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From Chambers' Journal.
THE chess-world (for there is a "world" in chess as in other matters) has lately been
startled by a very extraordinary performance at one of the "divans" of the metropolis.
A young American has played ten games at once, against an equal number of players,
without, on his part, obtaining a single glimpse at any one of the chess-boards.
The feat is not new; but never before was it performed so triumphantly as in the present
day. The writers who have ferreted out the early history of this beautiful game have
found the name of one Tchelebi, who, nearly nine centuries ago, was able to play at
chess without seeing the board. Many persons in the East acquired the art of playing
by feeling instead of seeing pieces; but that is a very different affair,
since in such a case the sense of touch comes in aid of the memory. In 1266, a Saragen,
named Buzecca, came to Florence and at the Palazzo del Popolo played three games at
once, looking at one board, but not at the other two. He won two of the games, and
made a drawn or abandoned game of the other. As all his competitors were skilful
players, his achievement caused irrepressible astonishment. At various times, in later
centuries, this mode of play was exhibited by different persons--Ruy Lopez, the author
of one of the earliest treatises on chess; Mangiolini of Florence, Zerone, Medrano,
Leonardo da Cutri, Paolo Boi, Salvio, and others, many of whom were Spaniards. Boi is
reputed to have played three games at once without seeing the board. Damiano, an Italian,
who wrote a treatise on chess more than three centuries and a half ago, gave what he
called the "Rules" for learning to play without seeing the board; but his rules are
worth very little, amounting chiefly to a recommendation to cultivate the memory.
Keysler, in his Account of Turin (1749), says: "The late Father Sacchieri,
Lecturer on Mathematics at Pavia, was a remarkable instance of the strength of the human
understanding, particularly that faculty of the soul we term memory. He could play at
chess with three different persons at the same time, even without seeing any one of the
three chess-boards. He required no more than that his substitute should tell him what
piece his antagonist had moved, and Sacchieri could direct what step was to be taken
on his side, holding, at the same time, conversation with the company present. If any
dispute arose about the place where any piece should be, he could tell every move that
had been made, not only by himself, but by his antagonist, from the beginning of the
game, and in this manner incontestably decided the proper place of the piece. This uncommon
dexterity at the game of chess appears to me almost the greatest instance that can be
produced of a surprising memory."
The most celebrated player of the last century, however, in this peculiar achievement,
was the Frenchman Andre Danican, who then, and afterwards, was generally known by the
name of Philidor. In 1743, when Philidor was about eighteen years old, M. de Legalle
asked him whether he had ever tried to play from memory, without seeing the board. The
youth replied, that as had calculated moves, and even whole games, at night in bed, he
thought he could do it. He immediately played a game with the Abbe Chenard, which he
won without seeing the board. After that, a little practice enabled him to play nearly as
well in this as in the ordinary fashion--sometimes two games at once. The French
Cyclopedie told of a particular game in which a false move was purposely made by his antagonist;
Philidor discovered it after many moves, and replaced the pieces in their proper position.
Forty years afterwards, he was residing in England, where he astonished English players
by his blindfold achievements at a chess-club in St. James' Street. He played three
games at once, with Count Bruhl, Mr. Bowdler, and Mr. Maseres, the first two of whom
were reputed the best players at that time in England. Philidor won two of the games, and
drew the third, all within two hours. On another occasion, in the same year (1788), he
played three games at once, blindfold as before, and giving the odds of pawn and move
to one of his antagonists; again did he win two of the games, and draw the third. His
demeanor during these labors surprised his visitors as much as his skill, for he kept up a
lively conversation during his games.
Many eminent chess-players, including M'Donnell, La Bourdonnaye, Staunton, etc., have
achieved these blindfold wonders, in greater or less degree, since the days of Philidor.
M'Donnell, a famous player about thirty years ago, played his moves even more rapidly
without than with the board; he did not object to any amount of conversation in the room
during his play, but disliked whispers. La Bourdonnaye could play within a shade of his
full strength without seeing the board; he won against good players, on some occasions
two at a time; but when trying the threefold labor, his brain nearly gave way, and he
wisely abandoned all such modes of playing his favorite game. Mr. Staunton, the leading
English player at present (but who has almost ceased to play since he undertook the
editing of an edition of Shakespeare), some years ago played many blindfold games with
Harrwitz and Kieseritzky, foreign players of note.
To be continued.
About the Author
This article is from the journal LITTELL'S LIVING AGE (Third Series, Volume XVI, January, February, March, 1862), which is in the public domain.
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