I play a little "blindfold chess" (without sight of the board) and would
like to improve my play.

I have noticed that I have two problems.

After about twenty moves, I can still remember where the pieces are, one at
a time. However, I cannot see the whole board in my head. What I mean is,
I have trouble seeing the pieces relationships to each other. I could set
up the current position on a board. Does this make sense?

Also, I have trouble "seeing" diagonals. My opponent will move a bishop or
queen, and I will have to figure where it can move diagonally (one square at
a time).

Does anybody have any suggestions or comments?

Matthew

The only thing i can think of is try to practice while you are saying to
yourself the squares. So, when you are studying a move of the knight or
bishop, just say c1-h6, h6-f8, f8-a3; or g1-f3-e5-f7-h8. Knights are
easier because the distance is less, but more complicated than the remaining
pieces. While actually playing blindfold, then you should scan the
board(what square each piece is on) regularly. One of the practical
challenges of blindfold is how to allocate/prioritize your
focus/attention/concentration. Unfortunately, when playing against another
chessplayer, they will try to improve their chances by distraction-talking,
asking you to repeat moves, anything to get between you and your ability to
think.
"Matthew" wrote in message
news
I play a little "blindfold chess" (without sight of the board) and would
like to improve my play.

I have noticed that I have two problems.

After about twenty moves, I can still remember where the pieces are, one
at
a time. However, I cannot see the whole board in my head. What I mean
is,
I have trouble seeing the pieces relationships to each other. I could set
up the current position on a board. Does this make sense?

Also, I have trouble "seeing" diagonals. My opponent will move a bishop
or
queen, and I will have to figure where it can move diagonally (one square
at
a time).

Does anybody have any suggestions or comments?

Matthew

"Matthew" wrote in message ...
I play a little "blindfold chess" (without sight of the board) and would
like to improve my play. I have noticed that I have two problems.

After about twenty moves, I can still remember where the pieces are, one at
a time. However, I cannot see the whole board in my head. What I mean is,
I have trouble seeing the pieces relationships to each other. I could set
up the current position on a board. Does this make sense?
...
Does anybody have any suggestions or comments?

Dear Matthew,

If you 'cannot see the whole board in (your) head', then you should consider
dividing the chessboard into four quadrants, when it should be easier for you
to visualize only sixteen squares at any one time. Good luck.

'An eye is like a cannon in this respect: It is not so much the eye or the
cannon, in themselves, as it is the carriage of the eye--and the carriage of
the cannon, by which both the one and the other are enabled to do so much
execution.'
--Laurence Sterne (Tristram Shandy)

--Nick