Blindfold Chess - the book

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on Blindfold Chess

Thanks Nigel for bringing this to my attention and going beyond.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

yw. When I initially read parts of this thread, my thoughts had been that Blindfold chess wasn't for me, that it was for "other" players, and so on. Markushin has outlined a rough procedure for complete beginners in Blindfold chess - something I didn't see here. Just [the possibility and] the idea that it might benefit a wide range of players is important for getting started.

- easiest way to learn is to use the software (ChessBase and other software has this feature, I think)
- try 400 ELO at the start. Aim not simply to win, but to follow 40 moves or so
- a little practice and it will come to you
- after each move, try at first to point a mouse on an empty square and say out loud the name of the piece on that square. It will take time, but after a while you will be able to skip this stage and play BF chess just like normal chess
- improve the level of competition as with normal chess
- seeing the move window (showing the game score or scoresheet) is OK

[This thread is very long and I haven't read every entry. So I might be missing ideas similar to Markushin's appearing here as well.]

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

I agree this is an excellent way to learn blindfold chess on computers. Thanks for posting.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Back to the Polgar sisters. Judith Polgar - Ljubo Ljubojevic, Monaco Blindfold 1996, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Bb4 9.Na4 Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 13.e5 Nd5 14.Bc1 Bc5 15.c4 Ne7 16.b3 0-0 17.Bb2 a5 18.Bd3 Qc7 19.Bc2 Rfd8 20.Qh5 Ng6 21.Rad1 a4 22.Bc3 axb3 23.axb3 d5 24.exd6 Bxd6 25.Ba5 Bxh2 26.Kh1 Rxd1 27.Bxc7 Rxf1 28.Kxh2 Ra8 29.Bb6 Rc1 30.Bxg6 hxg6 31.Qe5 Kh7 32.Bd4 f6 33.Qxe6 1-0 Ljubo missed 25.Ba5 (which is easy to miss in advance) but Judith of course "saw" it! Her elegant continuation obtained the queen and two bishops and a nice attack.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Judit Polgar - Pedrag Nikolic, Monaco Blindfold 1996, 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.h4 Qc7 8.h5 h6 9.Nf3 Bd7 10.Bd3 Ba4 11.dxc5 Nd7 12.Rh4 Bc6 13.Bf4 0-0-0 14.Rg4 Rdg8 15.Rb1 Nxc5 16.Be3 Nd7 17.Rgb4 Kb8 18.Nd4 Ka8 19.Nxc6 Nxc6 20.Rxb7 Qxb7 21.Rxb7 Kxb7 22.Qb1+ Ka8 23.Bb5 Rc8 24.f4 Rc7 25.Qb3 Rhc8 26.Qa4 Ncb8 27.Bd3 Nc5 28.Bxc5 Rxc5 29.c4 Nc6 30.cxd5 exd5 31.Kf2 Rc7 32.g4 Rb7 33.g5 Rb6 34.f5 hxg5 35.e6 fxe6 36.fxe6 Kb7 37.Kg3 Ne7 38.Qd4 Rc7 39.Qe5 a6 40.Kg4 Ng8 41.Kg5 Nh6 42.Qxd5 Ka7 43.c4 Re7 44.Bf5 Nxf5 45.Kxf5 Rc7 46.Ke5 Rbc6 47.Qxc6 Rxc6 48.e7 Rc8 49.Ke6 Kb7 50.Kf7 Rc7 51.Kf8 1-0 GM Nikolic is a career French Defence player. Regardless Judit takes the play to him transferring over to the B-file for the first breakthru. Judit gets maximum use from her queen eventually sacrificing it for a passed pawn breakthru. The king also gets to do a lovely stroll across the board and black resigns when the white king reaches the 8th rank.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Susan Polgar - Ivanchuk, Monaco Blindfold 1993, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.Nge2 Re8 9.Qc2 Nf8 10.0-0 Ng6 11.a3 c6 12.b4 Bd6 13.Ng3 a6 14.Rae1 h6 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Qxg6+ Kh8 18.e4 Bf4 19.e5 Ng4 20.Nce2 Bd2 21.Rd1 Rg8 22.Qh5 Qg5 23.Qxg5 Bxg5 24.h3 Nxf2 25.Kxf2 Bh4 26.Rd3 b6 27.Kg1 a5 28.Rdf3 axb4 29.axb4 Ba6 30.Rc1 Bc4 31.Rc2 Ra1+ 32.Kh2 Re1 33.Nf4 Bg5 34.Nf5 Re4 35.Rcf2 Kh7 36.h4 Bd8 37.g3 c5 38.bxc5 bxc5 39.Ra3 Bb6 40.Rb2 1-0 All it takes is the careless 15...h6 by Ivanchuk and Susan exploits the weakened kingside ruthlessly. Ivanchuk fights back with great pressure but Susan builds her position efficiently handling the threats nicely with great piece connections. The position after move 35 is a pretty picture on the F-file. Susan continues to build and solidfy her positon and then swings her rooks over to attack the open king.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Toronto Harbourfront Queens Quay, Sunday June 15th is Chess Fest (big chess day!) I will be doing a 5 board blindfold simultaneous exhibition from 11am onwards. Should be fun.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

