Coffee and Chess: Does Caffeine Help Chess Performance?

Walk into any chess tournament and you will see coffee cups next to the clocks. Chess games can last hours, and players need focus from the opening to the endgame. But does caffeine help chess performance in a measurable way? The best-known controlled study, a 2017 trial with 39 tournament players, found that caffeine made players think longer about their moves but did not increase their wins against a chess engine, while two prescription stimulants did under some conditions. For most players, coffee is better seen as a way to stay alert than as a rating boost.

Here is what the research tested, what it means for different time controls and how to use coffee sensibly at the board.

Key takeaways

  • In a 2017 randomized, double-blind trial, 400 mg of caffeine per day did not improve results in 15-minute games against the Fritz 12 engine.
  • Caffeine, like modafinil and methylphenidate, made players take longer over their moves.
  • Slower, deeper thinking can help in long games but can backfire in fast time controls.
  • Alertness over a long game is the most realistic benefit; jitters and poor sleep are the main risks.

In this article

  1. Does caffeine help chess performance? The 2017 trial
  2. What the results mean at the board
  3. Caffeine by time control
  4. A tournament coffee plan
  5. Cautions
  6. FAQ

Does caffeine help chess performance? The 2017 trial

Researchers at Mainz University Medical Center in Germany, led by Klaus Lieb and Andreas Franke, ran a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial published in European Neuropsychopharmacology in 2017. Thirty-nine male tournament players each tested four conditions on four different days: caffeine, modafinil, methylphenidate and placebo.

Detail What the study did
Players 39 male tournament chess players
Opponent The Fritz 12 chess program, adjusted to each player’s strength
Games Twenty 15-minute games per test day, more than 3,000 games in total
Caffeine dose Two doses of 200 mg (400 mg per day)
Comparison Modafinil, methylphenidate and placebo

What they found

  • Across all games, none of the substances produced more wins than placebo.
  • In games decided within the time limit, methylphenidate and modafinil were linked to more wins than placebo. Caffeine was not.
  • All three substances, caffeine included, made players spend longer thinking over their moves.

The authors suggested the prescription stimulants may have helped by encouraging deeper reflection, but that this advantage was cancelled out when players ran short of time. They warned against using these drugs because of their risks, and noted that the results need replication.

What the results mean at the board

A few points are worth keeping in mind:

  • 400 mg is a lot. That equals roughly four to five 8 fl oz cups of brewed coffee in a day and is the top of the range the FDA cites for healthy adults. Many players drink less.
  • The games were fast. In 15-minute games, extra thinking time costs you on the clock. In classical games, the balance may differ, but this study did not test that.
  • Only men were tested, and only against a computer, not a human opponent across the board.
  • Coffee is not just caffeine. The ritual, a break to stand up and the warmth of a cup may help some players settle, but that is personal experience rather than measured performance.

The fair summary: caffeine at a fairly high dose did not make these players win more fast games, though it changed how they used their time.

Caffeine by time control

Time control Possible upside Main risk Suggested approach
Bullet and blitz Alertness for a short session Overthinking, jittery mouse hand, time losses Normal morning coffee at most
Rapid (10 to 25 minutes) Focus over several rounds Spending too long on moves, as in the 2017 trial Modest dose, watch your clock
Classical (2 hours and up) Staying sharp late in long games Crash in the endgame, poor sleep before the next round Small, spaced doses
Multi-day tournaments Consistency across rounds Cumulative sleep loss No caffeine late in the day

A tournament coffee plan

  1. Stick to your normal routine. Tournament day is not the moment to try double espressos for the first time.
  2. Drink your first cup 30 to 60 minutes before the round, since caffeine takes that long to peak. See how long caffeine takes to work.
  3. In long games, take a small second cup around the middle of the game rather than one large dose at the start.
  4. Watch the clock. If you notice you are thinking longer than usual on routine moves, cut back next round.
  5. Protect sleep between rounds. Stop caffeine by mid-afternoon if you play again the next morning. Sleep loss hurts calculation far more than coffee helps it. See caffeine and sleep.
  6. Eat and drink water. A small snack helps long games; coffee on an empty stomach makes some people shaky.

Cautions

  • The FDA cites up to 400 mg of caffeine a day as generally not associated with dangerous effects for most healthy adults; EFSA considers single doses up to 200 mg safe.
  • Junior players: caffeine is discouraged for children and teens, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics as cited by the FDA.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding players: EFSA advises up to 200 mg a day.
  • Prescription stimulants should never be used without a prescription and medical supervision.

Coffee for the board

For a steady, smooth cup before a round, our House Blend is a balanced medium roast with nutty, sweet chocolate notes. For evening rounds or a second cup that will not cost you sleep, the Half Caf blends regular coffee with water-process decaf for half the caffeine. Traveling to an open? Our Instant Coffee pouch of 30 servings fits in a board bag. Everything is roasted 1 to 5 days before delivery.

Coffee and chess FAQ

Do chess players drink coffee during games?

Many do. Tournament rules generally allow drinks at the board, but check the event’s regulations.

Is caffeine banned in chess?

Caffeine is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List; it is part of WADA’s monitoring program.

Does caffeine help blitz chess?

There is no evidence it does. In the 2017 trial, caffeine made players think longer, which is risky in fast games.

Is tea better than coffee for chess?

Tea usually has less caffeine per cup, which some players prefer for long, calm focus. There is no chess-specific evidence either way.

Sources

  1. The influence of stimulants on performance when playing chess, Mainz University Medical Center, 2017 (on Franke A.G. et al., European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2017).
  2. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  3. Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine, EFSA Journal, 2015.

Facts checked in October 2026.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication, ask your doctor before changing your caffeine intake.

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