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Guest
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Dear sci.cognitive,
I thought some of you might be interested in a book on blindfold
chess that will be published in the next week or so (see
www.blindfoldchess.net for a fuller description and ways to order the
book
through McFarland Publishers or Amazon Books). It is co-authored by
Eliot
Hearst, who is a distinguished professor emeritus at Indiana
University,
and is now affiliated with the University of Arizona. Eliot has been
captain of the U.S.Olympic Chess team, and is one of the few Americans
to
have defeated Bobby Fischer after he became a strong master. So, he
clearly knows his chess! Now he has combined his knowledge of chess
and
psychology in his years of research for this book. It is titled:
"Blindfold Chess: History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World
Records, and Important Games".
A large section of the book summarizes psychological aspects of the
subject (research from Binet to Herb Simon to Simon's critics on the
factors involved in regular and blindfold chess skill; the role of
imagery, mnemonic systems, chunking vs. more global approaches,
computer-like calculation, expertise,etc.). The world record is 45
games
played simultaneously without sight of any boards and pieces, while
all 45
opponents each have boards and pieces in front of them -- a truly
great
memory feat.
The book should be a great read for chess aficionados, cognitive
scientists, computer scientists, and those who combine any or all of
these
interests.
best,
Rob Goldstone |
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