How to Build Your Blindfold Skills
Grandmasters do this all the time. Playing chess blindfolded seems like a superpower to many. For others, it is just a skill. The main problem is that people try to play a full game blindfolded, fail to do so, and think it is not for them. The reality: most people can. The brain is a muscle. When you exercise certain parts, they get better and better. This is a hard ability to master, so we must go step by step.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This sounds simple. Light, dark, light, dark... Oh, wait. Not like that. The aim of this step is to be able to recall each square of an empty board without a mathematical formula. Remembering that the right corner (h1) is a light square, you should be able to say the color of a certain square within seconds if you practice. For example, e4 is light, g7 is black, and a1 is black.
You can practice here: Square Colors Visualizer
I hope step one was not hard! Now, you need to move a piece from one square to another randomly. For example, move a queen from d3 to f4 in two moves. There are several options. The intermediate squares are e3, f3, g3, e4, f5, c4, d4, d6, f1, and d2. Obviously, doing this with a queen is not especially hard. I will put you 10 more exercises so you can solve, from easiest to hardest. Tell me in the comments how did you do!
- Queen from d1 to g4 in two moves
- Rook from a1 to h4 in two moves
- Bishop from f1 to f7 in two moves
- Queen on c6 threatening e1 in one move
- Knight from a1 to d4 in four moves
- King from h8 to f6 in three moves
- Knight from g1 to e4 in three moves avoiding f3, h3, and g3
- Bishop on c1 and queen on d1 racing to g5 (which one arrives faster)
- Knight from b1 to e5 in three moves avoiding c3 and d2
- Knight from a1 to e4 avoiding c2, and c5
The last ones were not that easy, right?
I really recommend you do this with your opening repertoire. Do not memorize the moves, that won't help. Try to visualize each step. For example, if you play the Italian Game, you should be able to follow: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4. That is a short sequence, but a good one to start with. Try following a mini game in your head: Then add a few more moves. Replay games from memory. Start with openings you know: Italian, Queen’s Gambit, etc.
This is where you build mental snapshots of board positions without moving pieces. You don’t think move by move here — you visualize a complete position in your head, like taking a photo with your mind. What you should be able to do: Hear a position described, and picture it clearly; mentally “see” which pieces are attacking and defending. Before diving into hard positions, you should try simple endgames, such as king and rook versus king. When you master that, it is time to go to the next step.
The final step. The hardest one. Welcome to the final boss. This is where you play full games in your head without ever looking at a board. It’s the most mentally demanding, but also the most rewarding part of the journey. A way to do this is by changing the piece customization to "Blindfold". The best option would be playing against a real opponent in real life. However, a person like that can be hard to find. I really recommend this website to start. You can custom the computer level.
Blindfold chess against computer
Were you expecting this blog not to include a chess game? No way. The other day, I was on the bus with some friends for a trip. When I asked them to play some chess, they quickly said no. And what if I can't see the board? They looked surprised. I played against one of them, dictating the moves every time, with few communication problems.
Did you like it? I was so proud of this game. Have you ever played blindfolded? Or the other way around? Tell me in the comments, I really love reading them! 
