Learn blindfold chess with your eyes closed
A progressive path that takes you from your first square to a whole game played without ever seeing the board. Like Magnus Carlsen, Kasparov, Fischer.
Free to start. No credit card. No subscription.
Why Train Your Visualization?
Blindfold chess is the ultimate mental exercise. Here's how DarkSquares helps you master it.
What is Blindfold Chess?
Blindfold chess is the art of playing chess without seeing the board. Players announce moves verbally while maintaining a complete mental picture of all 64 squares and 32 pieces. It's considered one of the most impressive demonstrations of human memory and spatial reasoning.
Improve Calculation
Calculate deeper variations without moving pieces. See 5+ moves ahead.
Boost Your Rating
Players report 100-200 Elo gains after consistent blindfold training.
Join the Elite
Magnus Carlsen, Kasparov, Fischer - all masters of blindfold play.
How It Works
Three simple steps to blindfold mastery
Learn the Board
Master square colors, coordinates, and quadrants. Build the foundation for visualization.
Visualize Pieces
Practice piece movement patterns. Knights, bishops, rooks - see their paths in your mind.
Master Blindfold
Solve puzzles and play complete games without seeing the board. Pure visualization.
Seven levels, each with a clear finish line
From your first square to a full game on a blank board. Each level ends with a skill you can check
Square colors
Say whether any square is light or dark in under a second
Coordinates
Name any square, and find any square from its name, without looking
Piece movements
Track a knight through three moves in your head
Position memory
Rebuild a position from memory after 30 seconds
Blindfold puzzles
Solve a tactic from notation alone, no board
Limited visibility
Play with pieces faded, shown as plain disks, or hidden
Full blindfold games
Play a complete game on a blank board
Start Training Today
Begin your blindfold chess journey for free. Upgrade anytime to unlock everything.
100% free to start · No credit card required · One-time payment
Available on Mobile
Train your blindfold chess skills anywhere. Download on iOS and Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about blindfold chess training
Blindfold chess is playing without seeing the board. Players announce moves verbally or mentally track positions. It's the ultimate test of visualization and memory - and a skill that dramatically improves your overall chess.
No! DarkSquares is designed for all levels. Our progressive training starts with basic exercises like recognizing square colors. You'll build visualization skills step by step, regardless of your current rating.
With consistent daily practice (15-20 minutes), most players can play simple blindfold games within 2-3 months. Complete blindfold mastery takes longer, but you'll notice improved calculation and visualization within weeks.
Yes! The free tier includes unlimited exercises, unlimited games vs AI, and access to the first 3 difficulty levels. Pro unlocks all levels, famous games, endgame training, and intermediate tactics.
DarkSquares works on any modern web browser - desktop, tablet, or mobile. Native apps are available on the App Store and on Google Play.
