Answers.Body: <p>In essence, you are asking- </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Can memory (or other brain functions) be improved or is it a natural trait?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The answer is yes to both. While it is true that one's memory can be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory#Improving_memory">improved</a>, it is also commonly observed that some people are more "gifted" when it comes to memory (and other brain functions) than others. </p>
  
  <p>To play blindfold chess, you need three things - </p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>A decent <strong>memory</strong></li>
  <li>A good ability to <strong>visualize</strong></li>
  <li>A decent level of chess <strong>playing strength</strong> (if you want to play decent chess i.e. or one could simply have a fantastic memory and make legal yet nonsensical moves). </li>
  </ol>
  
  <p><strong>Memory</strong> </p>
  
  <p>I never "practiced" blindfold chess to learn it. I simply observed that as soon as my chess level got to FIDE 2000 level (for example), I could easily replay moves in my head and think "blindly". I don't have a great memory. I suppose my memory is average or slightly above average, but chess has surely helped to improve it to some extent. </p>
  
  <p><strong>Visualization</strong></p>
  
  <p><strong>The way I do it is by visualizing a 2D board in my head</strong> (like a computer screen). The board doesn't have to be crystal clear (it's often hazy), but as long as you can "see" the pieces in their places, it's fine. I suppose that a chess player's ability to visualize increases the more chess he/she plays. This is normal brain development. The more you exercise a muscle, the better it gets. So I would suggest you practice visualization to get better at it. </p>
  
  <p><strong>Playing Strength</strong></p>
  
  <p>The real point of blind chess is to <strong>play chess blindly and yet play it well</strong>. So playing strength is indispensable or else there is no point in playing blind chess. If you play blind chess badly, you only prove you have a good memory and visualization power and nothing more. So, as an amateur, I would say <strong>your top priority is to improve your playing strength. <em>Work on that and your memory and visualization will automatically improve</em></strong>. </p>
  
  <p>All the best!</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-16T14:43:25.390Z
Answers.Text: thanks for that inspiring answer. So you mean majority of people with a strength of 2000 ELO, specially the IM's and GM's are capable of doing blindfold chess? 
  
  Thanks I'll try to improve my playing strength. Currently I play at 1600 to 1700 level.
Answers.UserDisplayName: LayoutPH
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Answers.Text: Yes. I think that a 2000 ELO player should be able to play blindfold chess without it being overly difficult for him/her.
Answers.UserDisplayName: NM Wesley Falcao
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Answers.Text: For most I would agree with your Playing Strength section.  However, I'd teach blind chess to those also interested in Discrete Mathematics - specifically Graph Theory, regardless of playing strength or intent to improve.  Although I'm only around a 1500 player, I think this skill has helped me immensely in my studies.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Paul Burchett
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-16T01:47:52.970Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: NM Wesley Falcao
Answers.Body: <p>It is obviously a learned skill. No-one pops into the world after gestating for 9 months able to play blindfold chess!  Just as no-one arrives destined to be an International footballer, genius mathematician or Olympic athlete.</p>
  
  <p>The real question is, is it learned by specifically training to acquire the skills of blindfold chess, or does it develop in some other way?</p>
  
  <p>I am a reasonably strong chess player (and was stronger when I was much younger) but have always been well short of IM or GM strength. Yet I can play blindfold chess with ease. Unfortunately it is not especially strong blindfold chess! It lags about 100 rating points below my OTB rating. The main difference is that although I make fewer gross blunders when playing blindfold I do not find exceptionally strong moves or plans either.</p>
  
  <p>I have never studied specifically for it but I have been able to play blindfold since I passed about 1800 strength.  At least that is when I first tried it, and succeeded. The first hint that I might be able to play blindfold was when I realised that I could follow chess books without a board and pieces. When I got stronger I found that I could play several blindfold games simultaneously, so in my case the ability developed as a side effect of learning to play chess with a board and pieces. I suspect the same is true of most players including all those FMs, IMs and GMs that are much stronger than me. </p>
  
  <p>Isn't this what you would expect? In learning to play chess well we become intimately familiar with the board, with the powers of the pieces, and with the patterns commonly made by tactical operations and by positional features.  We also calculate future positions by imagining sequences of moves and the positions to which they lead.  These are the basic skills of blindfold play, so it is not surprising that the skill can develop naturally alongside increasing chess strength.</p>
  
  <p>This is not to say that you cannot train specifically to play blindfold.  I expect that you can.  But I do not think that is how most chess players gained the skill.</p>
  
  <p>Blindfold chess is  not such an exceptional and amazing mental feat as it is thought to be by people that don't play chess (and by some that do!). I do not know of any strong player that cannot play blindfold. I have challenged some strong players that have never tried to play blindfold to give it a try, and they have always managed it with some ease. What is strong?  Well no-one I know that has achieved a rating of 2100 or more has failed this challenge, and many with lower ratings have managed it.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: One  could add that blindfold is a lot easier to play if you have a familiar position on the (virtual) board. As an example, you could store the information: "fianchettoed  bishop" instead of storing the position of five pieces (e.g. Nf3, Bg2, pawns on f2, g3, h2).
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-12-15T10:18:48.650Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-12-15T10:25:15.460Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: user4792
Answers.Body: <p>I just want to share what I am doing now to improve my blindfold chess visualization skill. </p>
  
  <p>I downloaded a dozen of minigames of 10 to 15 moves in PGN format from chessgames.com , then I load it from my chess PGN application from my mobile phone. Then I read the PGN and play it on my mind without browsing it from my PGN reader. As I finished the game from my mind. I verify the position by playing the actual game from my PGN reader. I am using Chess PGN Master available from Iphone and Android.</p>
  
  <p>I feel happy every time I finished a game that matches exactly from the game I visualized.</p>
  
