Playing Blindfold Chess

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a photographic memory to be proficient at blindfold chess. The basic visualization required is really not all that different from the kind of mental exercise chess players commonly experience while calculating long endgame variations. In fact, if you’ve ever had a vivid chess dream while sleeping (quite common among my friends), you have already played blindfold chess!

Playing a chess game blindfolded (or at least facing opposite the chess board) against a class of young chess players is a sure fire way to raise the excitement level of the classroom or camp. Generally, I save such exhibitions for midway through a long camp or series of difficult lessons to add a little spice to the curriculum. In addition to adding energy to the room, a blindfold chess performance might just inspire a student to pick up the skill for his/herself which will greatly benefit their chess in the long run.

Below is my best ever such game played during the Fremont Summer Chess Camp in 2016. Enjoy…

 

[Event “Blindfold Game”]
[Site “Fremont, California (USA)”]
[Date “2016.7.13”]
[Round “”]
[White “Chris Torres”]
[Black “Intermediate Students”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Eco “C50”]
[Annotator “Chris Torres”]
[Source “”]

{[ ITALIAN GAME & HUNGARIAN def.,C50] [ ITALIAN GAME & HUNGARIAN def.,C50]}
1.e4 {I practice what I preach: “Open With a Center Pawn.”} e5
2.Nf3 {Knights Before Bishops.} Nc6 3.Bc4 {For a blindfold game, I chose my most comfortable structure (The Italian.)}
Qe7 {Perhaps my opponents were trying to confuse me by choosing the rare Qe7 sideline.}
4.Nc3 Nd4 {
My students have already broken two opening rules. They brought their queen out
early and now they have moved the same piece twice. Normally punishing these
mistakes wouldn’t be too difficult. But playing foreign positions with no view of the board is stressful.}
( 4…Nf6 5.Ng5 d5 6.exd5 Na5 7.d6 cxd6 8.Bxf7+ Kd8 9.Bb3 Nxb3
10.axb3 d5 11.O-O h6 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.d3 a6 14.Re1 Rc8 15.Bf4 Nd7
16.h3 Bh5 17.g4 Bf7 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.Bxe5 Qh4 20.Qf3 Bg8 21.Qxf8+
{1-0, Zhotev Jasen (BUL) 2086 – Ivanov Oleg (RUS) 2425 , Sofia 8/ 8/2009 It “Hemus Open” (3)}
) 5.Nd5 {In order to punish mistakes you must attack. Here, I know that their queen must
retreat to d8 in order to stop the knight from capturing on c7 with a fork.}
Qc5 {?!} {Honestly, I did not anticipate this move at all and was forced to repeat all the moves to myself outloud and calculate.}
6.Nxe5 {!} {“Whenever you’re aggressive, you’re at the edge of mistakes.”-Mario Andretti}
d6 {I hear excited chatter from my students about “winning a piece.”}
7.b4 {!} {Even when blindfolded, it’s hard to miss this obvious threat!}
Nxc2+ {Black had no choice that did not involve losing a piece or more.}
8.Qxc2 {I gain a knight without losing the initiative.} Qd4 {The queen may look threatening, but, really, she is all alone against an army.}
9.Bb5+ {At this point I couldn’t quite see the forced mate in 4 but this check seemed very promising.}
c6 10.Bxc6+ {!} {Looks impressive but really it is just the result of analyzing checks, captures and threats.}
bxc6 11.Qxc6+ {Forcing black’s king to d8 and a nice finish.}
Kd8 12.Nxf7# 1-0

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Looking Back at Past Fremont Summer Chess Camps

I’m sure by now that most of trophies we handed out at the first Fremont Summer Chess Camp in 2005 are collecting dust but I remain confident that the childhood memories created there will last a lifetime. Here are some of my favorite photo memories from past Torres Chess and Music Academy summer chess programs in Fremont.

There is still time to sign up for this year’s summer chess camps. Visit www.ChessAndMusic.com today for a complete list of classes and summer camps in Fremont, Newark and Pleasanton.

Fremont Back to School Chess Camp

The Torres Chess and Music Academy is pleased to announce a three day Back to School Chess Camp designed to produce rapid improvement in your child’s chess abilities.
 

On Day one of our Back to School Chess Camp, Chris Torres will show your children illustrative games which demonstrate ultra-sharp opening play.

 

On day two, your child will train hard to improve his/her tactical abilities by solving puzzles and taking part in group exercises that are guaranteed to produce noticeable results. 

 

On the final day of camp, all students will be shown time tested endgame positions that will quickly improve your child’s strategy and confidence in the endgame.

 

In addition to all the hands on learning, all camp participants will also take part in a USCF rated chess tournament that includes game analysis and prizes.

 

This class will meet ‪from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM‬,

‪Friday through Sunday‬,

‪August 18th to August 20th‬

At: 2090 Warm Springs Court, Fremont CA

Only $100 for all three days

Click Here to Register

This camp is limited to only 20 student on a first come first serve registration basis. The fees for this chess program are nonrefundable after the class has begun. No refunds will be given for unscheduled student absences.

Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2016: Day 19

Pictures taken by Paul Truong

Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2016: Day 18

Susan Polgar Week at the Fremont Summer Chess Camp

Grandmaster Susan Polgar teaching young chess players at the Fremont Summer Chess Camp.

The Torres Chess and Music Academy is pleased to present Grandmaster Susan Polgar at the Fremont Summer Chess Camp for the week of August 1-4, 2016. Grandmaster Polgar will be on hand for the final hour of each day to analyze chess games from our camp tournament. All chess players ages 4-17 are invited to join us for the exciting final week of the Fremont Summer Chess Camp.

Monday, August 1st through Thursday, August 4th

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Mission San Jose Elementary School

43545 Bryant Street, Fremont Ca 94539

Fee: $222 + $17 USCF membership if needed

Registration: HERE

Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2016: Day 15

Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2016: Day 14

Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2016: Day 13

Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2016: Day 12