Visualization Training: Techniques to Improve Board Vision

But, like anything, it takes practice! So, let's dive into some simple techniques that can help improve your board vision and visualization skills.

1. Start Small: Memorizing Piece Placement

One of the easiest ways to begin training your visualization is by memorizing the positions of the pieces. Here's a fun way to start: set up a random position on the board, study it for a minute or two, then close your eyes or cover the board. Try to recall where each piece is and which squares are empty. Don’t worry if it feels tricky at first. Like learning any new skill, it’ll get easier over time.
After you get comfortable with that, challenge yourself further by imagining where the pieces could move from their positions. For example, if there's a knight on d5, think about all the possible squares it could hop to.

FM Aleksa Alimpic is a professional chess coach. For lessons and consultations contact via e-mail: alimpicbusiness@gmail.com or via Lichess messages.

2. Blindfold Chess: A Game Changer

Ever heard of blindfold chess? In this type of chess, you play without looking at the board! It may sound nearly impossible, but top players often train this way to sharpen their visualization. If you're new to it, start simple. Play without looking at the board but have someone else tell you the moves (or even play against yourself!).
As you get better, you can try playing short games in your head or with a friend. This type of training is super effective because it forces you to constantly picture the board, piece by piece, as the game progresses.

3. Practice with Chess Puzzles

Chess puzzles are a great way to enhance your board vision. Start by looking at the puzzle for a minute, then try to solve it without staring at the board too much. The more you can solve puzzles mentally, the stronger your visualization skills will become.
Many chess apps and websites, like Lichess or Chess.com, have puzzle sections that can really help with this. Start with easy ones and work your way up. As you progress, try to visualize the solution before moving the pieces. You'll be surprised at how quickly this helps you “see” multiple moves ahead.

4. Replaying Games in Your Head

Another effective technique is to replay famous games or your own games from memory. Pick a game you’ve studied or played, and try to go through it step by step in your mind. If you can do this without glancing at a board, you’re definitely on the right track!
If it feels too hard at first, try replaying just a few moves and gradually increase the number. This will help build up your ability to picture positions, anticipate moves, and track how the game unfolds.

5. Use Descriptive Notation to Picture Moves

A lot of people ignore notation because it looks complicated, but it can be a powerful tool for visualization. When you read through games in chess books or online, try not to look at the board but instead imagine the moves in your head. For example, if you see "e4, e5, Nf3," close your eyes and picture that position. It’s a great mental exercise.
You can also listen to someone read the moves out loud and try to visualize the entire game without seeing the board. At first, it’ll feel like your brain is working overtime, but this kind of practice is key to improving board vision.

6. Set Visualization Challenges

A fun way to push yourself is to set visualization challenges. For instance, start with an empty board and try to imagine a pawn structure (like all pawns on the third rank). Then, visualize adding pieces one by one in different parts of the board. After that, try visualizing certain common patterns, such as a knight fork or a queen and rook battery.
Another challenge could be to visualize multiple moves in advance. Think of a sequence of moves like, “e4, c5, Nf3, d6, d4, cxd4” and try to picture the entire position after these moves. Doing this regularly will really strengthen your ability to keep the board clear in your head.

Visualization is like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets. At first, trying to picture the board in your mind might feel awkward or frustrating, but that’s totally normal. Start small, practice consistently, and don’t give up. Over time, you’ll notice that you can “see” moves better, predict your opponent’s plans, and improve your overall game.

So, next time you sit down at the board, remember that chess isn't just about what you see in front of you. It's also about what you can imagine in your mind. Keep working on your visualization, and your board vision will naturally get better!

If you are interested in improving at chess, book a lesson with me (FM Alimpic Aleksa), contact me via e-mail: alimpicbusiness@gmail.com or via Lichess messages.
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