Blindfold Chess training App

  Hi All!  Over a year ago, Danny Rensch made a great video about Achieving Board Awareness.. I thought it was a great video, and wrote a mobile app using a lot of those ideas (and some others) for iOS, Android and even Windows Phone.

  The apps are still works in progress, but I'd be really interested in getting some feedback from you guys as to what you think about the app.  

  Basically, the app provides a series of excersizes to help you improve your ability to visualize the board and calculate in your head. There is also the option of playing online with different types of "blindfold" pieces.. 

  As I said, the app is still in development, so there's a good chance that if you make a suggestion here, I'll get it implemented!

bump

Great idea.

How about some blindfold rating in the exercices. A good way to track if you improve and motivates to improve like in tactics and games.

How about adding a series of questions similar to the ones in the following link?

http://www.thechessdrum.net/chessacademy/CA_VisionBlindfold2.html

@Nygren: Some sort of gamification around the excersizes is definitely on the agenda!  One idea was to add record boards, so you could see how your best times stack up against others. Do you think that would be compelling?

@pianoknight: yes! we definitely want to start integrating these sorts of excersizes. The issue is coming up with the content, but it's on the books. Next version you will be able to do some online tactics, but it will be "look at this tactical position quickly, and then try to solve it blindfolded". Another idea will be following popular opening lines while blindfolded. 

Great idea; looking forward to see your progress. As a programmer myself, I wish I had the time and skill to make projects like this.

Hi Greg,

That is great!

By the way, what is the difference between the current free version and the full version?

Co-incidentally I have been interested in training myself for blindfold chess and I found your app quite intriguing.

Regards,

I have seen some blindfold exercises for example:

1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Qc7, find a good move

And the exercise is obviously that black actually threathens the bishop on c1

Or simply when you get a position, and then get 3-10 moves, and you have to find a (simpel) tactic

@escacs31 : thank you for bringing this up!  We use some plugins during development that are requesting permissions for things we don't need (like, the audio settings).  We will remove these for the next version! The app *does* need internet connection for the online play, and the ability to prevent the phone from going to sleep while you are playing. 

@pianoknight : right now, the only difference is full version has no advertisements AND you can log in with your icc/fics users to those servers if you have one. We will continue to add additional features that are "premium" however. First will be PNG export, for example. Then maybe some Premium blindfold results.  Unfortunately, we have to try to make money with this thing somehow :)

@ViktorHNielsen : yes, this is exactly what we have planned. thanks!

Hi Greg,

Unfortunately, we have to try to make money with this thing somehow :)

I understand. Hopefully my purchase would be some help for future development.

I will spread the words!

Good luck.