I don't play blindfold, but I do know that Arena has a setting to allow keyboard entry of moves:
In the menu, it's "Options --> Appearance --> Chessboard --> Move Input", then check option "Enable move input with keyboard".
Regarding blind fonts - I don't think Arena is supplied with blind fonts, but I installed the blind fonts that were supplied with my old Fritz 8 DVD, and since the fonts are installed in Windows, they are also available to Arena.
Thanks much, EscherehcsE! I had trouble with Arena. It was set to allow keyboard input, but I got no results. After your post, I changed the buttons under the allow keyboard check box from "auto completion" to "only evaluate complete moves" and suddenly pawn moves worked but N, B, etc. did nothing. I played with it some more and it seems to be working. Thanks again!
Thanks much, EscherehcsE! I had trouble with Arena. It was set to allow keyboard input, but I got no results. After your post, I changed the buttons under the allow keyboard check box from "auto completion" to "only evaluate complete moves" and suddenly pawn moves worked but N, B, etc. did nothing. I played with it some more and it seems to be working. Thanks again!
Hmm, I'm not sure what caused your original problem. My Arena is set to "enable move input with keyboard" and "Auto completion", and that combination works for me.
If I want to play 1. e4, I can press either e2e4, or just e4, with the same result.
I also know that auto completion is working. Let's say that I want to play 1. h3, then 2. Nf3. When I'm ready for my second move, as soon as I press either Nf or Ng, Arena will move my knight from g1 to f3, since that's the only legal move available for my kingside knight.
The Fritz blind fonts that I installed are really cool. If I choose those fonts in Arena, the pieces are invisible, but Arena still keeps track of the moves and board position. If I want to take a peek at the real board position, I only have to select the normal fonts and press "Apply", and the pieces are visible again. (This can be done in the middle of a game, btw.) I can then reverse the procedure by choosing the blind fonts again and pressing "Apply" again.
You wouldn't have an old copy of Fritz lying around, would you?
Ha, I just discovered that, for the resourceful person, the blind fonts are available on the internet. The free ChessBase Reader 2013 has the fonts, but the problem is that the "blind all" font isn't quite as good as the previous version. The blind fonts in the free ChessBase Light 2009 are a bit better, and they're identical to the fonts I've been using from my old Fritz 8 DVD.
While I didn't install ChessBase Light 2009, I imagine that if you install the program, the blind fonts will be available for Arena's use. Alternately, if you don't want to install the ChessBase Light program, you can use the 7Zip archiver program to extract the three blind fonts from the ChessBase Light 2009 setup file, then manually install the three blind fonts into Windows.
The download link for the ChessBase Light 2009 setup file is: https://web.archive.org/web/20100227032252/http://www.chessbase.com/download/cblight/index.asp
The 7Zip archiver can be downloaded here: http://www.7-zip.org/
The three fonts to be extracted are Diablindall.ttf, Diablindblk.ttf, and Diablindwht.ttf. The blind fonts are located in the "$_5_" folder inside the setup file.
By the way, I did notice that the blind fonts aren't completely invisible. If a square has a piece on it, there will be a tiny, single pixel visible near the center of the square. You can see it if you're looking for it, but if you're just glancing at it from a distance, it's not really noticeable.
You can play blindfold here.. Settings>boards and pieces>pieces>blindfold
You can play blindfold here.. Settings>boards and pieces>pieces>blindfold
Perfect. Thanks
The best I've found so far is this https://chessinsights.org/blindfold/
This is great too. All very helpful
I've been looking for -and found (details below)- a computer chess program that allows keyboard move input (or mouse) instead of only allowing mouse-moves-the-pieces input as Chess King, Lucas Chess, Arena, etc. do.
If anyone knows of a better solution, please reply.
The idea is to practice and improve my weak ability at Blindfold Chess by typing my moves and seeing my opponent's moves only in algebraic notation while covering up the part of the screen containing the board, then keep track of the board in my head. If I get stuck, lost, etc. - I can briefly remove whatever's covering the board to get back on track.
I found that the old Fritz 5.32 (Fritz532.zip) engine+GUI that's available and legally free at many internet sites allows you to input moves via keyboard in abbreviated algebraic notation. The board is shown on the top left of the computer screen (so hanging a folded paper sheet on top of my laptop screen will cover it), the window for typed-input is underneath the board, and the game score is on the right of the screen. Small, popup-windows with Coach hints (if you want to play with the coach - which could help you if you're having trouble visualizing the position) with it's hints about watch out for your opponent's pawns, etc.) or asking for clarification if you take-back a move, etc. do NOT appear over the board, so covering the board doesn't impede playing the game in any way.
If you try Fritz 5.32 on a newer Windows computer (I have Win 10), right-click on the 532Setup.exe file, choose, "Properties," then select the "Compatibility" tab. Click to set a check mark in the box reading "Run this program in compatibility more for:" and from the drop-down box beneath it choose "Windows XP Service Pack 3." When the setup program (in German - the program itself can be set to run in English or other languages) wouldn't initially run for me, Windows did a compatibility check and recommended the XP Service Pack 3 - and it worked fine.
The real goal is to improve my ability to calculate in my head, both through better visualization and better speed, while playing and it's said that being better at blindfold chess helps.