Answers.Body: <p>Did not help me.  I used my OTB skills to be able to play blindfold.</p>
  
  <p>I have seen no data that blindfold play helps your OTB skills. </p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-28T23:33:48.420Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-28T23:33:48.420Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: yobamamama
Answers.Body: <p>Playing blindfold (or even trying to do so) can help intermediate players in another aspect: focus on pawns. To keep track of the position in blindfold play, it is essential to notice the position of the pawns. For players who do not give importance to pawn structure, this could (in theory) persuade them to take position of pawns more seriously.</p>
  <p>In blindfold play, it is nearly impossible to ignore the factor of pawns getting in the way of your pieces. In OTB play, a beginner/intermediate player can ignore this factor (unintentionally, of course).</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2022-12-16T04:09:39.010Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-12-16T04:14:41.387Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2022-12-16T04:14:41.387Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cyriac Antony
Answers.Body: <p>I don't think there's any proof (nor do I think you'll find any), but I think playing blindfold definitely helps as regular chess practice. The better you can play blindfold, the more you can visualize the board and calculate ahead, in my opinion.</p>
  
  <p>Better yet, try playing blindfold against someone who's not.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-06-02T13:59:10.963Z
Answers.Text: Bobby Fischer said he could not visualize the entire board at the same time.  This implies that being able to do so isn't a requirement for playing somewhat strong chess.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-02T12:08:07.597Z
Answers.Text: Visualising the whole board also isn't a requirement to play strong blindfold chess … Concerning the question: Larry Christiansen writes that after a blindfold tour through the states, his calculation improved a lot.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-06-01T20:18:14.380Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-06-01T20:18:14.380Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Eve Freeman
Body: <p>If I play blindfolded or don't look at the board and just visualize the board, pieces and position in my head, can this improve my regular style of play (physically looking at a board).  Is there any proof to improving regular play via blindfold play?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-06-01T19:01:28.947Z
Comments.Text: I used to play blindfold with a friend at school during boring lessons so the teacher couldn't catch us with a board under the table, but the only effect I am pretty sure of is that my school grades didn't improve because of it :)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Ray
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-06-01T23:03:44.360Z
Comments.Text: @Ray - That was a good idea.  Good thing I am done with school :)
Comments.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-06-02T14:00:09.090Z
Comments.Text: I've played blindfolded.  It's interesting.  Unsurprisingly, I played far below my normally unimpressive strength.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Tags: <learning><blindfold-chess>
Title: Can playing blindfold improve playing non-blindfold?
ThreadText: # Can playing blindfold improve playing non-blindfold?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-01)
  
  If I play blindfolded or don't look at the board and just visualize the board, pieces and position in my head, can this improve my regular style of play (physically looking at a board). Is there any proof to improving regular play via blindfold play?
  
  **Tags:** learning, blindfold-chess
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I used to play blindfold with a friend at school during boring lessons so the teacher couldn't catch us with a board under the table, but the only effect I am pretty sure of is that my school grades didn't improve because of it :)  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 - That was a good idea.  Good thing I am done with school :)  
  > **username_2**: I've played blindfolded.  It's interesting.  Unsurprisingly, I played far below my normally unimpressive strength.  
  
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  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2012-06-01. Score: 9 | Accepted answer
  
  I don't think there's any proof (nor do I think you'll find any), but I think playing blindfold definitely helps as regular chess practice. The better you can play blindfold, the more you can visualize the board and calculate ahead, in my opinion.
  
  Better yet, try playing blindfold against someone who's not.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Bobby Fischer said he could not visualize the entire board at the same time.  This implies that being able to do so isn't a requirement for playing somewhat strong chess.  
  > **username_6**: Visualising the whole board also isn't a requirement to play strong blindfold chess … Concerning the question: Larry Christiansen writes that after a blindfold tour through the states, his calculation improved a lot.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2019-12-28. Score: 0
  
  Did not help me. I used my OTB skills to be able to play blindfold.
  
  I have seen no data that blindfold play helps your OTB skills.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_4 on 2022-12-16. Score: 0
  
  Playing blindfold (or even trying to do so) can help intermediate players in another aspect: focus on pawns. To keep track of the position in blindfold play, it is essential to notice the position of the pawns. For players who do not give importance to pawn structure, this could (in theory) persuade them to take position of pawns more seriously.
  
  In blindfold play, it is nearly impossible to ignore the factor of pawns getting in the way of your pieces. In OTB play, a beginner/intermediate player can ignore this factor (unintentionally, of course).
  
  
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