Answers.Body: <p>My answer is, it comes naturally.</p>
  <p>The more often you see the chessboard, the more it will internalize at some point. Even though I am only an IM, the ability to play blindfold came naturally to me at some point.</p>
  <p>Often players who participate in a lot of tournaments write down the moves on a scoresheet at mentioned earlier. But also, in analysis with others we are constantly mentioning moves and internalizing the coordinates of the chessboard. It is hard to say though at which point it happens, but it does happen.</p>
  <p>I am not sure how to explicitly practice this skill though. Reading chess games without a board will definitely increase the ability.</p>
  <p>One other thing I have noticed is that an absolute topGM like Gelfand does not even look at the board anymore. He is often sitting with his head down, and flipping a pawn while contemplating. This has led me to believe that the actual position is can be unwanted background noise for some!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-22T16:47:05.073Z
Answers.Text: Thanks very much@David Miedema.I have also noticed Nakamura always looking sideways during calculations.Well,since you're an IM,can i please ask you for some advice on improving tactics?My tactics rating is about 1570.Can't seem to get past this.Its been a month.
Answers.UserDisplayName: bretlee
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-22T17:01:07.600Z
Answers.Text: You can use several tactic trainers online:
  There is also the Step by Step method,
  Woodpecker method,
  And many others. 
  
  The real key is perseverance and doing them every day.
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Miedema
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-22T15:54:28.590Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-07-22T15:54:28.590Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Miedema
Answers.Body: <p>Your question is quite interesting. If you are new to blindfold, I think this thread will help you: <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/5022/can-playing-blindfold-chess-be-learned-or-is-it-a-natural-skill">Can playing blindfold chess be learned or is it a natural skill?</a></p>
  <p>Now, back to your query. I have discussed this topic with a GM, who is one year senior at my college. According to him, playing <em>blindfold</em> is &quot;NOT impossible&quot;, but it's fairly difficult. As they participate in lots of classical tournaments where they have to write the scoresheet by hand, it is easy for them to quickly visualize the board. Also, their training process helps them to calculate from certain positions without playing the moves. But, on the other hand, it is fairly difficult to keep up every possible move, visualize every possible position and that needs intense focus and concentration. But, since they are calculating and visualizing chess more often than normal people, it is comparatively easy for them to play blindfold chess after practising for some time.</p>
  <p>In a nutshell: it doesn't come naturally over time without practice, even if you are a GM.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-20T06:36:07.540Z
Answers.Text: Good answer but I don't see how having to write the scoresheet by hand helps. Even 1300 FIDE players have to do it and I don't think many of them can play blindfolded
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-20T08:24:57.507Z
Answers.Text: @David, writing scoresheet by hand only helps to visualize the board quicker. But, in the blindfold, you have to move pieces, remembering the position. Just visualizing the board doesn't imply that you can play blindfold. It's just the first step of a long journey.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Amlan Saha Kundu
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-19T04:44:14.557Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-07-20T05:34:54.277Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-07-20T05:34:54.277Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Amlan Saha Kundu
Answers.Body: <p>I discovered I could play blindfold by accident. I was playing a game online and the pieces didn't load onto the screen but I could still play. I (surprisingly) won the game fairly easily. I've played quite a few blindfold games since then. I still make some dumb mistakes but I can follow the game for the most part. I'm probably 1500-1600 blindfolded.</p>
  <p>The longer the lines you can visualize and the more opening theory you know the easier it is. I like to sit quietly with my eyes closed and cut off all external stimuli as much as possible. To me, maintaining concentration is the hardest part.</p>
  <p>If you pay long enough and get good enough you'll probably reach the point where you can play blindfold without much effort. On the other hand, you can practice it and get better too though just like anything else, although you'll always have a ceiling of where your normal chess ability is.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-20T12:20:43.353Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-07-20T12:20:43.353Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Savage47
Body: <p>Since grandmasters are good at calculation, do they practice blindfold for improving calculations, or does it come naturally over time by solving a lot of  complex calculations?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-07-19T04:29:54.610Z
Comments.Text: Does this answer your question? [Can playing blindfold chess be learned or is it a natural skill?](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/5022/can-playing-blindfold-chess-be-learned-or-is-it-a-natural-skill)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Amlan Saha Kundu
Tags: <grandmaster><blindfold-chess><visualization>
Title: Do grandmasters practice blindfold chess or does it come naturally with practice?
ThreadText: # Do grandmasters practice blindfold chess or does it come naturally with practice?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-18)
  
  Since grandmasters are good at calculation, do they practice blindfold for improving calculations, or does it come naturally over time by solving a lot of complex calculations?
  
