# Blind Chess Trainer > Progressive training app for developing blind chess playing skills. (iPhone/iPad app by Marcel Nijman.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blind-chess-trainer/id436753257 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Marcel Nijman](https://appshunter.io/developer/337888122) - Category: Games, Education, Board - Price: $0.99 - Rating: 3.67/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 18 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 9.0 · 10 MB - Languages: Dutch, English - Released: 2011-05-22 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blind-chess-trainer/id436753257/reviews.md ## What is Blind Chess Trainer? Train yourself to play blind chess. Being able to play blind chess will help you to concentrate better, and it will improve your imagination, because you have to constantly keep a mental image of the position. So, how does the training take place? There are five stages: 1. NORMAL CHESS In this mode, you can use the app as an ordinary chess app. Once you have a good feeling for the interface, you can move on the the next step. 2. NO COLORS The pieces of both players are shown in the same color (gray). So, during the game, you have to remember which piece is whose. 3. NO PIECE DIFFERENTIATION All the white pieces look the same, as well as all black pieces. You can see when pieces come into contact with each other, but you have to remember which piece is which. 4. NO COLORS AND NO PIECE DIFFERENTIATION All pieces look the same. This is very close to playing actual blind chess. All you can see on the board is how the pieces are positioned. 5 BLIND CHESS! Congratulations, you are ready to play blind chess! The board is empty. Or, rather, all pieces are transparent. You can enter a move as usual (by dragging or tapping), and the reply will be displayed in the title bar at the top of the screen. If you have mastered the previous stages you will definitely notice an improvement in your ability to play blind chess. During the game, you can ask yourself some questions, like: What is this piece doing here? Why would it have been moved here? Which square did it come from? All this will help you to see the game as a story line. Good luck with learning to play blind chess! ## Key features - Five progressive training stages - Normal chess mode for interface familiarity - No colors mode - No piece differentiation mode - Combined no colors and no piece differentiation - Full blind chess mode with empty board - Move input via drag or tap ## Recent user reviews (10 of 18) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blind-chess-trainer/id436753257/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Ridiculous *2023-01-29* The idea behind the app is exceptional. But the bot is far too high rated. I’m not going to learn anything when I’m too busy fighting for my life as the bot slowly and methodically destroys me. Absolutely unplayable unless you enjoy suffering repeated embarrassing losses ### 2/5 — Lacking *2023-01-22, version 3.3* It’s a good idea but the chess ai has no difficulty settings and will likely destroy you everytime if you’re even at the level where you need to train your visualization and blindfolded skills ### 3/5 — Use for practice *2022-07-20, version 3.3* This app is not ‘training’ where you are trained or ‘shown’ how to play chess blindfolded. It’s an app that allows you ‘practice’ playing chess blindfolded. There’s a difference… When you know how to do something you can improve your skill through practice. Amateurs practice until they get it right and professionals practice until they never get it wrong. If you have no idea how to go about learning how to play blindfolded then this is not the best way to learn; it’s ok to practice if you already have an idea about chess notation and visualisation and memory techniques but on its own I think ‘beginners’ will struggle. ### 1/5 — No easy setting *2021-02-20, version 3.3* Computer is too hard ### 4/5 — Good but no player difficulty levels *2021-02-01, version 3.3* Good how it forces you to play empty board eventually, it's really hard. I only wish I could tweak difficulty of the computer to be easier as well to reach more positions, now it's mostly him over me esp with my blindness which isnt very rewarding ;). ### 1/5 — No variety - no settings *2020-11-22* If you are an accomplished chess player, which you probably are or else you wouldn’t even consider playing blindfold chess, this is NOT the program for you. The chess engine plays the same opening EVERY time with ZERO variation. For example, as Black, it will always play Petroff’s Defense (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6). As White, it will begin EVERY game with Nf3. Every game! The only setting seems to be the option to turn the sound on or off. The internal chess engine seems to play a decent game of chess but I didn’t test it out much as I got bored playing the same opening moves, over and over again. There is no option to control the level at which the engine plays. The lack of variety makes this completely acceptable, in my opinion. Good idea but poorly implemented. I will probably delete it. ### 3/5 — Good idea but... *2017-02-26, version 2.3* Good idea and could be great with a few tweaks. Needs updating to prevent the 'this will make your iPad run slow' message. It could also benefit from a text only display of the game score. ### 2/5 — Not possible to play black with this app *2016-02-01, version 2.3* This app works fine if you are happy playing the computer as white. If you choose black, it turns the board around, but you continue to be white. Otherwise a good app ### 3/5 — Good app *2014-03-01, version 2.3* Interface easy to use - should help to learn blindfold play ### 4/5 — Improve chess visualisation *2013-12-15, version 2.3* Found this app through a web blog. Simple interface, has several difficulty levels which begin with removing colours before removing piece identity and finally the pieces themselves. I'm currently attempting to learn blindfold Chess and I don't see any reason why this app can't help me to achieve that aim. ## Frequently asked questions about Blind Chess Trainer ### What is Blind Chess Trainer? Blind Chess Trainer is a paid application designed to help users improve their blind chess skills through a series of five progressive training stages. It gradually removes visual elements to enhance concentration and mental visualization. ### How does Blind Chess Trainer work? The app starts with normal chess and progresses through stages with no colors, no piece differentiation, and finally a completely empty board for blind chess practice. Moves are entered by dragging or tapping, and opponent replies appear in the title bar. ### What are the benefits of using Blind Chess Trainer? Using Blind Chess Trainer can significantly improve your concentration and imagination by requiring you to maintain a constant mental image of the chess position. It helps you see the game as a narrative. ### Is Blind Chess Trainer suitable for beginners? Yes, the initial 'NORMAL CHESS' stage allows users to familiarize themselves with the interface before progressing to more challenging modes. The app is rated for ages 4+. ### What devices is Blind Chess Trainer available on? Blind Chess Trainer is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. ### How much does Blind Chess Trainer cost? Blind Chess Trainer is a paid app, priced at $0.99. ### When was Blind Chess Trainer last updated? The latest version of Blind Chess Trainer was released on October 11, 2017, with the current version being 3.3. ### Does Blind Chess Trainer have ads? No, Blind Chess Trainer does not contain advertisements. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 3.3 — 2017-10-11 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. - iOS 11 update ### 2.3 — 2012-09-24 - peek button - 6 levels of playing strength ### 1.0 — 2011-05-19 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Blind Chess Trainer | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Chess Arsenal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-arsenal/id865479146) | 3.8 (10) | $1.99 | Games | | [Verbal Chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/verbal-chess/id1602860192) | 3.5 (13) | Free | Games | | [Agile Chess Puzzle](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/agile-chess-puzzle/id1459497278) | — | Free | Games | | [Chess - tactics and strategy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tactics-and-strategy/id1067629611) | 4.8 (5) | $3.99 | Games | | [Blindfold Chess Training](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blindfold-chess-training/id1553271236) | 4.5 (12) | Free | Games | | [Shogi Demon](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shogi-demon/id305620716) | 4.0 (2) | $1.99 | Games | ## More apps by Marcel Nijman - [Game Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-time/id343132477) - [Checker-wise](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checker-wise/id351304657) - [Frisian draughts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frisian-draughts/id625085356) - [Chess-wise 3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-wise-3/id788594027) - [FRYSK](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frysk/id1023115416) All apps by Marcel Nijman: https://appshunter.io/developer/337888122 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*