I had an awesome time with my blindfold simul at Chess Fest Harbourfront Toronto. Crowds of enthusiastic kids being well mentored in chess. The weather was perfect. I played 5 boards and the best part was 3 boards were held down by a father and two son team. Father Howard in the middle and Daniel on the right and Jonathan on the left. Best gift Ive ever had on Fathers Day/birthday - doing a blindfold simul. I had white on all boards. On board one I played 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 known since Morphy and the rest was easy if you know how (even blindfolded). IM Samsomkin is their coach and I encourage him to show them Morphy games for inspiration and knowledge of active piece play. On board 4 Jeff played me. He also played me 14 yrs ago at Macedonian Club. (I didnt remember that). Jeff played 1.d4 h6 2.e4 a6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nc3 b6 6.Be3 g6 and there was no way I was going to let him get away with those kind of moves. (that kind of opening is a knightmare for the blindfold player to play against especially with multi boards going). I concentrated so much on finding the breakthru and winning that game that I forgot parts of positions in the other 3 games. I spent several moves and much time reconstructing where every piece was in the other 3 games and eventually was successful (those of you on the aging downhill process should take up blindfold chess just to do that exercise - great help in preventing Alzheimers) Adrian Chin was the other player on bd 5. He last played me in a blindfold simul in Whitby last year but had to go to work before finishing that game. So he was more than happy to finish and beat me. Congratulations Adrian on good technique. On bd 2 against Howard I finished with discovered double checkmate! Howard was so impressed - he kept saying over and over double checkmate - how does he do it with 4 other games going. I was in photos with father and sons and family together and they were thrilled. - and I need to add that even though I was short of sleep I made no real blunders so despite my fears the simul went smoothly (relatively!) and it wont be my last.

[Sasha Starr]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

I had an awesome time with my blindfold simul at Chess Fest Harbourfront Toronto. Crowds of enthusiastic kids being well mentored in chess. The weather was perfect. I played 5 boards and the best part was 3 boards were held down by a father and two son team. Father Howard in the middle and Daniel on the right and Jonathan on the left. Best gift Ive ever had on Fathers Day/birthday - doing a blindfold simul. I had white on all boards. On board one I played 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 known since Morphy and the rest was easy if you know how (even blindfolded). IM Samsomkin is their coach and I encourage him to show them Morphy games for inspiration and knowledge of active piece play. On board 4 Jeff played me. He also played me 14 yrs ago at Macedonian Club. (I didnt remember that). Jeff played 1.d4 h6 2.e4 a6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nc3 b6 6.Be3 g6 and there was no way I was going to let him get away with those kind of moves. (that kind of opening is a knightmare for the blindfold player to play against especially with multi boards going). I concentrated so much on finding the breakthru and winning that game that I forgot parts of positions in the other 3 games. I spent several moves and much time reconstructing where every piece was in the other 3 games and eventually was successful (those of you on the aging downhill process should take up blindfold chess just to do that exercise - great help in preventing Alzheimers) Adrian Chin was the other player on bd 5. He last played me in a blindfold simul in Whitby last year but had to go to work before finishing that game. So he was more than happy to finish and beat me. Congratulations Adrian on good technique. On bd 2 against Howard I finished with discovered double checkmate! Howard was so impressed - he kept saying over and over double checkmate - how does he do it with 4 other games going. I was in photos with father and sons and family together and they were thrilled. - and I need to add that even though I was short of sleep I made no real blunders so despite my fears the simul went smoothly (relatively!) and it wont be my last.

During our travels together I've played several (hundreds) blindfold games with Nava - never made a single draw! Is she that strong or am I very weak??? In blitz the results are very different!