  <p>I think this stepping stone would put me someday from playing blindfold chess.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-16T15:06:11.567Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: LayoutPH
Answers.Body: <p>the ability to play blindfold chess develops naturally as chess ability improves. By getting better at chess, one gets better at blindfold chess.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-22T19:22:26.533Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: CognisMantis
Answers.Body: <p>I have a USCF of around 1500 and I can play blind, so if that's what you're looking for it shouldn't be overly difficult.  I did have to push myself a little though.  I want to try multiple boards, we'll see.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-28T09:02:31.637Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Paul Burchett
Answers.Body: <p>If Marc Lang from germany could play 46 games blindfolded (at once) then there is a chance that you could play one.</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.blindfoldchess.net/blog/2011/12/after_64_years_new_world_blindfold_record_set_by_marc_lang_playing_46_games/" rel="nofollow">http://www.blindfoldchess.net/blog/2011/12/after_64_years_new_world_blindfold_record_set_by_marc_lang_playing_46_games/</a></p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-23T22:18:53.987Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: chessivan
Answers.Body: <p>I don't play blindfold but I've been told by people who do that if I want to start learning / training then the place to start is by mentally splitting the board into 4 quarters: a1-4xd1-4, e1-4xh1-4, a5-8xd5-8, e5-8xh5-8. Then picture the pieces in these 4 quarters independently of each other. So, hold in your mind a picture of the first quadrant. Then do the same for the second quadrant, etc. Finally bring the 4 quarters together in your mind.</p>
  
  <p>I've not tried this but it makes sense on the principle of "crawl, walk, run" and is similar to what bridge players do, counting up to 13 in lots of different ways (4xsuits + 4xplayers, etc)</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.Body: <p>I am very surprised that in this old thread absolutely no mention is made of visualization. We tend to assume that everyone thinks as we do, but perhaps more or less effectively. This is not true. Some people think visually, others verbally, logically, or kinematically. Those who do visualize vary in accuracy and clarity. See the Wikipedia article on &quot;Visual Thinking&quot;. I myself have no power at all to visualize and believed for a long time that the phrase &quot;in the mind's eye&quot; was merely a poetic figure of speech. I have played blindfold, but not well. To become good would be a huge effort.</p>
  <p>Long ago, my university team, returning by train from an away match, would divide into two teams and play &quot;blindfold&quot;. The player next in line for each team would make the move. Our board two was completely helpless. Some of our lower boards had no difficulty at all.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: +1 from here - I *can* play blindfold but I play rather lousy compared to other players of my club. Interestingly, my memory is very good. It's exactly the visualization department I lack in.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Philip Roe
Answers.Body: <p>Blindfold Chess is an ability which can be learned with Practice . Though some People may learn it faster than others but with average Chess intelligence it can be achieved . As like Magnus Carlsen who can play blindfolded with 10 Opponents at a time is something God Gifted but with the Training the Average Player can achieve to play one person blindfolded at one time.</p>
  
  <p>Every Chess Player should try enhancing this Quality because it gradually helps in doing better Chess calculations &amp; Visualizations in Games. </p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Seth Projnabrata
Answers.Body: <p>I play in chess tournaments in Philadelphia and in the U1500 section( i think) is a blind man. He has his own separate room to play in and there are special rules that apply to him. To record the moves he has an audio recording device. He also plays with 2 boards. The main board with the real pieces the opponent plays with and a special board with peg holes for the pieces. On the pieces of the special board are  metal balls on the Black pieces so he can distinguish pieces. He is allowed to touch all the pieces on his board so he can visualize. His opponent has to help him and move his pieces on the main board but he is very independent non the less!
  In my mind that is the real blindfolded chess! </p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: theeppright
Answers.Body: <p>This is a bit late but in case you are still wondering - yes you can. We've been working on our <a href="https://odinchess.com/about" rel="nofollow noreferrer">blindfold chess website</a> for the past few months and just released our beta. The entire purpose of the website is for people to learn how to play a full game blindfolded.</p>
  <p>We start by running you through basic <a href="https://odinchess.com/tutorials/PGN-Tutorial" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PGN notation</a>. You can get comfortable with this notation using our <a href="https://odinchess.com/minigames" rel="nofollow noreferrer">minigames</a>. Once you're comfortable with that - you can train your memory using our <a href="https://odinchess.com/vision" rel="nofollow noreferrer">vision</a> puzzles while also doing 'blindfold' <a href="https://odinchess.com/tactics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">tactics</a> to practice finding optimal sequences in your mind. After that it's just a matter of practicing actual games of chess, which you can do <a href="https://odinchess.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
  <p>Hopefully this helps you or anyone else looking to learn blindfold chess :)</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2023-05-02T13:52:54.910Z
Answers.Text: Hello, I am interested in learning to play blindfold chess and wanted to try out your website, but the link returns an error 500. Is there any problem with the site, or it's on my side?
Answers.UserDisplayName: jarmanso7
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-05-02T13:55:02.913Z
Answers.Text: "500 Internal Server Error. Sorry, our fault: internal server error. Head back to our home page."
Answers.UserDisplayName: jarmanso7
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Answers.CreationDate: 2021-12-31T21:31:58.280Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: odinchess.com
Answers.Body: <p>You might find this podcast from Perpetual Chess interesting:</p>
  <p><a href="https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2020/8/29/book-recap-talking-blindfold-chess-with-guest-co-host-jerry-wells" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2020/8/29/book-recap-talking-blindfold-chess-with-guest-co-host-jerry-wells</a></p>
  <p>The beginning of the podcast talks about the book Blindfold Chess by Hearst and Knott.  The book was reviewed because Jerry Wells read it, got a lot out of it, and taught himself to play 2 blindfold games at once, despite being a USCF class B player.  The second part of the podcast talks about various tips on playing blindfold and finishes up with a discussion of many resources on playing blindfold and visualization in general.</p>
  <p>Links to resources are also in the summary of the podcast.  Thanks Brian!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2024-12-03T23:30:32.160Z
Answers.Text: This doesn't answer the question. Link only answers are not allowed. Could you please expand your answer to give an overview of what is covered in the podcast?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
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Answers.UserDisplayName: BWilder
Answers.Body: <p>This is not a technical answer. Playing blindfold can be practiced and you can gain proficiency upto a level. But beyond that level, as it is with normal chess, you need talent, pure talent.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: don_Gunner94
Answers.Body: <p>Exercises for blindfold chess playing.</p>
  
