Blindfold Chess: History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World Records, and Important Games (Library Binding)

~ (Author), John Knott (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Certainly one of the most interesting chess books of the last 50 years!"--Chess Mail



"The most comprehensive and unique work on the subject of blindfold play."--Grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek, The Washington Post



"In chess the most extreme manifestation of memory power is the blindfold simultaneous display. This [book] will be of great value to those interested in extreme mental performance in general."--The Times (London)



"The authors have created the most complete book of Blindfold Chess that exists and of equal importance a book that will be well received by a world wide readership...lots of entertaining reading and lots of interesting knowledge between the covers."--Chess Talk, Hans Jung, former editor of Chess Canada and blindfold expert;



"Of widespread interest throughout all parts of the chess world...definitely a volume not to be missed...by far the most detailed study ever made of this fascinating subject."--<I>ChessBase.com</I><BR><BR>

"The first comprehensive study of the phenomena of chess played without sight of the board...fascinating."--<I>Southern Arizona Chess Association</I><BR><BR>

"This is a tour de force scholarly achievement that will be of substantial interest not only to chess aficionados, but also to those who enjoy thinking about thinking itself. Hearst and Knott shed light on an extraordinary human cognitive ability through careful historical analysis and a compelling review of psychological studies and theories. This book not only documents, but goes a long way toward explaining, the amazing intellectual achievement of simultaneously playing 10, 20, or even 40 games of chess without being able to see any of them."--Dr. Robert Goldstone, Chancellor's Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences Director of the Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University Psychology Building.

Product Description

During the 18th century, when Philidor played two blindfold games of chess simultaneously, eyewitnesses were asked to swear affidavits attesting to this remarkable feat. Since then, blindfold chess--the art of playing without sight of the board or pieces--has produced some of the greatest feats of human memory, progressing to the extent that the world record is 45 simultaneous blindfold games.

This work provides the first extensive coverage of blindfold chess from its earliest known instances through the present day. It describes the personalities and achievements of some of blindfold chess's greatest players--including Paulsen, Morphy, Blackburne, Zukertort, Pillsbury, Reti, Alekhine, Koltanowski, Najdorf and Fine, as well as present-day grandmasters such as Anand, Kramnik and Morozevich, who play in regular tournaments with all players blindfolded. Including some never before published, 444 games scores are presented, peppered with diagrams and annotations. Hints for playing blindfold chess, the benefits of playing blindfold, and a readable summary of psychological research on blindfold chess ability are also included. Appendices offer a chronology of world-record simultaneous blindfold performances since the 18th century, and proposed rules for serious simultaneous blindfold play.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 445 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (December 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786434449
• ISBN-13: 978-0786434442
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #170,074 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So far so good, February 9, 2009

By	Bom Trown (Baltimore, MD, USA) - See all my reviews

I've been skimming thru it and so far it appears to be a quality book. The price seems high at first, but I guess a guy's got bills to pay. What we have is a history of blindfold chess and in the back a collection of annotated blindfold games.