Can you play blindfold chess?
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I tried but it is so hard!
After 6 or 10 moves it becomes almost impossible for me, so many squares to cover in mind. It's insane to know that there were some individuals that play not only one blindfold game, but 2 or MORE!
killerdude
I used to play blindfold but if you don't use it you lose it . . .
In 1958 as I was working at Westlake Bowl as night mechanic and playing chess with Tim the other mechanic in the service room.
The door opened up and in walked out boss! He looked at us, at the Chess board and said, "Is this how you spend work time? Why aren't you on the other side Tim?"
"We were taking a break!" Hoping he would believe us.
"Go back to your side. If I catch you guys playing chess again, you're both fired!"
We didn't dare play again. We started using just the board and moving the pieces in our minds calling out the moves. We got so good we didn't need the board. We could play anywhere just calling out the moves.
We always had a chess board without any pieces on the workbench. Many times we were playing a game but nobody knew it. When one of us made a mistake we would have a discussion as to where the pieces were and we would keep the game going.
I believed that most every one can play a full game when they reach a "B" level. Tim and I learned out of necessity.
We played every night, sometimes using a Boy-call to make our moves.
The boss came unexpectedly to catch us but each time there wasn't a chess board set up.
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Several years ago I taught and school chess at a elementary school.
“Before you go home today I'll give you some homework to do.”
“Oh. No.” “Homework?” Were some of the comments I heard.
“It is going to be some fun stuff to do. It isn’t like math!.”
I showed them how to recognize the location that each piece is on.
I showed them the fool’s mate. I showed them how to avoid getting mated that way.
“Last thing I want to show you is how you can play chess blindfolded.”
“I can’t do that. I got to see this,” said one boy.
“Let me show you using this board. Look I move the white pawn to 1. e4 and the black pawn to 1. ... e5.
Now I moved four more moves. I pointed to each piece I had moved on my DEMO board and I had the kids name the piece and the square they were on.
"Now I am going to cover the demo board. Ian come here and play black against me, making the same opening moves."
“Ok. But you might have to remind me what the move is.”
Now with just a empty boards between us and all the kids watching I said,
“I’m moving my pawn to e4. Ian can you picture that on the empty board.”
“I see it,” he said with a smile on his face.”
“Ok. It’s your move. Make it.”
Ian said, “Pawn to e5.”
“Ian, can you see both pawns? Where are the pawns?”
“Yours is on e4 and mine is on e5,” He said.
“All you guys can you see the pawns also?”
“Yes, Yeah, sure.” Were the responses.
“I know that you can't see them, but you know they are there. Ok my move. Bishop to c4. Your move Ian.”
“HUH . . . bishop to . . . c5 I think.”
“Perfect now my Knight to f3. Your move Ean, Look at the board.”
“Knight to hus . . c6.”
“Mine: bishop take pawn on f7 check. Your move.”
“hu . . . huh . . Hey You didn't show us that.“
"But can you see it Ean?"
"Yes I can but it was supposed to be the castle move."
“Excellent, great job Ian. See? It can be done with some work. How about all you guys can you see them on the empty board? I know that it will take some practice to do that but you will be able to do some of it soon.”
You should have seen their eyes light up. Most of these were third graders. Ian was in the fifth grade.
I couldn't wait for the next lesson and see if their homework was done.
I learned with descriptive notation later they changed to the Algebraic way so all countries would be able to use. I can't play blindfold anymore because is you don't use it you lose it. Besides i'm losing my game abilities because of age.
But I can still teach . . .
Thanks for the replies, I appreciate that. I think that with practice it may be possible to play a single game blindfolded. In the beginning its a little strange because it looks like our vision. I can focus on the main pieces at center but the other ones become blurry like peripherical vision.
I didn't know that blindfolded chess was a thing that existed O.o
I assume if I tried it, I would fail miserably, though
Just start with one board, and if you practice you can eventually handle several at the same time.
It just takes practice.
the other thing I have found helpful when playing blindfold is to replay every move of the game in your mind, every time either player moves. It helps the visualization process, even though it can take a little bit longer.
I love memory chess.
George Koltanowsky who could do over 30 blindfold games at the time when asked how he does it said, "Each time a move is made i repeat every move in my mind for that game! Funny i can play stronger blindfold than over the board.
He wrote a book "Adventurous of a Chess Master" i got my used copies at " Trifty Books"
The book is in descriptive notation. . . .
The best I went was 20+ or 30+ moves and that was the only game which that lasted that long - only for me to not realise that when my Black rook moved Rxf2 capturing a White pawn, there was a White rook on f1 (I had previously thought it was on g1) and it took my opponent some time to picture the position that I hung my rook.
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#13
For me, it happened fairly recently. I could visualize a set up chess board, and could play out opening moves in my head. Then, on one long car ride, I tried it against a couple of my friends on my magnetic chess set, who teamed up against me. I taught them notation, then I put on a bandana and started. After 15 moves, I was like “How am I still seeing the pieces this far into the game?” I managed to avoid some mating threats they trued out to test me. I got checkmated in the end, and asked every now and then about piece positions, but I was pleased with my effort. I am a lot better now, but I was surprised that I can play blindfolded after a year of playing chess seriously.
I can! Beat my mom, dad and brother 
It's all about remembering and recognizing lines.
Colby-Covington wrote:
It's all about remembering and recognizing lines.
Yes. I know a lot of openings (check my opening books) So I just say the notation. They fell for scholar's a few times, I was not up against a "worthy" opponent...
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