---
title: "Blindfold chess"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blindfold-chess.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blindfold-chess"
last_updated: "2026-11-07"
type: "reference"
summary: "Blindfold chess is played without seeing the board or the pieces. In blindfold chess the players do not look at a board."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/visualization.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/simultaneous-exhibition.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/correspondence-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-clock.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/checkmate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/time-controls.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"]
---

# Blindfold chess

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Blindfold chess is played without seeing the board or the pieces. In blindfold chess the players do not look at a board.

Blindfold chess is played without seeing the board or the pieces, so each player must hold the whole position in memory and name every move aloud or through notation.

In blindfold chess the players do not look at a board. Moves are called out, typed or sent in [algebraic notation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md), such as Nf3 or e4, and each player has to track the position entirely in their head. Sometimes only one player plays blindfold against an opponent who can see a board, and sometimes both do. Some strong players even play several blindfold games at the same time.

The skill needed is [visualization](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/visualization.md), which means seeing the board and pieces clearly in your mind without any physical help. Players who practice it often notice that their [calculation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/calculation.md) in normal games improves, because they are used to picturing positions several moves ahead. Beginners can start by closing their eyes after a few moves in a casual game, or by solving simple puzzles from notation without a diagram.

Blindfold chess is a showpiece at exhibitions and a useful training method, but it is not used in standard rated events. [Mistakes](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) in remembering the position are common, so players agree in advance how to settle a dispute, usually by checking against a board kept in view of an [arbiter](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/arbiter.md).

Also called: blindfold.

Also worth reading is [Correspondence chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/correspondence-chess.md). Correspondence chess is played over a long period, with moves sent by post, email or a website, so each player has days to think about every move.

It sits close to [Simultaneous exhibition](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/simultaneous-exhibition.md). A simultaneous exhibition is an event in which one strong player plays many opponents at once, moving from board to board while each opponent has time to think between visits.

Time controls change what a player should practice, and the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) show how the habits behind "Blindfold chess" differ across rating ranges.

## Related terms

- [Visualization](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/visualization.md)
- [Simultaneous exhibition](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/simultaneous-exhibition.md)
- [Correspondence chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/correspondence-chess.md)
- [Chess clock](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-clock.md)
- [Time control](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.md)
- [Checkmate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/checkmate.md)

## Guides that go further

- [Chess time control calculator](https://georgelichess.com/tools/time-control-calculator.md): See whether a base time and increment counts as bullet, blitz, rapid or classical.
- [Average chess rating and a good chess rating](https://georgelichess.com/chess-rating-percentiles.md): What share of active Lichess players are rated above 800, 1200, 1500, 1800 or 2000, by time control.
- [Chess ratings explained](https://georgelichess.com/chess-ratings-explained.md): What a rating measures, how FIDE, Lichess, US Chess and chess.com compute theirs, and why the numbers differ.

[Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com.

## Related

- [Visualization in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/visualization.md)
- [Simultaneous exhibition in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/simultaneous-exhibition.md)
- [Correspondence chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/correspondence-chess.md)
- [Chess clock](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-clock.md)
- [Time control in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.md)
- [Checkmate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/checkmate.md)
- [Chess terms: Time controls and formats](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/time-controls.md)
- [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)