  **Tags:** grandmaster, blindfold-chess, visualization
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [Can playing blindfold chess be learned or is it a natural skill?](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/5022/can-playing-blindfold-chess-be-learned-or-is-it-a-natural-skill)  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2020-07-22. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  My answer is, it comes naturally.
  
  The more often you see the chessboard, the more it will internalize at some point. Even though I am only an IM, the ability to play blindfold came naturally to me at some point.
  
  Often players who participate in a lot of tournaments write down the moves on a scoresheet at mentioned earlier. But also, in analysis with others we are constantly mentioning moves and internalizing the coordinates of the chessboard. It is hard to say though at which point it happens, but it does happen.
  
  I am not sure how to explicitly practice this skill though. Reading chess games without a board will definitely increase the ability.
  
  One other thing I have noticed is that an absolute topGM like Gelfand does not even look at the board anymore. He is often sitting with his head down, and flipping a pawn while contemplating. This has led me to believe that the actual position is can be unwanted background noise for some!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thanks very much@username_2.I have also noticed Nakamura always looking sideways during calculations.Well,since you're an IM,can i please ask you for some advice on improving tactics?My tactics rating is about 1570.Can't seem to get past this.Its been a month.  
  > **username_2**: You can use several tactic trainers online: There is also the Step by Step method, Woodpecker method, And many others.   The real key is perseverance and doing them every day.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2020-07-19. Score: 13
  
  Your question is quite interesting. If you are new to blindfold, I think this thread will help you: [Can playing blindfold chess be learned or is it a natural skill?](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/5022/can-playing-blindfold-chess-be-learned-or-is-it-a-natural-skill)
  
  Now, back to your query. I have discussed this topic with a GM, who is one year senior at my college. According to him, playing *blindfold* is "NOT impossible", but it's fairly difficult. As they participate in lots of classical tournaments where they have to write the scoresheet by hand, it is easy for them to quickly visualize the board. Also, their training process helps them to calculate from certain positions without playing the moves. But, on the other hand, it is fairly difficult to keep up every possible move, visualize every possible position and that needs intense focus and concentration. But, since they are calculating and visualizing chess more often than normal people, it is comparatively easy for them to play blindfold chess after practising for some time.
  
  In a nutshell: it doesn't come naturally over time without practice, even if you are a GM.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: Good answer but I don't see how having to write the scoresheet by hand helps. Even 1300 FIDE players have to do it and I don't think many of them can play blindfolded  
  > **username_1**: @username_3, writing scoresheet by hand only helps to visualize the board quicker. But, in the blindfold, you have to move pieces, remembering the position. Just visualizing the board doesn't imply that you can play blindfold. It's just the first step of a long journey.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2020-07-20. Score: 3
  
  I discovered I could play blindfold by accident. I was playing a game online and the pieces didn't load onto the screen but I could still play. I (surprisingly) won the game fairly easily. I've played quite a few blindfold games since then. I still make some dumb mistakes but I can follow the game for the most part. I'm probably 1500-1600 blindfolded.
  
  The longer the lines you can visualize and the more opening theory you know the easier it is. I like to sit quietly with my eyes closed and cut off all external stimuli as much as possible. To me, maintaining concentration is the hardest part.
  
  If you pay long enough and get good enough you'll probably reach the point where you can play blindfold without much effort. On the other hand, you can practice it and get better too though just like anything else, although you'll always have a ceiling of where your normal chess ability is.
  
  
  ---
  
  