Tactile chessboard and braille chess: how they work

A tactile chessboard makes it possible to play without sight: the dark squares are slightly raised, each square has a hole, and the piece fits into it by a peg. “Braille chess” refers to this equipment and to the notation of moves in braille; the FIDE rules set the minimum size of the board (20 cm by 20 cm) and the marking of the black pieces.

Tactile chessboard: the exact specifications

There is no single model of tactile chessboard, but the FIDE supplement (section E.02 of its handbook, “Handicapped Players”) sets a specification that is found on tournament equipment for blind players:

• a board of at least 20 cm by 20 cm;
• slightly raised black squares;
• a fixing hole in each square;
• Staunton-style pieces, each fitted with a peg that slots into the hole;
• a special marking of the black pieces.

This design answers a simple problem: when exploring the position with the fingers, the player risks knocking pieces over. The peg prevents this. The relief of the squares provides a reference point: by following the ranks with the hand, one knows which square one is on.

Tactile, magnetic or standard: the comparison

Braille notation, in one paragraph

Braille is a six-dot code in relief. Louis Braille (1809–1852), who became blind in childhood, devised it from 1824 and published it in 1829. Blind players record moves in braille using a machine or a tablet or, under the FIDE rules, by hand or on a recorder. This notation records the moves so that a game can be adjudicated or replayed later; it does not replace the board. General notation rules are not detailed here, as this site focuses on accessibility.

How moves are announced

The FIDE rules specify that the blind player clearly announces their move, that the opponent repeats it, and that the move is then made on each player's board. They propose a vocabulary for announcements: the files are named by first names (Anna, Bella, Cesar, David, Eva, Felix, Gustav, Hector) to avoid confusion by ear, and the ranks by numbers. In practice, players agree on simple announcements before the game.

Which square size to choose?

For a blind player, square size matters less than relief. The 20 cm minimum side length set by FIDE gives squares of at least 2.5 cm, and larger squares leave more room for the fingers. For a partially sighted player, one should look rather for large squares and tall pieces; Le Palais des Échecs publishes a detailed article on the recommended square size and king height, useful for judging the proportions of a comfortable set.

Where to find suitable equipment?

Tournament tactile equipment is often distributed by blind players' organisations themselves. The Braille Chess Association, in the United Kingdom, states on its website that it is a national association of visually impaired players; enquire directly with it or with the organisations presented on the page IBCA, BCA, USBCA. Before buying, always check for the presence of pegs, relief and marking of the black pieces, rather than relying on the word “tactile” alone. To complete the equipment, see the talking chess clock.