MEASURING AND DEVELOPING TACTICAL CREATIVITY IN ELITE CHESS: A SCIENTIfiC METHODOLOGY, CREATIVITY INDEX, AND STRATEGIC TRAINING MODEL
Abstract
Tactical creativity in chess represents one ofthe most underexplored dimensions ofelite athletic performance. While cognitive research has extensively examined pattern recognition, working memory, and calculation in high-level chess players, the systematic measurement and purposeful development ofcreative decision-making in complex tactical situations has received comparatively little scientific attention. This study introduces a comprehensive scientific methodology for assessing tactical creativity in elite chess players (Elo 2000+), presents a validated multi-component Tactical Creativity Index (TCI), and proposes a structured four-week strategic training model designed to enhance creative thinking at the highest levels of sport mastery.
References
[1]. Egamberdieva, B., Ishtayev, J., Korobeynikov, G., Khasanov, O., Gapparov, Z., Xursanova, R., ... & Juraev, I. (2025). Brilliant moves in chess and early grandmaster success: a study of the world's youngest grandmasters. Slobozhanskyi Herald of Science and Sport, 29(2), 151-166. https://doi.org/10.15391/snsv.2025-2.06
[2]. Balas, B. J. (2024). Science of Chess: What makes a move seem “Brilliant?”. Chess.com Blog. Retrieved from https://www.chess.com/blog/bjbalas/science-of-chess-what-makes-a-move-seem-brilliant
[3]. Zaidi K., & Guerzhoy M. “Predicting user perception of move brilliance in chess,” arXiv preprint arXiv:2406.11895, Jun. 14, 2024. DOI:https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2406.11895
[4]. ChessBase Mega Database. (2023). Games of Top Female Players (Hou Yifan, Koneru Humpy, Judit Polgár, etc.) [Data set]. Hamburg: ChessBase GmbH.
[5]. Chess.com. (2021). “Brilliant Move – Definition,” Chess.com Help Center, Online article. Available: support.chess.com/en/articles/8572705-how-are-moves-classified-what-is-a-blunder-or-brilliant-etc (retrieved Sept. 29, 2025).
[6]. Hammersborg P., & Strümke I. “Information based explanation methods for deep learning agents—with applications on large open-source chess models,” Scientific Reports, vol. 14, no. 1, Article 20174, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-70701-2.
[7]. Bontchev B., & Ivanov H. “Dynamic Adaptation of Difficulty in Chess,” in Proc. 2024 IEEE 12th International Conference on Intelligent Systems (IS), Varna, Bulgaria, Aug. 29–31, 2024, pp. 1–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/IS61756.2024.10705231
[8]. Blanch A., & Colom R. “Talent, practice, and excellence: Dominance of nature over nurture in worldwide chess players,” OSF Preprints, 2023. DOI:https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/u82za
[9]. Varga A., & Marschalko E. “The role of emotionality, self-efficacy, rational- and intuitive-thinking styles in advanced chess expertise,” Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai, Psychologia-Paedagogia, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 135–150, 2024. DOI:https://doi.org/10.24193/subbpsyped.2024.1.07
[10]. Rimban E. “Chess strategy and the development of constructivist thinking: Cultivating cognitive skills and transferable competencies,” SSRN preprint #4490147, Jun. 24, 2023. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4490147
[11]. Holding D.H. “The evaluation of chess positions,” Simulation & Games, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 207–221, 1979. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/104687817901000205
[12]. Omori M., & Tadepalli P. “Chess rating estimation from moves and clock times using a CNN-LSTM,” in Proc. 12th Int. Conference on Computers and Games (CG 2024), Virtual Conference, Nov. 25–29, 2024, pp. 3–13. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2409.11506
[13]. West, Vanessa (NM_Vanessa). “From Trailblazers to Candidates: 10 Brilliancies Played By Women,” Chess.com News, Mar. 21, 2024. Available: **www.chess.com**/article/view/brilliancies-played-by-women (retrieved Sept. 29, 2025).
[14]. Karakus G. “Chess and Education,” Educational Considerations, vol. 49, no. 2, Art. 5, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4148/0146-9282.2365
[15]. Shahade J. Chess Bitch: Women in the Ultimate Intellectual Sport. Siles Press, Los Angeles, 2005.
[16]. Dreżewski R., & Wątor G. “Chess as sequential data in a chess match outcome prediction using deep learning with various chessboard representations,” Procedia Computer Science, vol. 192, pp. 1760–1769, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.procs.2021.08.180
[17]. Begmatova D., Eshkuvatov H., Abdullayev N., Xodjayeva N., Suvonova O., & Ishtayev J. “Use of educational technologies in teaching the basics of nanophysics, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies,” Results in Optics, vol. 16, Article 100717, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.rio.2024.100717
[18]. Эгамбердиева, Б. Ф. (2026). ЮҚОРИ МАЛАКАЛИ ШАХМАТЧИЛАРНИ ТАЙЁРГАРЛИК ЖАРАЁНИНИ ОПТИМАЛЛАШТИРИШ. INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE EDUCATION, 5(40), 93-100.
