Anonymous
Forward and analytical thinking helps.
Anonymous
Logical and spatial thinking comes in very handy.
But a study of chessmasters have found that while they do tend to have higher than average reasoning skills and so forth, they were mostly outliers in terms of having exceptional memories.
Which stands to reason since today, the game is so competitive and so much of it depends on knowing existing theory.
For the more normal amateur, it seems to draw upon a whole range of talents, including logical and spatial thinking and, of course, a good memory helps.
Chess also draws on intuition (which may be closely associated to memory - something tells me in this position, you have to do this, but I'm not quite sure why), imagination, creativity in its own way… the ability to imagine how position A could turn into position B.
People who think in a logical, methodical, organized fashion tend to do well.
There are also other skills that will help the competition player, which include patience, self-control, objectivity, etc...
Gabriel
Have a plan of strategy ahead of time, react when you see their strategy or opening, always guard your strongest pieces (King, Queen, Rook, and Knight --- In that order,...maybe), don't let your guard down, only expose the weakest pieces. Set them up for a fall-into trap. Try to get rid of their queen as soon as possible. Though, I lose more games than I win anyways, so why would you listen to me? Still makes sense though right? Maybe you can use my system better than I.
Mattman
Allot of experiences can help.
Pearl L
i think any type of thinking skills would help