Chess

Chess is said to be among the few sports where blind and visually impaired players can compete independently with, and on equal terms with, their sighted counterparts. Indeed visually impaired and blind players often reach a very high level of play in Chess, with some even attaining Master standard.

The visually impaired or blind player uses an adapted board and chess pieces. The board is adapted with the white and dark squares being distinguishable by having the white squares slightly lower than the black and each square having a hole in its centre to hold the pieces in place. Each piece has a peg at the bottom, which is inserted into the hole in the centre of the square on which it stands, so that it remains steady while the position is being examined manually. One set of the pieces have small sharp dots on the top – so that they can be distinguished from the other set.

Opponents use separate boards (a sighted opponent uses an ordinary board) and call the moves to each other. At international level where there is no common language, the German algebraic notation is used. A club player may use a Braille clock and a small tape recorder or Braille device for noting moves.

The BCAI hold their own Irish Championship each year and this is used as a basis for team selection. The BCAI are also responsible for selecting and organising teams and individuals to represent Ireland at international level competitions. In addition to the Irish Championship there is a very successful International Tournament with players coming from many parts of the world to participate. The Braille Chess Association of Ireland was established in 1985 to promote Chess among the blind and partially sighted / visually impaired. The BCAI is affiliated to Irish Blind Sports, the International Blind Chess Association and the Irish Chess Union. Visit the website of the Braille Chess Association of Ireland at www.bcai.net

So if you think Chess is for you, check us out mate!

Braille Chess Association of Ireland
www.bcai.net

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Contact

Philip Doyle
01-4072300
pdoyle@nationalarchive.ie

Ernie McElroy
01-8027541
gemcelroy@eircom.net

Irish Blind Sports,
1 Christchurch Hall,
High Street,
Dublin 8.

Tel: 0085 8500193