Does blindfolded chess improve your gameplay? • page 2/2 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

darn it, there's just no easy route. oh well, glad I procrastinated.

@Alientcp darn it, there's just no easy route. oh well, glad I procrastinated.

darn it, there's just no easy route.

There is no easy route to success in anything. Hard work, consistency, dedication and self improvement has always been the formula. It is no secret, just that few want to do it, most people try shortcuts, and the ones that succeed are always the one doing it the proper way. It is what it is.

@pretzelattack1 said in #11: > darn it, there's just no easy route. There is no easy route to success in anything. Hard work, consistency, dedication and self improvement has always been the formula. It is no secret, just that few want to do it, most people try shortcuts, and the ones that succeed are always the one doing it the proper way. It is what it is.

HerkyHawkeye

#13

It certainly couldn’t make mine worse!

pointlesswindows

#14

@MrPushwood said in #6:

As Morphy said, it proves nothing. It's just a stunt.

And then he outplayed 10 guys in a row blindfolded :)

@MrPushwood said in #6: > As Morphy said, it proves nothing. It's just a stunt. And then he outplayed 10 guys in a row blindfolded :)

SaltWaterRabbit edited

#15

@petri999 said in #3:

More likely improving on chess - and calculation in particular - will improve you blindfolded play.
Blindfold play involves generally useful chess calculation skills like visualization, position memory and pattern recognition. IMO
Option I: Focus General Chess Improvement
I think that you can improve your chess blindfold skills without a specific focus on them just by getting better at chess. Most master level players can read chess books fine without a board and since they can calculate well - they can play blindfold. If you analyze with experts or masters, they can quickly whip off longer and often accurate variations. Some of them have never done any blindfold training or play.

OR:

Option II: Focus on Blindfold PLUS! General Chess Improvement
You can get better at chess by improving blindfold skills (visualization, position memory and pattern recognition). It is a major chess improvement if you can calculate say even 1 or 2 ply deeper on average. Board memory also involves pattern recognition skills which are valuable. Blindfold skills can help you avoid the dreaded low ply death blunders (like 5 ply) where you often have no chance to avoid or reduce the damage caused by the blunder.

BUT ---- you STILL MUST also focus on improving at chess. Just focusing on blindfold is not in itself a probable long-term path to chess improvement. There is no blindfold shortcut and remember chess is a difficult games and it gets harder not easier as you improve!

@petri999 said in #3: > More likely improving on chess - and calculation in particular - will improve you blindfolded play. Blindfold play involves generally useful chess calculation skills like visualization, position memory and pattern recognition. IMO Option I: Focus General Chess Improvement I think that you can improve your chess blindfold skills without a specific focus on them just by getting better at chess. Most master level players can read chess books fine without a board and since they can calculate well - they can play blindfold. If you analyze with experts or masters, they can quickly whip off longer and often accurate variations. Some of them have never done any blindfold training or play. OR: Option II: Focus on Blindfold PLUS! General Chess Improvement You can get better at chess by improving blindfold skills (visualization, position memory and pattern recognition). It is a major chess improvement if you can calculate say even 1 or 2 ply deeper on average. Board memory also involves pattern recognition skills which are valuable. Blindfold skills can help you avoid the dreaded low ply death blunders (like 5 ply) where you often have no chance to avoid or reduce the damage caused by the blunder. BUT ---- you STILL MUST also focus on improving at chess. Just focusing on blindfold is not in itself a probable long-term path to chess improvement. There is no blindfold shortcut and remember chess is a difficult games and it gets harder not easier as you improve!