  <p>IOS/WP app.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/blind-chess-train/id802114888" rel="nofollow">https://itunes.apple.com/app/blind-chess-train/id802114888</a></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/games/blind-chess-train/9wzdncrd2vvn" rel="nofollow">https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/games/blind-chess-train/9wzdncrd2vvn</a></p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: w770115
Answers.Body: <p>As I have said before, this requires physical fitness and strong memory. In order to play blindfolded chess properly you need to master the following:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Having always <strong>clear vision</strong> of the board.</p></li>
  <li><p>Properly move and capture pieces.</p></li>
  <li><p>Properly update the overall position on the board after the move is played. </p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Now it is time to implement solutions for the above tasks:</p>
  
  <h2>1. Having always <strong>clear vision</strong> of the board.</h2>
  
  <p>You must know which squares are light and which are dark. First you must know <strong>if the coordinate has odd parity or not.</strong> This is important for both letter and number coordinate. You first check the letter's parity, and then you determine the color of the square like below:</p>
  
  <p>1.1 If letter has odd parity and number does not, than it is a light square ( <code>a2</code>, <code>c8</code>, <code>g6</code>... Do you see the pattern now? ).</p>
  
  <p>1.2 If letter and number both have odd parity, than it is a dark square ( <code>a1</code>, <code>c3</code>, <code>g5</code>... Do you see the pattern now? ).</p>
  
  <p>2.1 If letter doesn't have odd parity and number does, than it is a light square ( <code>b3</code>, <code>f5</code>, <code>h7</code>... Do you see the pattern now? ).</p>
  
  <p>2.2 If letter and number don't have odd parity, than it is a dark square ( <code>c1</code>, <code>d4</code>, <code>h8</code>... Do you see the pattern now? ).</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/URfhP.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <h2>2. Properly move and capture pieces.</h2>
  
  <p>Here you have <code>*starting square*</code>->it is the square a piece stands on, and the <code>*target square*</code>, the one you wish to move your piece to. </p>
  
  <p>When moving/capturing you change the value of at least one coordinate, be that letter or a number. For example, when you move a rook from <code>h1</code> to <code>g1</code> notice that the letter coordinate got decremented by 1. The same goes for number coordinates, when moving a pawn from <code>e2</code> to <code>e3</code> notice how number coordinate incremented by 1. </p>
  
  <p>To illustrate this in the most efficient way, I will introduce a special notation that I will explain right now:</p>
  
  <p>We shall adopt the format <code>L[±/+/-]N[±/+/-]</code>. </p>
  
  <p><code>L</code> is the starting letter coordinate and <code>N</code> is the starting number coordinate. </p>
  
  <p><code>[]</code> store <strong>simple adding/subtracting</strong> function describing how to calculate the valid coordinate for putting a piece, or be blank in which case the coordinate remains the same.</p>
  
  <p>This function uses symbols <code>±</code>, <code>+</code>, <code>-</code> for calculation. </p>
  
  <p>The symbol <code>/</code> lists options ( <strong>you can always do only one mathematical calculation in the bracket.</strong> ) . </p>
  
  <p>For example, rook can move forward or backward so instead of writing  <code>L[+1]N[]</code> or <code>L[-1]L[]</code> it will be shorter to write <code>L[+1/-1]</code>. Then you choose which function to perform, adding <strong>or</strong> subtracting. </p>
  
  <p><em>Furthermore, each option for <code>L</code> will have corresponding option for <code>N</code>, meaning that in this example <code>L[-1/+1]N[-1/+1]</code> you either do <code>L[-1]N[-1]</code> or <code>L[+1][+1]</code>. This will all be clearer in practical examples shown below.</em></p>
  
  <p>Here are the patterns:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><em>Pawn:</em></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>When moving a pawn, <strong>always</strong> increment by one <strong>the number coordinate</strong>. If testing for capture, replace the starting letter coordinate with its successor or predecessor, else do nothing.</p>
  
  <p><em>Example:</em></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IzueA.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>When you apply this for the diagram above, a pawn on <code>f3</code> can move to <code>f4</code> and capture on <code>e4</code> or <code>g4</code> and a pawn on <code>b6</code> can move to <code>b7</code> and capture on <code>a7</code> or <code>c7</code>. </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><em>Knight:</em></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p><strong>L[ ±2 / ±1 ]N[ ±1 / ±2 ]</strong> for both capture and move.</p>
  
  <p><em>Example:</em></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9f2Er.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>In the diagram above knight stands on <code>e4</code> square. Let us use our pattern to determine on which squares it can stand:</p>
  
  <p><strong><code>e</code>[ ±2 / ±1 ]<code>4</code>[ ±1 / ±2 ]</strong> can have the following results:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>First option is <code>e</code>[ ±2 ]<code>4</code>[ ±1 ] :</p>
  
  <p>This means that we can move the knight on <code>e</code>[+2]<code>4</code>[+1] = <code>g5</code>, or <code>e</code>[+2]<code>4</code>[-1] = <code>g3</code>, or <code>e</code>[-2]<code>4</code>[+1] = <code>c5</code> and finally <code>e</code>[-2]<code>4</code>[-1] = <code>c3</code>.</p></li>
  <li><p>Second option is <code>e</code>[ ±1 ]<code>4</code>[ ±2 ] :</p>
  
  <p>This means that we can move the knight on <code>e</code>[ +1 ]<code>4</code>[ +2 ] = <code>f6</code>, or <code>e</code>[ +1 ]<code>4</code>[ -2 ] = <code>f2</code>, or <code>e</code>[ -1 ]<code>4</code>[ +2 ] = <code>d6</code> and finally <code>e</code>[ -1 ]<code>4</code>[ -2 ] = <code>d2</code>.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><em>Bishop:</em></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>For the bishop is tough, but <strong>I was able to invent a solution that is simple and effective.</strong></p>
  
  <p>You see, we can treat diagonal as an <em>linear function</em> and a bishop as a coordinate on it. After carefully looking on the picture below we can see that diagonal <strong>is a part of a square.</strong> This is the equation for a <em>linear function</em> with 2 known coordinates:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/KiNZ7.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>Where <code>( x2 , y2 )</code> is the destination point, and <code>( x1 , y1 )</code> is the starting point.</p>
  
  <p><code>( y2 - y1 ) / ( x2 - x1 )</code> <strong>can only be ±1</strong>, since we have a square, which gives us the <code>y2 = y1 ±( x2 - x1 )</code> equation. </p>
  
