Evaluating the blindfold experiment

I've been back to playing 'sighted' games the last few months and have decided I probably won't be playing blindfold regularly in future, so now seems a good time to evaluate this experiment.

Let's start with the basic statistic, which is that my standard rating on ICC has not improved following this experiment. Over the course of the nine ICC standard 'sighted' games I have played since my last blindfold game my rating has decreased by 59 points. Nine games isn't a huge sample so it may be wrong to read too much into this, but it is probably fair to say that it hasn't led to any immediate significant improvement in my play.

As I had mentioned earlier my ratings (and especially peak ratings) under more rapid time controls did increase a fair amount during this experiment. However relatively large rating swings are not uncommon in rapid play, so again it might be a mistake to read too much into this. Perhaps this experiment has improved my board vision somewhat which has led to the improvement... or perhaps a desire to play 'sighted' chess at standard time controls frustrated by the self imposed rule not to has meant I simply played more rapid games.

Even if the blindfold experiment has improved my play somewhat, it may be that more typical play or study over that period would have led to equal or greater progress. My subjective view is that it has probably improved some aspects of my play (e.g. perhaps calculation of longer variations), but that this isn't the main limiting factor in terms of success when I play games right now, so this improvement may not be making that much difference to my over all performance.

It is possible that I didn't follow this experiment through for long enough to see the potential improvement, however there are also good reasons to stop now. During blindfold games you have to concentrate over the whole game, if only to remember the position, which is quite draining. At the end of this you have, at best, a fairly mediocre game to look back on (even if you can be proud to have played it blindfold), which becomes frustrating. A further observation is that in blindfold it is much easier to play in typical and familiar positions, avoiding tactics and keeping the game quiet. To some extent I think that this actually hurts your chess, as you tend to play unambitious and passive moves for the sake of a safe position.

In summary I'm glad that I did this experiment as it was fun and I'm quite proud of some of the games. Moving forward however I do not expect to play blindfold with any regularity.