In short: Chess where the player doesn't see the board and keeps the position in their head. The moves are called out or written in notation.
In blindfold chess you play without seeing the board. The moves are called out or written in notation, and the player keeps the whole position in their head. It takes great concentration, but for a trained player it isn't as hard as it sounds. Someone who plays a lot sees the board in front of them anyway.
Blindfold chess as an exhibition
For an audience, blindfold chess is one of the most impressive things there is. The master often sits blindfolded, while a helper at a large demonstration board shows the position to the audience.
Grandmasters used to give blindfold simuls, several blindfold games at once. In 1925 Richard Réti set a world record with 29 games at once, and in 1947 Miguel Najdorf played 45 games at once without seeing the boards. Both have games on the site: Réti–Alekhine 1925 and Lilienthal–Najdorf 1948.
Start practicing
- Learn the squares. If you know without looking that e4 is a light square and that the bishop on c1 moves on dark squares, you have come a long way.
- Follow a game in notation. Read the moves of a short game and try to see the position. Look at the board only at the end.
- Play short games. Start by playing the first ten moves blind and then carry on with the board in front of you.
If you need to brush up on notation, it is explained under How to write down the moves. To play many games at once with the boards in front of you, read about the simul.
Frequently asked questions
Is blindfold chess hard?
It takes great concentration, but for a trained player it isn't as hard as it sounds. Start with short games and build up.
How many games have been played blindfold at once?
Richard Réti set a world record in 1925 with 29 games at once, and Miguel Najdorf played 45 blindfold games at once in 1947. The record has been broken again since.
Updated November 14, 2026