Blindfold chess - how do they do that?

As I rise up the Welsh rankings I have been more conscious than ever of my place in history.  I have been reading more chess history books to understand the feats of my great forbears.  The question of my legacy of leaving something in Welsh chess for posterity after I am gone keeps me awake at night.

I want to leave my mark – my signature on chess history.

I have always found most impressive those tales of the great blindfold demonstrations of chess history where legends like Morphy and Alekhine could defeat 20 plus boards playing blindfold chess.

In order to emulate these feats and cement my legacy I have been practising at home the unique techniques required to play blindfold at the highest level. After the untimely demise of young chess prodigy and former Welsh Champion - Dai Young whilst attempting to conquer 50 boards blindfold I have sensed that my time is now, my destiny is near.  I have learned from his mistakes and will not use a Lidl carrier-bag tied with electric flex. I have been experimenting with a thick flannelette pillow-case and duct tape. 

Teething problems abound: I have found that I knock most of the pieces over when I try to make my moves and anyway after about 4 or 5 moves I start to forget where all the pieces are on the board and after about 20 minutes I start to black out.  How did they do it?

I am thinking of trying a poly-cotton mix with breathing holes cut through.

It really is so difficult that I am also beginning to suspect think that these feats are not possible and that Morphy, Alekhine et al were just sophisticated fraudsters.  There is conspicuously little or no video evidence of them performing their blindfold tasks.  I can’t believe it is possible.  They must have cut small eyeholes in their pillow-cases.

Any advice from the chess community gladly received.  My legacy awaits.

As much as I like chess, I can usually wait until I'm not blindfolded.

Beast719  I have a book you need.  It is: Blindfold Chess .. History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World Records, and Important Games.  by Eliot Hearst and John Knott.

I have it, but I won't sell it. I bought it from Amazon.  

Being great chess magicians and all, most masters play with invisible magnetic pieces.

Simple.

I forgot to mention.  I have witness someone playing blindfold chess, and it was against me and under not-so-great surroundings as far as noise was concerned.  He even won, which really didn't surprise me, since I usually only beat him one out of ten games. He was not a GM. His rating was 2000. 

I think the seriousness of Beast's quest may be determined by a careful look at the name of the eponymous child prodigy and former Welsh champion (among other things)

Blindfold Chess. History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World Records, and Important Games by Eliot Hearst and John Knott

That book pretty much sums it up. it's worth purchasing and it's still in stock all over the Internet.

ISBN 0786434449

http://www.amazon.com/Blindfold-Chess-Psychology-Techniques-Champions/dp/0786434449/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1288043044&sr=8-1

To alleviate your oxygen supply problems, might I suggest wearing scuba gear under your pillow-case?

Photographic memory + analytical brain much? I have semi-photographic memory, and I can visualize opening moves, even if they are moves I have not memorized. I can easily see more advanced players with similar memory play good blindfold chess. Playing several games at once is a different story, but that is probably from practice.

Ok but how do you peek then?

You're a little twisted, aren't you Lisa. I like that.

Lisa, I am starting to worry about your fixation!

Now how the heck could someone tell if this person in the photo is having fun?

Oh, wait, fun for you.  Now I get it!  

My advice is if you're going to take a stab at blindfold chess, make sure you use 4" chess pieces.  It's just about impossible to tie the knots properly on the pawns' blindfolds with anything smaller.

He ain't got no distractions
Can't hear those buzzers and bells
Don't see lights a flashin'
Plays by sense of smell
Always gets a replay
Never tilts at all
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball

I've always wondered how it was possible and just how they visualise. I mean, some have said that they don't see the colours on the board just the patterns. I would like to know what exactly people who do this can see, what do you hold in your head if you can play blindfold?

the board position, I've done it and it isnt hard unless your doing more than one game