Thanks very much for the great suggestions uscftigerprowl, I will definitely start implementing some of these.
About point 5. You should be able to type in the moves in modes 3 and 4 now that the board has disappeared. Perhaps I should offer this form of input in all modes just for the sake of consistency.
By the way, I certainly don't intend for anyone to have to pay to download. The optional payment is just something that the hosting site offers by default.
Thanks for developing this program. I've been trying to play blindfold with no luck but this software is like a stepping stone revealing the board every 5 moves (on option 1).
My pleasure, glad it's helpful to you oyveyshlemiel!
I've just uploaded v2 which fixes an irritating bug where you can lose on time during an untimed blindfold game. I've also changed it so that instead of pieces being released every x moves, you have a set number of times you can choose to show the pieces during a game (thanks for this suggestion uscftigerprowl).
This looks interesting. Bookmarked, and Thanks!
P.S. - Are you going to have version numbers?
Thanks EscherehcsE, version numbers would probably be wise!
I've fixed a stupid bug that crept in with the last update where the 'show board' UI was hiding the algebraic move input field for modes 3 & 4.
I've uploaded a small update that allows one, after a game has finished, to go into review mode and choose 'copy pgn to clipboard'. You could then paste the game into an engine for analysis, or share it here if you'd like. Here's a blindfold game which I just played (and lost).
As you can see, I'm not very good at this yet ;) Please do feel free to share your own blindfold games here.
Cool, glad you like it!
Hi, I'll definitely implement 1 & 2 when I have time - thanks. The draw button is for claiming a draw by 3-fold repetition or 50 move rule. Maybe for the sake of simplicity I should just remove it and make those draw automatically...
Hi, it's a good app but I'd make the following suggestions:
1. Being able to play online - playing the computer is ok but as the computer usually destroys me it's just too difficult for practicing my blindfold skills at the moment.
2. Bing able to adjust difficulty level of computer (for same reason as previous point) and being able to select black or white pieces.
3. In review mode being able to continue the game at different stages against the computer, if there were moves I thought I should have made it'd be nice to be able to go back and replay the game from there.
4. To be compatible for iphone - also to have a rating and there to be a community of people interested in playing blindfold. Currently this doesn't exist and if you are playing online currently there's no way of knowing if the other person if playing blindfold or not.
5. Blindfold tactics or training exercises
6. Being able to play at different custom time limits etc
7. When i type in bb5 (bishop to b5 it says it is invalid, yet when I do a capital B it's ok, why is that?)
8. Speech recognition and the computer to speak the moves - i think this would be a really important and useful addition.
Other than that it's a good app and the first time I've been able to play without any sight of the board, well done!
Great app.
Please check out my app in the appstore for iOS! It is called Brain Training Chess and is a working memory game designed to improve your brain and your chess skill.
Chess regards,
Paul Jacobson
I suggest you to add a manager of enginers to select an engine with a better level like the Stockfish or other.
Hi, I've been working on a little chess app to help train blindfold play (which should hopefully rub off on your ability to calculate long lines in regular play too).
The app is still very much a work in progress, but the idea is that you face off against my (currently not-super-impressive) computer opponent in four modes of increasing difficulty. In the first mode, for example, the board is visible, but the piece are only drawn every couple of moves. By the final level, the board and pieces have been totally removed and you have to keep the entire game in your head. (Moves are entered algebraicly at this point).
If you'd like to give it a shot, it's available freely for mac pc and linux at this link: http://sebastian.itch.io/blindfoldchess
All feedback is much appreciated. Hope you enjoy! (also feel free to share your blindfold games here; a recent update allows you to copy the pgn once the game is over - just enter review mode to get the option).