  <p>Since we know both the starting square and target square all we have to do is check if the above equation is true and if is then bishop can move/capture on the target square! </p>
  
  <p>We just need slight adjustment since we use letters for <code>x-axis</code> instead of numbers:</p>
  
  <h2><strong>Target letter coordinate = Starting letter coordinate ± ( Target number coordinate - Starting number coordinate )</strong></h2>
  
  <p>And there it is!</p>
  
  <p>The tricky part is to determine when to choose <code>-</code> and when <code>+</code>. Still there is an easy way:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QORbD.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>If your diagonal has direction like blue one in the picture above, you use <code>+</code> else you use <code>-</code> in the equation.</p>
  
  <p><em>Example:</em></p>
  
  <p>In the diagram above bishop stands on <code>e4</code> square. Let us use our equation to determine if it can move to <code>c6</code> ( <strong>here we choose <code>-</code></strong> since the direction of the diagonal is the same as the red one's in the mentioned diagram ): <code>c = e - ( 6 - 4 ) = e - 2 = c</code> which is correct result ( second letter before <code>e</code> is <code>c</code> ). </p>
  
  <p>Now let us test <code>f6</code> ( <strong>here we choose <code>+</code></strong> since the direction of the diagonal would be the same as the blue one's in the mentioned diagram ): <code>f = e + ( 6 - 4 ) = e + 2 = g</code> which is invalid and that is a correct result. </p>
  
  <p>Now let us test <code>b1</code> ( <strong>here we choose <code>+</code></strong> since the direction of the diagonal is the same as the blue one's in the mentioned diagram ): <code>b = e + ( 1 - 4 ) = e - 3 = b</code> which is valid and that is correct result.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dwGFH.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><em>Rook:</em></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The target square must have equal letter or number coordinate, in order for a rook to go there. </p>
  
  <p><em>Example:</em></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OzbUN.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>For example in the diagram above, rook is on <code>e4</code> and he can move on any square that has at least one coordinate equal to his start coordinate. Therefore we can see that rook can stand on <code>e8</code> because that square has the same letter as the starting square, or <code>h4</code> since the number coordinates are the same.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><em>Queen:</em></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>You just have to perform testing the same way you would for bishop or rook:</p>
  
  <p>Either the target square has same letter or number, or must satisfy the equation I gave you for the bishop ( <code>Target letter coordinate = Starting letter coordinate ± ( Target number coordinate - Starting number coordinate )</code> ).</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Sdd55.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><em>King:</em></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Two conditions must be fulfilled in order for target square to be valid:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p><code>Target square number coordinate</code> - <code>starting square number coordinate</code> must be 1 or -1.</p></li>
  <li><p>Target letter coordinate must be either successor or predecessor of the starting letter, or equal to it.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p><em>Example:</em></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/joUD0.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>In the diagram above, king is on <code>f3</code>. Let us determine if he can stand on <code>e5</code>:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p><code>e</code> is the predecessor of <code>f</code>, which is good so far.</p></li>
  <li><p>5(<em>target number coordinate</em>) - 3(<em>starting number coordinate</em>) = 2, thus this square is invalid.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Now let us test <code>f2</code>:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p><code>f</code> is equal to <code>f</code>, so far so good.</p></li>
  <li><p>2 - 3 = -1, which is valid result, so yes, king can move there.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <h2>3. Properly update the overall position on the board after the move is played.</h2>
  
  <p>This is the place where your memory and physical fitness come into play. It will be hard for you to memorize which pieces were exchanged and where each one stand. Especially when you need to calculate lines this can be a cause of many mistakes.</p>
  
  <p>I hope that this answer helps you, sorry for posting late, I have a lot of work to do. These tips are really just a basic math and you really should have no trouble using them successfully. Still if you need help leave a comment. </p>
  
  <p>Good luck and best regards.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-23T22:49:27.373Z
Answers.Text: Excellent answer dude
Answers.UserDisplayName: LayoutPH
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-23T23:33:40.273Z
Answers.Text: @LayoutPH: Sorry for posting too late, but I was very busy. These tops and tricks look scary "on the paper" but in practice are very easy to implement. Hopefully you will succeed in your goal to learn blindfold chess. Let me know if this answer helped you. Best regards.
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-25T04:12:36.530Z
Answers.Text: Hi dude, your answer is excellent specially the patterns if I can only vote for your answer in this question 10times I will do it. :)
Answers.UserDisplayName: LayoutPH
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-06-22T14:52:41.330Z
Answers.Text: This answer strikes me as absurd. Nobody learns to play blindfold chess like that. Nobody remembers coordinates and does mathematical calculations to find out how to move a piece. If you reach a certain level you just know where any given piece from any given square can move to and you just know which colour any given square has. And you don't remember positions piece by piece, everything is connected and interacting.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-06-22T16:40:24.280Z
Answers.Text: @BlindKungFuMaster: *Nobody learns to play blindfold chess like that.* I did. *Nobody remembers coordinates* Yes you do, when your opponent tells you where he placed his piece. *If you reach a certain level you just know where any given piece from any given square can move to and you just know which colour any given square has.* How did you play blindfold **before** you have reached that level? *And you don't remember positions piece by piece, everything is connected and interacting.* Unclear what you mean, but I don't care. The most important thing is that this answer solved OP's problem.
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-06-23T08:14:00.397Z
Answers.Text: In your answer you completely disengage playing blindfold from the ability to play chess well. Even if some people are capable of remembering all pieces separately and mathematically calculate legal moves - they still wouldn't really play blindfold chess, they would just remember positions and move pieces. That's impressive, but strikes me as pointless. That's like remembering a face by dividing it into pixels and memorising each pixel separately. The human brain doesn't work like that.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-06-23T08:25:54.247Z
Answers.Text: If my opponent tells me "Nd4", I don't memorise these coordinates. Instead I know that there is now a knight on this particular central square. And this fact stays in my mind, not because I learn it by heart, but because I see that it attacks the weak square on c6, it might be sacrificed on e6, it is slightly unstable because of my bishop on g7 and the possibility to play e5 and so forth. I remember the knight on d4 because of its interactions with the other pieces, because of tactical and strategical possibilities. And that's how it works for every halfway decent blindfold player.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-10-17T15:51:23.953Z
Answers.Text: This answer is completely useless. First, it does not answer the question at all. Secondly, the methods shown here are only good for implementing a computer chess program.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Bogdan Alexandru
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-01-28T03:56:00.937Z
Answers.Text: I conccur with what BlindKungFu master posted. A lot of effort was put in this answer but it is a bit absurd. Blndfold play comes very naturally as you play the game and replay chess games from books. You eventually know exactly where all pieces go. When I was learning chess, I was playing a lot of blitzes, and replaying games from Informator. I never even tried to play blindfold then, but I ended up naturally talking about specific positions with other players without a chessboard, it was natural. When I first tried to play blindfold, I could already do bullet 1 minute blindfold easily.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Emphyrio
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-26T16:26:06.167Z
Answers.Text: To learn to play blidnfold chess, it is better to check out this question: https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/q/8825/22041. To my surprise, I didn't find this question on chess.se
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cyriac Antony
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-20T06:37:56.740Z
Answers.Text: The answer is fine, only it's a very good answer to the wrong question
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-20T12:24:51.777Z
Answers.Text: As several others have pointed out, this is an unnecessarily ridiculous answer to a very simple question. And on top of that, this is not how to learn to play blindfold.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Savage47
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2024-09-30T06:56:56.460Z
Answers.Text: These are ideas about training methods.  This is not really answering the question, but elaborating on how, if it were not needing any innate predisposition to leanrning, it might be trained. Actually, while i think it interesting information. It would seem to be applicable to predispositino or not.  An answer might attempt to use more comparative existing studies perhaps where there might be ways to compare various perdispositions or potential. or not knowing. using the same training method and life span budgets committed to that, and some testing of evolution of the skill.s in populations.
Answers.UserDisplayName: dbdb
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-23T05:21:17.223Z
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-02-04T19:19:11.467Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Body: <p>Any blindfold players here? Just wondering if blindfold chess is a skill that can be learned by amateurs like me or a natural skill by chess GM's, IM's, etc.</p>
  
