Re blindfold chess: I read that most everyone (1500 fide or so) can play a game blind, but some stronger players claim to be unable to. A good game blind? I lose several hundred points in strength it seems.
What determines a "good game?"
Are all good chess (or great) chess players good at speed and blindfold chess?
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You have to have an excellent memory to play chess blind. I hear that higher rated players are not as good at speed chess. In speed chess you do not have time for calculating complex strategies which higher rated players rely on.
May 12, 2008
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#4
"are all..."? I would probably say no. I believe Botvinnik (world champion at one point...he's pretty good) was was not partial to speed chess, and its not surprising to see a strong player lose a speed game for being too slow.
Does strong play "require" good memory? In my opinion, no, so I don't think strong play affects blindfold and speed chess. Its works the same as with normal chess I believe: hard-work work and talent are what affect it.
May 12, 2008
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#5
Dmytro wrote: Yes, they are. Only Botvinnik didn't like blitz, he said "it is not serious". Somebody thinks that he said so because he was not good in quick chess.
Indirect shot at me huh? Classic. I like how the only basis for your answer was pointing out an inaccuracy in my post. Fine, sure-what I said did seem like it was putting down Botvinnik as a speed chess player, and did not help my case, but lemme ask you this: if two strong players of equal strength were to play a blitz game and only one was a seasoned blitz player, who would you bet your money on?
You can't automatically assume someone is good blindfold chess or blitz chess just because they're good at the normal game; Other factors will come into play. They're very few "absolutes" and I find it hard to believe this is one of them.
However, I will say this: There is a "good" chance that a strong player plays strong blitz/blindfold chess because the game is pretty much the same, with just an additional factor included.
<Dmytro>, If only by mere coincidence that your post indirectly attacked me, then I apologize, and please just take this post as merely more argument for what I believe the answer is.
yes,
in terms of blitz, yes, virtually without exception; it's the same game, with the practical difference that tactical ability is even more important. since tactical skill is the single principal difference between strong players and weaker ones, that's no real surprise. there are bullet-chess specialists who rely on the clock & reflexes & aren't very strong at slower time limits, but the reverse is almost never true. a truly strong player will be strong at virtually any time control.
I think 1500 fide is a bit low for decent blindfold play, though I suppose it can be done. I am (or was) 1900 fide, & at best I could get through a single game blindfold.
JoseO wrote: Speed chess is basically about moving quickly and using wild attacks that work only because it would take a player time to find the flaw which you do not have in blitz chess. Speed chess can be fun and wild but do not use it to help you improve at chess since you will develop bad habits that are hard to break.
I don't agree, sorry. speed chess is an excellent way to improve your tactical ability, which is probably the single most important skill you can have. you need to supplement it with other forms of study, of course, but it's still an excellent training tool.
i'm guessing there is a bit of a correlation between good otb and good at blindfold. otb chess requires one to see the chess board in their mind many turns in advance, when the board might be completely different.
Apr 1, 2025
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#11
Maybe not. Rather play 15 minutes. After all, people do say speed chess is bad for you.
I would consider myself fairly good at chess, but I've been trying bullet, blitz and rapid chess on a 7 day trial of ICC (I'm broke right now) and my record isn't very amazing (I do alright at 15 minute rapid, 5 minutes I tend to make stupid pice-losing blunders, and bullet [1 min] is impossible). Also, I've played a few games of blindfold chess and I'm not very good at it either, so my question is: are all good chess players good at speed and blindfold chess?
This being said, I may just need more practice, but...