Blindfold simul

Blindfold simul

Definition

A blindfold simul (short for blindfold simultaneous exhibition) is an event in which a single player—usually a master or grandmaster—plays multiple games at the same time without seeing any of the boards or pieces. Moves are communicated verbally in algebraic notation (or relayed by an arbiter), and the exhibitor maintains each position entirely in memory.

How it is conducted

• Boards are numbered (Board 1, Board 2, …). Opponents sit at their physical boards; the exhibitor is in another room or wears a blindfold.
• Moves are announced in algebraic notation. An arbiter or helper repeats them to ensure accuracy and makes the moves on the physical boards.
• The exhibitor typically “rotates” through the games in a set order, calling a reply on each board in turn before moving to the next.
• Time controls vary. Many simuls are untimed; others use a master clock or impose per-move limits to keep the exhibition manageable.
• Scores and positions are recorded by assistants. Precision in announcing captures, checks, promotions, and en passant is essential.

Usage in chess

Blindfold simuls are primarily public exhibitions—used to showcase extraordinary visualization, raise funds, or promote chess. They are usually not rated. For the exhibitor, they are a demanding test of calculation, memory, and board vision; for participants, they offer a memorable chance to play a titled player.

Practical strategy

• For the exhibitor:
  • Favor familiar, strategic openings to reduce early calculation burden (e.g., Colle, London System, Caro–Kann, Classical setups).
  • Chunk the position: track pawn structure, piece lists, and key “anchor squares” (e.g., king shelter, central outposts) for each board.
  • Aim for structures with slow plans and clear plans rather than sharp, forcing complications on many boards at once.
  • Manage energy: keep a steady pace, accept simplifications in unclear games, and avoid time sinks on any single board.
• For the opponents:
  • Choose offbeat lines or unusual pawn structures to disrupt the exhibitor’s pattern recognition.
  • Keep pieces on the board and maintain tension; asymmetry increases the exhibitor’s cognitive load.
  • Be precise in announcing moves; any ambiguity can cause confusion for everyone.

Historical significance and records

Blindfold simuls have been a spectacle for over 160 years and have charted the limits of human chess memory.

• Paul Morphy, Paris 1858: Gave a celebrated 8-board blindfold simul at the Café de la Régence, reportedly scoring +6 =2.
• Louis Paulsen, mid-19th century: Pioneered large blindfold simuls (around 10 boards), demonstrating the feasibility of multi-board blindfold play.
• Harry Nelson Pillsbury, Moscow 1902: Famous 22-board blindfold simul, long cited as a record of its era.
• Alexander Alekhine, 1924: Publicized a 26-board blindfold simul, advancing the perceived “upper bound” of what was possible.
• George Koltanowski, Edinburgh 1937: 34 boards (+24 =10), a landmark record that stood for years.
• Miguel Najdorf, Rosario 1943 (40 boards) and São Paulo 1947 (45 boards): Widely publicized record attempts; the São Paulo exhibition is often cited as 45 boards, though contemporary verification standards varied.
• János Flesch, 1960: Claimed 52 boards; later historians questioned conditions and record-keeping.
• Timur Gareyev, Las Vegas 2016: Guinness World Records-validated 48-board blindfold simul (+35 =7 −6), lasting nearly a day—he famously pedaled a stationary bicycle during play.

Beyond simuls, elite blindfold chess was featured annually at the Amber tournaments (1992–2011), helping normalize modern blindfold techniques at the highest level (though those were not simuls).

Examples

On any single board in a blindfold simul, the exhibitor often chooses a well-known, “low-maintenance” setup. For instance, a Ruy Lopez structure that is easy to map mentally:

Try visualizing this common sequence as if you were the exhibitor on “Board 7”:

After 10 moves each, you can “see” White’s pieces: King g1, Queen d1, Rooks a1/e1, Bishops a4/b3 (then Ba4–Bb3 in sequence), Knights b1/f3, pawns on typical Ruy Lopez squares; Black has the classic ...a6–b5 queenside expansion with ...Be7 and ...O-O. Exhibitors rely on these familiar blueprints to reduce memory load across many boards.

Interesting facts and anecdotes

• “Sans voir” (“without sight”) exhibitions were once viewed as hazardous to one’s health; some organizers discouraged them in the early 20th century due to perceived mental strain.
• Exhibitors develop personal mnemonic systems: some track file-by-file pawn skeletons; others memorize by color complexes (light/dark squares) or by “storytelling” the game.
• Errors often arise not from calculation but from transposition between boards—mixing moves from Board 5 with Board 9. Clear numbering and disciplined rotation mitigate this.
• Modern events sometimes add physical activity (like cycling) to keep the exhibitor alert—most famously in Gareyev’s record exhibition.

Why it matters

Blindfold simuls dramatize core chess skills—visualization, calculation, memory, and pattern recognition—at an extreme. They inspire players to improve board vision and demonstrate that deep, structured knowledge of positions can scale, even across dozens of concurrent games.