Tags: <learning><grandmaster><blindfold-chess><beginner><talent>
Title: Can playing blindfold chess be learned or is it a natural skill?
ThreadText: # Can playing blindfold chess be learned or is it a natural skill?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-15)
  
  Any blindfold players here? Just wondering if blindfold chess is a skill that can be learned by amateurs like me or a natural skill by chess GM's, IM's, etc.
  
  **Tags:** learning, grandmaster, blindfold-chess, beginner, talent
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 15 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_17 on 2014-03-23. Score: 10 | Accepted answer
  
  As I have said before, this requires physical fitness and strong memory. In order to play blindfolded chess properly you need to master the following:
  
  1. Having always **clear vision** of the board.
  2. Properly move and capture pieces.
  3. Properly update the overall position on the board after the move is played.
  
  Now it is time to implement solutions for the above tasks:
  
  ## 1. Having always **clear vision** of the board.
  
  You must know which squares are light and which are dark. First you must know **if the coordinate has odd parity or not.** This is important for both letter and number coordinate. You first check the letter's parity, and then you determine the color of the square like below:
  
  1.1 If letter has odd parity and number does not, than it is a light square ( `a2`, `c8`, `g6`... Do you see the pattern now? ).
  
  1.2 If letter and number both have odd parity, than it is a dark square ( `a1`, `c3`, `g5`... Do you see the pattern now? ).
  
  2.1 If letter doesn't have odd parity and number does, than it is a light square ( `b3`, `f5`, `h7`... Do you see the pattern now? ).
  
  2.2 If letter and number don't have odd parity, than it is a dark square ( `c1`, `d4`, `h8`... Do you see the pattern now? ).
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/URfhP.png)
  
  ---
  
  ## 2. Properly move and capture pieces.
  
  Here you have `*starting square*`->it is the square a piece stands on, and the `*target square*`, the one you wish to move your piece to.
  
  When moving/capturing you change the value of at least one coordinate, be that letter or a number. For example, when you move a rook from `h1` to `g1` notice that the letter coordinate got decremented by 1. The same goes for number coordinates, when moving a pawn from `e2` to `e3` notice how number coordinate incremented by 1.
  
  To illustrate this in the most efficient way, I will introduce a special notation that I will explain right now:
  
  We shall adopt the format `L[±/+/-]N[±/+/-]`.
  
  `L` is the starting letter coordinate and `N` is the starting number coordinate.
  
  `[]` store **simple adding/subtracting** function describing how to calculate the valid coordinate for putting a piece, or be blank in which case the coordinate remains the same.
  
  This function uses symbols `±`, `+`, `-` for calculation.
  
  The symbol `/` lists options ( **you can always do only one mathematical calculation in the bracket.** ) .
  
  For example, rook can move forward or backward so instead of writing `L[+1]N[]` or `L[-1]L[]` it will be shorter to write `L[+1/-1]`. Then you choose which function to perform, adding **or** subtracting.
  
  *Furthermore, each option for `L` will have corresponding option for `N`, meaning that in this example `L[-1/+1]N[-1/+1]` you either do `L[-1]N[-1]` or `L[+1][+1]`. This will all be clearer in practical examples shown below.*
  
  Here are the patterns:
  
  > *Pawn:*
  
  When moving a pawn, **always** increment by one **the number coordinate**. If testing for capture, replace the starting letter coordinate with its successor or predecessor, else do nothing.
  
  *Example:*
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/IzueA.gif)
  
  When you apply this for the diagram above, a pawn on `f3` can move to `f4` and capture on `e4` or `g4` and a pawn on `b6` can move to `b7` and capture on `a7` or `c7`.
  
  > *Knight:*
  
  **L[ ±2 / ±1 ]N[ ±1 / ±2 ]** for both capture and move.
  
  *Example:*
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/9f2Er.gif)
  
  In the diagram above knight stands on `e4` square. Let us use our pattern to determine on which squares it can stand:
  
  **`e`[ ±2 / ±1 ]`4`[ ±1 / ±2 ]** can have the following results:
  
  1. First option is `e`[ ±2 ]`4`[ ±1 ] :
  
     This means that we can move the knight on `e`[+2]`4`[+1] = `g5`, or `e`[+2]`4`[-1] = `g3`, or `e`[-2]`4`[+1] = `c5` and finally `e`[-2]`4`[-1] = `c3`.
  2. Second option is `e`[ ±1 ]`4`[ ±2 ] :
  
     This means that we can move the knight on `e`[ +1 ]`4`[ +2 ] = `f6`, or `e`[ +1 ]`4`[ -2 ] = `f2`, or `e`[ -1 ]`4`[ +2 ] = `d6` and finally `e`[ -1 ]`4`[ -2 ] = `d2`.
  
