The 10 States with the Sharpest Strategic Minds in America

Strategic thinking pays off in poker, business, and life. To find out which states think ahead, we ranked all 50 states on eight strategic-thinking indicators, from chess participation to credit scores. Each state received a score out of 100 based on how it performed across all categories. The final rankings reveal which states are building smart habits, and which ones are falling behind.

Key Findings:

Massachusetts ranks first with 16.1% of its workforce in STEM jobs, nearly 5% above the national average of 11.06%.
No state plays more chess than New York (#2), which leads the top 10 with 56 players per 10,000.
Connecticut (#4) has the highest SAT turnout in the top 10 at 98%, more than double the national average of 36.9%.
Mississippi (#50) ranks last on the index with zero top 500 STEM high schools and just 1% of students taking SATs.

10. Washington - 49.17 / 100

Tucked between the Cascade Mountains and the innovation engine of Seattle, Washington ranks 10th for strategic thinking thanks to its mix of mental discipline and stable financial habits.

♟️ Chess players: 25 per 10,000 residents
🏫 STEM high schools ranked in the top 500: 12
🎰 Licensed casinos across the state: 34
🧠 Average IQ: 101.9
✏️ 37% of high school students take the SAT
📊 Average SAT score: 1081
💳 Average credit score: 734
🔬 14.9% of workforce employed in STEM fields

9. Virginia 50.15 / 100

With roots in both defense and tech, Virginia stands out for its strategic mindset, which reflects in solid SAT scores and a high rate of chess players.

♟️ Chess players: 46 per 10,000 residents
🏫 STEM high schools ranked in the top 500: 6
🎰 Licensed casinos across the state: 3
🧠 Average IQ: 101.9
✏️ 51% of high school students take the SAT
📊 Average SAT score: 1113
💳 Average credit score: 721
🔬 14% of workforce employed in STEM fields

8. Colorado 51.15 / 100

Colorado pairs high-altitude living with a high SAT turnout. 90% of students take the test, suggesting a statewide commitment to long-term planning.

♟️ Chess players: 26 per 10,000 residents
🏫 STEM high schools ranked in the top 500: 12
🎰 Licensed casinos across the state: 35
🧠 Average IQ: 101.5
✏️ 90% of high school students take the SAT.
📊 Average SAT score: 996
💳 Average credit score: 728
🔬 14.6% of workforce employed in STEM fields.

7. Illinois 51.32 / 100

Illinois blends Midwestern grit with intellectual edge, with cities like Chicago shaping a culture of sharp thinking and steady discipline.

♟️ Chess players: 51 per 10,000 residents
🏫 STEM high schools ranked in the top 500: 26
🎰 Licensed casinos across the state: 15
🧠 Average IQ: 99.9
✏️ 90% of high school students take the SAT.
📊 Average SAT score: 970
💳 Average credit score: 719
🔬 11.9% of workforce employed in STEM fields.

6. Vermont 52.70 / 100

Even without a flashy casino scene or a long list of elite schools, Vermont’s top 10 spot reflects a commitment to smart habits and long-term thinking in the state.

♟️ Chess players: 51 per 10,000 residents
🏫 STEM high schools ranked in the top 500: 1
🎰 Licensed casinos across the state: 0
🧠 Average IQ: 103.8
✏️ 43% of high school students take the SAT.
📊 Average SAT score: 1099
💳 Average credit score: 736
🔬 12.1% of workforce employed in STEM fields.

5. New Hampshire 55.72/100

Steeped in a tradition of independence and civic engagement, New Hampshire pairs its “Live Free or Die” spirit with one of the most academically involved student populations in the country.

♟️ Chess players: 39 per 10,000 residents
🏫 STEM high schools ranked in the top 500: 2
🎰 Licensed casinos across the state: 0
🧠 Average IQ: 104.2
✏️ 82% of high school students take the SAT.
📊 Average SAT score: 1035
💳 Average credit score: 734
🔬 14.4% of workforce employed in STEM fields.

4. Connecticut 56.67 / 100

Connecticut's edge lies in its discipline. This small but driven state stands out for its academic intensity, with the highest SAT turnout in the top 10.

