'd be interested to hear what people think about this.

No, it isn't.

Chess is a puzzle; an ever changing set of problems to be solved; advancing pieces, capturing enemy pieces, escaping attacks and, ultimately, captureing your opponents king.

It is a continious stream of problems to solve. Problem solving is not only the most important part of playing chess, but the only skill involved. Any other skills one may employ are mere components of the overall skill of problem solving. They do not stand apart from the process of problem solving.

Well, there's also a human opponent sitting in front of you. Some general strategy and psychological skills can be helpful too. Sometimes you're not only playing the board, but also the man.

Another problem to solve.

That's interesting because I've always heard 'play the board, not the player'. (sometimes I've seen 'player' substituted with 'rating')

Please be relevant, helpful & nice!

sorry Gentlemen,  I never meant to post anything,accident.Apologies.

Chess is not "only" problem solving. Visualization, calculation, psychology, physical health, as well as previous chess experience and knowledge are all just as important.

I would argue you could be a great chess player without being a great problem solver. Or you could be a great problem solver but a horrible chess player.

GMs supposedly know tens of thousands of chess patterns. Knowing a winning pattern and executing it, isn't really solving a problem. Is there problem solving in chess? Yes, but it's far from everything.

1. Everything listed here are components of problem solving. Problem solving is NOT a single thing just like a car is not a single thing. Like a car, problem is made up of many parts, or, more specifically, skills.

2. Problem solving skills are not applicable across the board. Different types of problems require mastering different sets of skills. A Dr. employs a different set of problem solving skills than a chess player does. This, of course, does not mean that a Dr. can master the problem solving skills necessary to succeed at chess despite being a top notch Dr.. And, I assure you, no matter how good I get at chess, you would not want me doctoring you or your family.

3. Being able to recall patterns is a skill employed in solving the position in front of you.

On a mobile device? There appears to be a bug that, when using a mobile device, if you hit Post Comment, it posts that be helpful text.

Another 'word' that is sometimes used to describe chess is a 'science'.  I like this description, science is the observation of how something works and the formulation and application of theories regarding it.

this seems particularly apt when it comes to chess.

mathematics , itself, is usually obsessively concerned with the numeric. In most cases the numerics of the position... fail to express the beauty and potential of positional chess.  Instead, I would argue that LOGIC is a better word for the kind of calculation I do when i think through the tactical ramifications of my move.

but i think what I like best about chess as a science is the sense that there is are chess truths in a given position, if i'm wise enough not to be caught up in forming a bad hypothesis.  Striving for the truth and seeking to more rigorously understand the behavior of my peices IS IMHO the essence of chess improvement.

YEah, you see it talked about like this in chess books; 'Black will have to prove that White's move was unsound'.

Remove visualization skills, calculation ability, chess knowledge and experience, physical stamina, and psychological stability (or warfare).

You can still be a great problem solver, but it won't make a difference -- you will be a bad chess player.

How many professional artists became GMs or world champions? How many professional mathematicians became GMs or world champions?

Yes, chess requires artistry, and is often beautiful, but it is closer to mathematics both in beauty and in skills required for mastery.

Well thanks for the posts to date, but it's all very disappointing speaking as an artist.  One tiny glimmer or hope is that I am also musical and that's using the right side of the brain isn't it?  That might be just enough incentive for me to keep on trying to improve  !  BTW my father was a mathematician and a brilliant chess player, a musician and also skilled at drawing.  My ability as a mathematician does not exist.  Anyone for tennis?    

Steven, thank you so much for going to all the trouble of posting so many valuable references.  It's very much appreciated, and I am sure I speak for us all when I say that we will be checking them out and getting great benefit from them :)

Hi, can anyone shed any light on what happened to stevenhan's chess references.  They have all been deleted by someone.  This guy went to a huge amount of trouble to post all his references, can any one help with a suggestion as where they went? I am going to try to contact him.  Another member suggested his account may have been deleted but I have a gut feeling this is not the case.  This is still ontopic as his references all related to chess links for improving chess performance.

Thanks so much for responding to my enquiry tkbunny.  When all's said and done, and he/she may be out of line, but it doesn't alter the fact that this person went to a huge amount of trouble on their fellow chessplayers behalf to be helpful.  I feel gutted actually, he/she will be feeling really upset that nobody on the site could care less about the amount of trouble he/she went to.  Posting helpful information is not yet a hanging offence and I am going to apologise to him, (saying "him" as it's easier), it may come back and say he has had his account closed.  I will check it all out  anyway.  Sorry if all this blocks the flow of interactions between fellow chessplayers ...