  > *Bishop:*
  
  For the bishop is tough, but **I was able to invent a solution that is simple and effective.**
  
  You see, we can treat diagonal as an *linear function* and a bishop as a coordinate on it. After carefully looking on the picture below we can see that diagonal **is a part of a square.** This is the equation for a *linear function* with 2 known coordinates:
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/KiNZ7.png)
  
  Where `( x2 , y2 )` is the destination point, and `( x1 , y1 )` is the starting point.
  
  `( y2 - y1 ) / ( x2 - x1 )` **can only be ±1**, since we have a square, which gives us the `y2 = y1 ±( x2 - x1 )` equation.
  
  Since we know both the starting square and target square all we have to do is check if the above equation is true and if is then bishop can move/capture on the target square!
  
  We just need slight adjustment since we use letters for `x-axis` instead of numbers:
  
  ## **Target letter coordinate = Starting letter coordinate ± ( Target number coordinate - Starting number coordinate )**
  
  And there it is!
  
  The tricky part is to determine when to choose `-` and when `+`. Still there is an easy way:
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/QORbD.png)
  
  If your diagonal has direction like blue one in the picture above, you use `+` else you use `-` in the equation.
  
  *Example:*
  
  In the diagram above bishop stands on `e4` square. Let us use our equation to determine if it can move to `c6` ( **here we choose `-`** since the direction of the diagonal is the same as the red one's in the mentioned diagram ): `c = e - ( 6 - 4 ) = e - 2 = c` which is correct result ( second letter before `e` is `c` ).
  
  Now let us test `f6` ( **here we choose `+`** since the direction of the diagonal would be the same as the blue one's in the mentioned diagram ): `f = e + ( 6 - 4 ) = e + 2 = g` which is invalid and that is a correct result.
  
  Now let us test `b1` ( **here we choose `+`** since the direction of the diagonal is the same as the blue one's in the mentioned diagram ): `b = e + ( 1 - 4 ) = e - 3 = b` which is valid and that is correct result.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/dwGFH.png)
  
  > *Rook:*
  
  The target square must have equal letter or number coordinate, in order for a rook to go there.
  
  *Example:*
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/OzbUN.gif)
  
  For example in the diagram above, rook is on `e4` and he can move on any square that has at least one coordinate equal to his start coordinate. Therefore we can see that rook can stand on `e8` because that square has the same letter as the starting square, or `h4` since the number coordinates are the same.
  
  > *Queen:*
  
  You just have to perform testing the same way you would for bishop or rook:
  
  Either the target square has same letter or number, or must satisfy the equation I gave you for the bishop ( `Target letter coordinate = Starting letter coordinate ± ( Target number coordinate - Starting number coordinate )` ).
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Sdd55.gif)
  
  > *King:*
  
  Two conditions must be fulfilled in order for target square to be valid:
  
  1. `Target square number coordinate` - `starting square number coordinate` must be 1 or -1.
  2. Target letter coordinate must be either successor or predecessor of the starting letter, or equal to it.
  
  *Example:*
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/joUD0.gif)
  
  In the diagram above, king is on `f3`. Let us determine if he can stand on `e5`:
  
  1. `e` is the predecessor of `f`, which is good so far.
  2. 5(*target number coordinate*) - 3(*starting number coordinate*) = 2, thus this square is invalid.
  
  Now let us test `f2`:
  
  1. `f` is equal to `f`, so far so good.
  2. 2 - 3 = -1, which is valid result, so yes, king can move there.
  
  ## 3. Properly update the overall position on the board after the move is played.
  
  This is the place where your memory and physical fitness come into play. It will be hard for you to memorize which pieces were exchanged and where each one stand. Especially when you need to calculate lines this can be a cause of many mistakes.
  
  I hope that this answer helps you, sorry for posting late, I have a lot of work to do. These tips are really just a basic math and you really should have no trouble using them successfully. Still if you need help leave a comment.
  
  Good luck and best regards.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Excellent answer dude  
  > **username_17**: @username_0: Sorry for posting too late, but I was very busy. These tops and tricks look scary "on the paper" but in practice are very easy to implement. Hopefully you will succeed in your goal to learn blindfold chess. Let me know if this answer helped you. Best regards.  
  > **username_0**: Hi dude, your answer is excellent specially the patterns if I can only vote for your answer in this question 10times I will do it. :)  
  > **username_18**: This answer strikes me as absurd. Nobody learns to play blindfold chess like that. Nobody remembers coordinates and does mathematical calculations to find out how to move a piece. If you reach a certain level you just know where any given piece from any given square can move to and you just know which colour any given square has. And you don't remember positions piece by piece, everything is connected and interacting.  
  > **username_17**: @username_18: *Nobody learns to play blindfold chess like that.* I did. *Nobody remembers coordinates* Yes you do, when your opponent tells you where he placed his piece. *If you reach a certain level you just know where any given piece from any given square can move to and you just know which colour any given square has.* How did you play blindfold **before** you have reached that level? *And you don't remember positions piece by piece, everything is connected and interacting.* Unclear what you mean, but I don't care. The most important thing is that this answer solved OP's problem.  
  > **username_18**: In your answer you completely disengage playing blindfold from the ability to play chess well. Even if some people are capable of remembering all pieces separately and mathematically calculate legal moves - they still wouldn't really play blindfold chess, they would just remember positions and move pieces. That's impressive, but strikes me as pointless. That's like remembering a face by dividing it into pixels and memorising each pixel separately. The human brain doesn't work like that.  
  > **username_18**: If my opponent tells me "Nd4", I don't memorise these coordinates. Instead I know that there is now a knight on this particular central square. And this fact stays in my mind, not because I learn it by heart, but because I see that it attacks the weak square on c6, it might be sacrificed on e6, it is slightly unstable because of my bishop on g7 and the possibility to play e5 and so forth. I remember the knight on d4 because of its interactions with the other pieces, because of tactical and strategical possibilities. And that's how it works for every halfway decent blindfold player.  
  > **username_19**: This answer is completely useless. First, it does not answer the question at all. Secondly, the methods shown here are only good for implementing a computer chess program.  
  > **username_20**: I conccur with what BlindKungFu master posted. A lot of effort was put in this answer but it is a bit absurd. Blndfold play comes very naturally as you play the game and replay chess games from books. You eventually know exactly where all pieces go. When I was learning chess, I was playing a lot of blitzes, and replaying games from Informator. I never even tried to play blindfold then, but I ended up naturally talking about specific positions with other players without a chessboard, it was natural. When I first tried to play blindfold, I could already do bullet 1 minute blindfold easily.  
  > **username_21**: To learn to play blidnfold chess, it is better to check out this question: https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/q/8825/22041. To my surprise, I didn't find this question on chess.se  
  > **username_22**: The answer is fine, only it's a very good answer to the wrong question  
  > **username_23**: As several others have pointed out, this is an unnecessarily ridiculous answer to a very simple question. And on top of that, this is not how to learn to play blindfold.  
  > **username_24**: These are ideas about training methods.  This is not really answering the question, but elaborating on how, if it were not needing any innate predisposition to leanrning, it might be trained. Actually, while i think it interesting information. It would seem to be applicable to predispositino or not.  An answer might attempt to use more comparative existing studies perhaps where there might be ways to compare various perdispositions or potential. or not knowing. using the same training method and life span budgets committed to that, and some testing of evolution of the skill.s in populations.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-03-16. Score: 32
  
