4.8 out of 5 stars170 ratings

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.

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5 Nf6 4. Qxf7#. Checkmate, on a board you cannot see.

  • 21 exercises
  • Voice play in 6 languages
  • Web, iOS & Android

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

Browse all 21 exercises
  1. Level 1 · Start here

    Square colors

    Say whether any square is light or dark in under a second

    Diagonals · Quadrants

  2. 2Coordinates

    Name any square, and find any square from its name, without looking

  3. 3Piece movements

    Track a knight through three moves in your head

    Bishop Paths · Knight Maze · Bishop Maze

  4. 4Position memory

    Rebuild a position from memory after 30 seconds

    Visualization Puzzles

  5. 5Blindfold puzzles

    Solve a tactic from notation alone, no board

    Attack Detection

  6. 6Limited visibility

    Play with pieces faded, shown as plain disks, or hidden

  7. 7Full blindfold games

    Play a complete game on a blank board

    Endgame Training

What players say

4.8/ 5

170 ratings across every App Store and Google Play storefront

  • 5 out of 5 stars
    one of the better apps I downloaded in relation to chess, this is a good app for training, especially if you wanna become better at blindfolded chess!!
    Yair B. · Google Play
  • 5 out of 5 stars
    I've started using this blindfold chess app to improve my ability to play chess blindly. Because it has different levels to progress through, I'm enjoying the process of building my skills more.
    Jonier · Google Play
  • 5 out of 5 stars
    A very well made app that helps improving blindfolding and vision chess skills. Needs to be more known
    Emanuele M. · Google Play
  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Great app, I'm giving all the stars to support the app and because the developer is active and constantly improving it
    Fabio G. · Google Play
  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Really good app for improving visualisation.
    Halwestsh · App Store · USA

Published reviews from the App Store and Google Play, shown in full.

Blindfold chess

What is Blindfold Chess?

Blindfold chess, also called blind 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.

Read our complete guide to blindfold chess
  • Improve Calculation

    Calculate deeper variations without moving pieces. See 5+ moves ahead.

  • Boost Your Rating

    Blindfold training builds a core calculation skill: seeing the position in your head and following a line to its end before you move.

  • Join the Elite

    Magnus Carlsen, Kasparov, Fischer - all masters of blindfold play.

Pricing

Start Training Today

Begin your blindfold chess journey for free. Upgrade anytime to unlock everything.

Free Forever
€0/forever
  • Unlimited exercises
  • Unlimited games vs AI
  • Basic levels (1-3)
  • Progress tracking
Pro Lifetime
€39one time
  • All 7 difficulty levels
  • All AI difficulties (1-8)
  • Famous games library
  • Endgame training
  • Intermediate tactics
  • Priority support

100% free to start · No credit card required · One-time payment

FAQ

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.

Level 1 is waiting for you

Free to start. No credit card. No subscription.