[dogruck]

I agree that this claim is false: “If you study chess, then you will be a better trader.”

On the other hand, I do think it’s beneficial to exercise the muscle of strategic thought and quick decision making. Maybe it’s poker instead of chess. But I think the general class of hobby is beneficial.

[pps43]

That's the explanation I often hear that I find suspicious. It's not the same muscle.

Chess is a game with complete information, trading isn't. This is an important distinction, heuristics are very different. Maybe poker is better, but then there is opportunity cost. You can get better results by studying applied statistics or another subject matter area closer to trading.

I was playing chess competitively when I was young and am doing financial models for a living now. I don't think any skill or learning transferred.

[dogruck]

Sounds like we have similar backgrounds and careers.

I can’t think of any way of conducting a study to test a hypothesis.

I suppose I would say that, strictly speaking, chess is nothing more than a game of complete information, that has a big search space, filled with interesting corners.

On the other hand, when most non-experts play OTB, much of the thought is psychological — the classic leveling of “what is my opponent trying to do, and thinking I’m trying to do, and therefore trying to do...”