Chess for blind and partially sighted people: the guide to playing without seeing the board

Yes, a blind or partially sighted person can play chess, including in competition: all that is needed is a board whose squares can be told apart by touch, pieces that plug in, a clock readable by finger or ear, and opponents who announce their moves. This independent guide brings together the equipment, digital tools, organisations and game ideas to make it possible.

Chess for blind players: the basic principles

Chess for blind players does not change the rules; only the means of perceiving the position changes. The FIDE rules, the International Chess Federation, provide a supplement for blind and partially sighted players. It describes a board of at least 20 cm by 20 cm, whose dark squares are slightly raised, with a fixing hole in each square. The pieces, in Staunton style, have a peg that fits into the hole, and the black pieces are identified by a special marking.

The blind player explores the board with the fingertips. A piece is considered “touched” as soon as it has been lifted from its hole. A move is “executed” when the piece is plugged into another square and the move has been announced. The game is therefore played aloud, which also makes it very pleasant to follow for those around.

For partially sighted people, a wooden set with large pieces and well-contrasting sides may be sufficient. The wooden chess set shop of Le Palais des Échecs offers some; this guide does not claim that it sells Braille or tactile equipment.

Blind or partially sighted: two different needs

In competitions, a distinction is most often made between totally blind players and partially sighted players. For the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, for example, the chess events were divided into visual impairment categories: B1 for totally blind people, B2 and B3 for partially sighted people, plus a category for physical disability.

• Blindness (B1): tactile board, announced moves, clock readable by touch or speaking, Braille or recorded notation.
• Low vision (B2, B3): large board, strong contrast between squares and between sides, good lighting without glare, sometimes a magnifier or enlarged screen.
• Vision declining with age: see the page on AMD and games for seniors.

The guide in four parts

Equipment

• Tactile and Braille chessboardHow an adapted board works, and Braille notation.
• Talking chess clockPlaying in tournaments without seeing the display.
• Motor disability and magnetic setPieces with pegs, magnets and adaptations.

Playing and improving

• Online chess and screen readersLichess, non-visual mode and keyboard.
• Playing blindfold chessMethod, records and clarification.

Organisations and competitions

• IBCA, BCA, USBCAWho organises chess for blind people.
• Para chess and the ParalympicsReal disability sport competitions.
• Famous blind chess playersFrom Albert Sandrin to Darpan Inani.

Games and ideas for loved ones

• Games for partially sighted peopleChess and other adapted games.
• Games for blind peopleRelief, Braille and sound games.
• AMD and seniorsLarge format and contrast.
• Intellectual disability and autismA suitable game, used with care.
• Gift ideasGiving an adapted chess set.

Why this guide, and how it is written

This site is an independent editorial guide. It is neither an association, a club, nor a health organisation. Every organisation, competition, record, player and date cited is checked against the source indicated; anything that could not be confirmed has been removed or worded in general terms. The site itself follows accessibility rules: large text, high contrast, structured headings, keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility. See the page About and method.