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Her visualisation is probably much better than yours. No surprise as on the whole women visualize much better than men. I wish I had some female blindfold students again. I envy you the ability to enjoy blindfold chess together - I never had that experience with a partner.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Hans Jung in action: http://youtu.be/yfykB0ZA7j4

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

I guess the move 1...h6 really rocked my boat.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

How could I forget to thank my move messenger Michael?? Michael thank you kindly. You were as good a move messenger as Ive ever had. (trust me thats quite the compliment). Thanks to Erik for his part. He seems to be always there when I need him.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Back to the Polgar sisters. What happens when the sisters play each other blindfold? They battle tooth and nail. Neither gives an inch. What fights! Susan Polgar - Judith Polgar, Monaco Blind 1993, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 Nc6 7.d5 Na5 8.Nbd2 c5 9.e4 Nd7 10.Rb1 b5 11.cxb5 a6 12.b4 cxb4 13.Rxb4 axb5 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Nxb5 Nab7 16.a3 Nd3 17.Rb1 Nbc5 18.Nb3 Ba6 19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.Re1 Rb8 21.Bf1 Bxb5 22.Rxb5 Rxb5 23.Bxb5 Qa5 24.a4 Nb3 25.Be3 Nd4 26.Bxd4 Bxd4 27.Re2 Qb4 28.Qd2 Qc5 29.Qc2 Qa7 30.Kg2 Kg7 31.h4 e5 32.dxe6 fxe6 33.Qc6 Bxf2 34.Qxd6 Bg1 35.Qd7+ Rf7 36.Qxa7 Bxa7 37.e5 Bd4 38.a5 Rb7 39.Bc4 Kf7 40.a6 Rb4 41.Bd3 Rb3 42.Be4 Ra3 43.Bb7 Ke7 44.Re4 Ra2+ 45.Kf3 Ra3+ 46.Ke2 Ba7 47.g4 Ra5 48.Kd3 Bb8 49.g5 Kd7 50.Kc4 Ra4+ 51.Kb5 Ra1 52.Rd4 Ke7 53.Bc8 Rb1+ 54.Kc6 Rc1+ 55.Kb7 Rb1+ 56.Kc6 Rc1+ 57.Kb7 Rb1+ 58.Ka8 Bxe5 59.Rd7+ Ke8 60.Rb7 Rc1 61.Bxe6 Bc7 62.a7 Ke7 63.Bd5 Rc5 64.Bg8 Kd6 65.Bxh7 Rc4 66.Bxg6 Rxh4 67.Bf7 Kc6 68.g6 Be5 69.g7 Bxg7 70.Be8+ 1-0 Talk about forcing home an endgame, blindfold no less!

[Hans Jung]

Re: Markushin on getting started at Blindfold Chess

Judith Polgar - Suan Polgar, Monaco Blind 1994, 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.c4 Nb6 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.exd6 cxd6 10.b3 Nc6 11.Bb2 Bf6 12.Ne4 d5 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.c5 Nd7 15.Qd2 a5 16.a3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 b5 18.Be2 Rfb8 19.Rae1 b4 20.a4 Re8 21.Bb5 Rac8 22.Re2 Re7 23.Qd3 Ndb8 24.Rd1 Rec7 25.Qg3 Ne7 26.Qd6 Nbc6 27.g4 Ra7 28.Re3 h5 29.h3 hxg4 30.hxg4 Qg6 31.Rd2 Nf5 32.Qf4 Nxe3 33.fxe3 Raa8 34.g5 f6 35.Rg2 fxg5 36.Qxg5 Qxg5 37.Rxg5 Rc7 38.e4 dxe4 39.Bc4 Re8 40.Kf2 Rf7+ 41.Ke3 Rf3+ 42.Kxe4 Rf2 43.Bc1 Kf7 44.Be3 Rh2 45.Rf5+ Kg6 46.Rf4 Rh3 47.Rg4+ Kf7 48.Bf4 Ne7 49.Be5 g6 50.Bc7 Nf5 51.Bxa5 Kf6 52.Bc7 g5 53.Be5+ Kg6 54.Bf4 Rd8 55.Bxe6 Rxd4+ 56.Ke5 Rxf4 57.Rxf4 Re3+ 58.Re4 Rxe4+ 59.Kxe4 Ne7 60.Bd7 Ng8 61.c6 1-0 At one point Judit seems to lose the thread of the game but what a fighting comeback! Wow!