♟️ Chess players: 45 per 10,000 residents
🏫 STEM high schools ranked in the top 500: 17
🎰 Licensed casinos across the state: 2
🧠 Average IQ: 103.5
✏️ 98% of high school students take the SAT.
📊 Average SAT score: 1007
💳 Average credit score: 728
🔬 12.9% of workforce employed in STEM fields.

3. New Jersey 58.69 / 100 🥉

New Jersey takes the bronze for strategic thinking. Residents have access to 44 STEM high schools ranked in the nation’s top 500, including Princeton International School of Math and Science. With 45 chess players per 10,000 people and an average IQ of 102.8, the state shows clear signs of strategic depth. About 66% of students take the SAT, scoring an average of 1066. The average credit score is 725, and 13.5% of the workforce is employed in STEM fields. With nine casinos in the state, there’s also room for calculated risk.

2. New York 58.71 / 100 🥈

There’s no shortage of competitive outlets for strategic thinkers in New York. The state has 34 casinos and the highest rate of chess participation in the top 10, with 56 players per 10,000 people. It also leads the country in high-performing STEM high schools, with 62 making the national list. Students show solid academic engagement, with 61% taking the SAT and scoring an average of 1039. Intellectual and financial metrics remain steady in the state with a 100.7 IQ average, 722 average credit score, and 11.8% of the workforce in STEM.

1. Massachusetts 60.81 / 100 🥇

Massachusetts takes the top spot with a strong showing across nearly every metric. It has 34 STEM high schools in the national top 500, and the average IQ is 104.3, the highest in the top 10. 52% of students take the SAT, with an average score of 1112. What sets Massachusetts apart is its workforce. About 16.1 percent are employed in STEM, nearly 5% above the national average of 11.06%. Chess participation is steady at 35 per 10,000, and with only three casinos, the state leans more academic than recreational when it comes to strategy.

The Southern States Struggling with Strategy

At the bottom of our strategic index are three neighboring Southern states: Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. Mississippi ranks last with an index score of just 13.52, driven by the lowest SAT participation (1%) and zero STEM high schools in the top 500. Arkansas and Alabama fare slightly better, with scores of 18.40 and 18.92, respectively. All three states show low chess participation, limited STEM infrastructure, and below-average STEM workforce representation, pointing to a regional gap in strategy-focused thinking.

Methodology

We created a composite index by collecting publicly available state-specific data across eight indicators related to strategic thinking and long-term planning. Each metric was normalized and equally weighted to produce a final score out of 100. Here's what we measured:

Factors & Sources:

Chess Participation: US Chess Federation
Top STEM High Schools: U.S. News & World Report
Number of Casinos: American Gaming Association
IQ Rankings: World Population Review
SAT Participation Rate: OnToCollege
Average SAT Score: OnToCollege
Average Credit Score: Investopedia
STEM Workforce (% with Bachelor’s degrees): National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