  In essence, you are asking-
  
  > Can memory (or other brain functions) be improved or is it a natural trait?
  
  The answer is yes to both. While it is true that one's memory can be [improved](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory#Improving_memory), it is also commonly observed that some people are more "gifted" when it comes to memory (and other brain functions) than others.
  
  To play blindfold chess, you need three things -
  
  1. A decent **memory**
  2. A good ability to **visualize**
  3. A decent level of chess **playing strength** (if you want to play decent chess i.e. or one could simply have a fantastic memory and make legal yet nonsensical moves).
  
  **Memory**
  
  I never "practiced" blindfold chess to learn it. I simply observed that as soon as my chess level got to FIDE 2000 level (for example), I could easily replay moves in my head and think "blindly". I don't have a great memory. I suppose my memory is average or slightly above average, but chess has surely helped to improve it to some extent.
  
  **Visualization**
  
  **The way I do it is by visualizing a 2D board in my head** (like a computer screen). The board doesn't have to be crystal clear (it's often hazy), but as long as you can "see" the pieces in their places, it's fine. I suppose that a chess player's ability to visualize increases the more chess he/she plays. This is normal brain development. The more you exercise a muscle, the better it gets. So I would suggest you practice visualization to get better at it.
  
  **Playing Strength**
  
  The real point of blind chess is to **play chess blindly and yet play it well**. So playing strength is indispensable or else there is no point in playing blind chess. If you play blind chess badly, you only prove you have a good memory and visualization power and nothing more. So, as an amateur, I would say **your top priority is to improve your playing strength. *Work on that and your memory and visualization will automatically improve***.
  
  All the best!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: thanks for that inspiring answer. So you mean majority of people with a strength of 2000 ELO, specially the IM's and GM's are capable of doing blindfold chess?   Thanks I'll try to improve my playing strength. Currently I play at 1600 to 1700 level.  
  > **username_1**: Yes. I think that a 2000 ELO player should be able to play blindfold chess without it being overly difficult for him/her.  
  > **username_2**: For most I would agree with your Playing Strength section.  However, I'd teach blind chess to those also interested in Discrete Mathematics - specifically Graph Theory, regardless of playing strength or intent to improve.  Although I'm only around a 1500 player, I think this skill has helped me immensely in my studies.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2016-12-15. Score: 16
  
  It is obviously a learned skill. No-one pops into the world after gestating for 9 months able to play blindfold chess! Just as no-one arrives destined to be an International footballer, genius mathematician or Olympic athlete.
  
  The real question is, is it learned by specifically training to acquire the skills of blindfold chess, or does it develop in some other way?
  
  I am a reasonably strong chess player (and was stronger when I was much younger) but have always been well short of IM or GM strength. Yet I can play blindfold chess with ease. Unfortunately it is not especially strong blindfold chess! It lags about 100 rating points below my OTB rating. The main difference is that although I make fewer gross blunders when playing blindfold I do not find exceptionally strong moves or plans either.
  
  I have never studied specifically for it but I have been able to play blindfold since I passed about 1800 strength. At least that is when I first tried it, and succeeded. The first hint that I might be able to play blindfold was when I realised that I could follow chess books without a board and pieces. When I got stronger I found that I could play several blindfold games simultaneously, so in my case the ability developed as a side effect of learning to play chess with a board and pieces. I suspect the same is true of most players including all those FMs, IMs and GMs that are much stronger than me.
  
  Isn't this what you would expect? In learning to play chess well we become intimately familiar with the board, with the powers of the pieces, and with the patterns commonly made by tactical operations and by positional features. We also calculate future positions by imagining sequences of moves and the positions to which they lead. These are the basic skills of blindfold play, so it is not surprising that the skill can develop naturally alongside increasing chess strength.
  
  This is not to say that you cannot train specifically to play blindfold. I expect that you can. But I do not think that is how most chess players gained the skill.
  
  Blindfold chess is not such an exceptional and amazing mental feat as it is thought to be by people that don't play chess (and by some that do!). I do not know of any strong player that cannot play blindfold. I have challenged some strong players that have never tried to play blindfold to give it a try, and they have always managed it with some ease. What is strong? Well no-one I know that has achieved a rating of 2100 or more has failed this challenge, and many with lower ratings have managed it.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: One  could add that blindfold is a lot easier to play if you have a familiar position on the (virtual) board. As an example, you could store the information: "fianchettoed  bishop" instead of storing the position of five pieces (e.g. Nf3, Bg2, pawns on f2, g3, h2).  
  
