Does Blindfold Chess Help With Calculation? • page 1/1 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

Hello! Could blindfold chess help with calculation in any way? The ability to look many moves ahead with one's mind on the board would be quite easy if one was able to remember an entire board position just from their mind, which blindfold chess could clearly help one work on.

What do you guys think? And do you guys have any other tips for becoming good at calculation? I often find myself looking ahead theoretically instead of actually looking at what may happen(for example: 'if I move my bishop here I might have an attack on this square if I help by moving this piece over there' vs 'if I move my bishop here my opponent may move here in which case I would move here, they would move here and then I would be able to win the pawn').

Thanks!

Hello! Could blindfold chess help with calculation in any way? The ability to look many moves ahead with one's mind on the board would be quite easy if one was able to remember an entire board position just from their mind, which blindfold chess could clearly help one work on. What do you guys think? And do you guys have any other tips for becoming good at calculation? I often find myself looking ahead theoretically instead of actually looking at what may happen(for example: 'if I move my bishop here I might have an attack on this square if I help by moving this piece over there' vs 'if I move my bishop here my opponent may move here in which case I would move here, they would move here and then I would be able to win the pawn'). Thanks!

Blindkingmen3

#2

I notice it has improved my ability to remember pieces on the outside of the board when not playing blindfold. I find I am surprised less often that some bishop on like G7 takes my rook on A1.

It also has improved my ability to count defenders and attackers.

I notice it has improved my ability to remember pieces on the outside of the board when not playing blindfold. I find I am surprised less often that some bishop on like G7 takes my rook on A1. It also has improved my ability to count defenders and attackers.

Wolfram_EP

#3

I played blindfold on lichess for some time, in a several dozen of games raised the blindfold Rapid rating from 1200 to 1750. I think this is helpful for calculation - you make less silly miscalculations in usual games because you "forgot that in that line I already moved this piece here". But how much it affects usual rating - hard to say. In any case I recommend to try, it is quite hard work, but also quite fun and rewarding as you see quick rating gain (in blindfold).

nayf

#4

It's very useful also for getting an intuitive feeling for spatial relationships and structures. You start to be more aware of which squares are covered by knights, and bishop diagonals, and the pawn structures that emerge from different opening variations.

anjumskhan_practice

#5

How to play Blindfold chess in the first place ?

Kusokosla

#6

I felt no benefits from blindfold practice. Solving puzzles is more effective.

Toscani

#7

For me, I try to visualize the chessboard in 4 sectors.
Each sector having a chessboard that is 4x4.

Try to visualize a knight moving on a chessboard that is 4x4 = 16 squares.
Once you can move the knight around and see how the colors alternate, then imagine the knight changing sectors.
Have it run around each sector.

For me, I try to visualize the chessboard in 4 sectors. Each sector having a chessboard that is 4x4. Try to visualize a knight moving on a chessboard that is 4x4 = 16 squares. Once you can move the knight around and see how the colors alternate, then imagine the knight changing sectors. Have it run around each sector.