Full Data for the Most Strategic States in the US

State	Population	Chess Participation	Chess Participation (per 10,000)	# of ' STEM High Schools' in Top 500	# of Casinos	IQ	% Taking the SAT Test	Average SAT score	Average credit score	% of STEM Workers (with Bachelor's Degree)
Alabama	5197720	11,869	23	1	3	95.7	3%	1161	691	9.5%
Alaska	743756	2,400	32	0	2	99	32%	1082	717	9.9%
Arizona	7691740	31,719	41	14	29	97.4	10%	1183	710	10.7%
Arkansas	3107240	4,159	13	0	3	97.5	2%	1192	694	8.5%
California	39663800	124,743	31	80	86	95.5	24%	1083	721	12.7%
Colorado	6013650	15,586	26	12	35	101.5	90%	996	728	14.6%
Connecticut	3707120	16,571	45	17	2	103.5	98%	1007	728	12.9%
Delaware	1067410	2,318	22	1	3	100.4	97%	958	714	10.8%
Florida	23839600	63,413	27	7	15	98.4	95%	966	706	9.5%
Georgia	11297300	27,090	24	12	0	98	56%	1054	693	10.6%
Hawaii	1450900	3,035	21	0	0	95.6	37%	1114	732	10.2%
Idaho	2032120	3,676	18	1	10	101.4	76%	970	725	9.2%
Illinois	12778100	65,219	51	26	15	99.9	96%	970	719	11.9%
Indiana	6968420	30,178	43	4	13	101.7	100%	971	712	10.1%
Iowa	3264560	9,809	30	1	23	103.2	2%	1208	729	9.1%
Kansas	2989710	8,194	27	2	11	102.8	2%	1245	721	11.5%
Kentucky	4626150	25,251	55	0	0	99.4	2%	1208	702	9.6%
Louisiana	4607410	10,307	22	0	24	95.3	2%	1194	689	9.2%
Maine	1410380	7,637	54	0	2	103.4	38%	1080	727	10.6%
Maryland	6309380	27,690	44	12	6	99.7	70%	1008	716	15.2%
Massachusetts	7205770	25,247	35	34	3	104.3	52%	1112	732	16.1%
Michigan	10197600	32,246	32	18	26	100.5	96%	967	719	11.6%
Minnesota	5833250	14,419	25	8	38	103.7	3%	1201	742	12.7%
Mississippi	2942920	6,235	21	0	29	94.2	1%	1184	681	7.6%
Missouri	6282890	19,050	30	4	13	101	3%	1191	711	10.6%
Montana	1143160	1,277	11	1	14	103.4	4%	1193	730	10.7%
Nebraska	2023070	5,657	28	0	7	102.3	1%	1252	731	11.0%
Nevada	3320570	11,540	35	0	229	96.5	6%	1166	701	8.5%
New Hampshire	1415860	5,466	39	2	0	104.2	82%	1035	734	14.4%
New Jersey	9622060	43,522	45	44	9	102.8	66%	1066	725	13.5%
New Mexico	2139350	11,299	53	1	26	95.7	100%	901	699	11.2%
New York	19997100	112,548	56	62	34	100.7	61%	1039	722	11.8%
North Carolina	11210900	34,002	30	10	3	100.2	20%	1127	707	11.5%
North Dakota	804089	1,562	19	0	11	103.8	1%	1287	733	10.4%
Ohio	11942600	32,814	27	26	11	101.8	21%	1044	715	10.6%
Oklahoma	4126900	7,873	19	0	143	99.3	9%	953	692	8.8%
Oregon	4291090	12,431	29	4	10	101.2	23%	1125	731	12.4%
Pennsylvania	13139800	43,434	33	30	17	101.5	46%	1078	723	12.1%
Rhode Island	1121190	3,863	34	3	2	99.5	99%	958	723	11.1%
South Carolina	5569830	9,632	17	3	0	98.4	51%	1028	693	9.9%
South Dakota	931033	3,593	39	1	35	102.8	1%	1208	733	10.5%
Tennessee	7307200	25,251	35	3	0	97.7	4%	1191	701	9.7%
Texas	31853800	123,584	39	22	2	100	73%	978	692	10.5%
Utah	3564000	13,273	37	1	0	101.1	2%	1239	727	10.6%
Vermont	648278	3,312	51	1	0	103.8	43%	1099	736	12.1%
Virginia	8887700	37,924	43	6	3	101.9	51%	1113	721	14.0%
Washington	8059040	20,469	25	12	34	101.9	37%	1081	734	14.9%
West Virginia	1769460	5,999	34	2	5	98.7	89%	923	699	9.2%
Wisconsin	5991540	13,511	23	12	25	102.9	2%	1236	735	10.7%
Wyoming	590169	1,286	22	0	3	102.4	1%	1200	722	7.8%

Final Moves: Lessons from the Rankings

If all 50 states sat down at a real-money poker tournament, you'd keep your eye on Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. They're disciplined players with sharp instincts and a long-term game plan. As for Mississippi, Arkansas or Alabama? Let's just say you'd be glad to see them at your table.

Where does your state stack up? Join the conversation on X & YouTube with #StrategicStates2025.

Paul Seaton, an esteemed figure in the poker community with over ten years of experience, has provided live coverage from renowned poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and World Poker Tour. His involvement goes beyond observation; he has served as the Editor of BLUFF Europe Magazine and Head of Media for partypoker.