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  ### Answer by username_0 on 2014-03-16. Score: 10
  
  I just want to share what I am doing now to improve my blindfold chess visualization skill.
  
  I downloaded a dozen of minigames of 10 to 15 moves in PGN format from chessgames.com , then I load it from my chess PGN application from my mobile phone. Then I read the PGN and play it on my mind without browsing it from my PGN reader. As I finished the game from my mind. I verify the position by playing the actual game from my PGN reader. I am using Chess PGN Master available from Iphone and Android.
  
  I feel happy every time I finished a game that matches exactly from the game I visualized.
  
  I think this stepping stone would put me someday from playing blindfold chess.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_5 on 2014-09-22. Score: 7
  
  the ability to play blindfold chess develops naturally as chess ability improves. By getting better at chess, one gets better at blindfold chess.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-03-28. Score: 3
  
  I have a USCF of around 1500 and I can play blind, so if that's what you're looking for it shouldn't be overly difficult. I did have to push myself a little though. I want to try multiple boards, we'll see.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_6 on 2014-03-23. Score: 2
  
  If Marc Lang from germany could play 46 games blindfolded (at once) then there is a chance that you could play one.
  
  <http://www.blindfoldchess.net/blog/2011/12/after_64_years_new_world_blindfold_record_set_by_marc_lang_playing_46_games/>
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_7 on 2014-12-09. Score: 2
  
  I don't play blindfold but I've been told by people who do that if I want to start learning / training then the place to start is by mentally splitting the board into 4 quarters: a1-4xd1-4, e1-4xh1-4, a5-8xd5-8, e5-8xh5-8. Then picture the pieces in these 4 quarters independently of each other. So, hold in your mind a picture of the first quadrant. Then do the same for the second quadrant, etc. Finally bring the 4 quarters together in your mind.
  
  I've not tried this but it makes sense on the principle of "crawl, walk, run" and is similar to what bridge players do, counting up to 13 in lots of different ways (4xsuits + 4xplayers, etc)
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_8 on 2022-01-01. Score: 2
  
  I am very surprised that in this old thread absolutely no mention is made of visualization. We tend to assume that everyone thinks as we do, but perhaps more or less effectively. This is not true. Some people think visually, others verbally, logically, or kinematically. Those who do visualize vary in accuracy and clarity. See the Wikipedia article on "Visual Thinking". I myself have no power at all to visualize and believed for a long time that the phrase "in the mind's eye" was merely a poetic figure of speech. I have played blindfold, but not well. To become good would be a huge effort.
  
  Long ago, my university team, returning by train from an away match, would divide into two teams and play "blindfold". The player next in line for each team would make the move. Our board two was completely helpless. Some of our lower boards had no difficulty at all.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_9**: +1 from here - I *can* play blindfold but I play rather lousy compared to other players of my club. Interestingly, my memory is very good. It's exactly the visualization department I lack in.  
  
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  ### Answer by username_10 on 2017-02-27. Score: 1
  
  Blindfold Chess is an ability which can be learned with Practice . Though some People may learn it faster than others but with average Chess intelligence it can be achieved . As like Magnus Carlsen who can play blindfolded with 10 Opponents at a time is something God Gifted but with the Training the Average Player can achieve to play one person blindfolded at one time.
  
  Every Chess Player should try enhancing this Quality because it gradually helps in doing better Chess calculations & Visualizations in Games.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_11 on 2014-12-09. Score: 0
  
  I play in chess tournaments in Philadelphia and in the U1500 section( i think) is a blind man. He has his own separate room to play in and there are special rules that apply to him. To record the moves he has an audio recording device. He also plays with 2 boards. The main board with the real pieces the opponent plays with and a special board with peg holes for the pieces. On the pieces of the special board are metal balls on the Black pieces so he can distinguish pieces. He is allowed to touch all the pieces on his board so he can visualize. His opponent has to help him and move his pieces on the main board but he is very independent non the less!
  In my mind that is the real blindfolded chess!
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_12 on 2021-12-31. Score: 0
  
  This is a bit late but in case you are still wondering - yes you can. We've been working on our [blindfold chess website](https://username_12/about) for the past few months and just released our beta. The entire purpose of the website is for people to learn how to play a full game blindfolded.
  
  We start by running you through basic [PGN notation](https://username_12/tutorials/PGN-Tutorial). You can get comfortable with this notation using our [minigames](https://username_12/minigames). Once you're comfortable with that - you can train your memory using our [vision](https://username_12/vision) puzzles while also doing 'blindfold' [tactics](https://username_12/tactics) to practice finding optimal sequences in your mind. After that it's just a matter of practicing actual games of chess, which you can do [here](https://username_12).
  
  Hopefully this helps you or anyone else looking to learn blindfold chess :)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_13**: Hello, I am interested in learning to play blindfold chess and wanted to try out your website, but the link returns an error 500. Is there any problem with the site, or it's on my side?  
  > **username_13**: "500 Internal Server Error. Sorry, our fault: internal server error. Head back to our home page."  
  
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  ### Answer by username_14 on 2024-12-03. Score: 0
  
  You might find this podcast from Perpetual Chess interesting:
  
  <https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2020/8/29/book-recap-talking-blindfold-chess-with-guest-co-host-jerry-wells>
  
  The beginning of the podcast talks about the book Blindfold Chess by Hearst and Knott. The book was reviewed because Jerry Wells read it, got a lot out of it, and taught himself to play 2 blindfold games at once, despite being a USCF class B player. The second part of the podcast talks about various tips on playing blindfold and finishes up with a discussion of many resources on playing blindfold and visualization in general.
  
  Links to resources are also in the summary of the podcast. Thanks Brian!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: This doesn't answer the question. Link only answers are not allowed. Could you please expand your answer to give an overview of what is covered in the podcast?  
  
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  ### Answer by username_15 on 2014-12-13. Score: -1
  
  This is not a technical answer. Playing blindfold can be practiced and you can gain proficiency upto a level. But beyond that level, as it is with normal chess, you need talent, pure talent.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_16 on 2016-02-24. Score: -1
  
  Exercises for blindfold chess playing.
  
  IOS/WP app.
  
  <https://itunes.apple.com/app/blind-chess-train/id802114888>
  
  <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/games/blind-chess-train/9wzdncrd2vvn>
  
  
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