How do you visualise chess positions?

I have been interested in visualization for some time, as many players associate it with progress in chess. A fact that I find curious is the impossibility of seeing (visualizing) in my mind an empty chessboard in its entirety, I can imagine sectors at most. Despite the above, I can play a game blindfolded without major problems, only the checkerboard image causes me particular difficulty. A book to work on this aspect is “Cognitive Chess”. Greetings.

a1653

#22

@andresjbr said in #21:

I have been interested in visualization for some time, as many players associate it with progress in chess. A fact that I find curious is the impossibility of seeing (visualizing) in my mind an empty chessboard in its entirety, I can imagine sectors at most. Despite the above, I can play a game blindfolded without major problems, only the checkerboard image causes me particular difficulty. A book to work on this aspect is “Cognitive Chess”. Greetings.

It would be quite interesting to do a study, as in, a literal lichess study, on that book, yes? Now that would be interesting, @iakov98!

Personally, I only visualise chess positions at night. I usually spend 30 minutes at least laying in bed, thinking up chess positions. But much like when reading a book, I cannot imagine that entire board. Not even a quarter of the board. Indeed, I spend most of my time checking that pieces are in place; most of my chess positions, thought up by my autistic mind (I have ADHD, Austism, Aspergers), take place in the opening. I always seem to be too generous in terms of the space between the 1st rank and center, and such. I am only an online player, not part of any club, only a lichess 1200. Good day.

@andresjbr said in #21: > I have been interested in visualization for some time, as many players associate it with progress in chess. A fact that I find curious is the impossibility of seeing (visualizing) in my mind an empty chessboard in its entirety, I can imagine sectors at most. Despite the above, I can play a game blindfolded without major problems, only the checkerboard image causes me particular difficulty. A book to work on this aspect is “Cognitive Chess”. Greetings. It would be quite interesting to do a study, as in, a literal lichess study, on that book, yes? Now _that_ would be interesting, @iakov98! Personally, I only visualise chess positions at night. I usually spend 30 minutes at least laying in bed, thinking up chess positions. But much like when reading a book, I cannot imagine that entire board. Not even a quarter of the board. Indeed, I spend most of my time checking that pieces are in place; most of my chess positions, thought up by my autistic mind (I have ADHD, Austism, Aspergers), take place in the opening. I always seem to be too generous in terms of the space between the 1st rank and center, and such. I am only an online player, not part of any club, only a lichess 1200. Good day.

aatykon

#23

I have 9/10 aphantasia, and I can confirm there's no real way I can visualise and hold in my mind a position generated out of the blue. Nor can I manipulate pieces beyond positions I've commonly seen. Given a position I've seen before or from starting positions (especially blindfolded) I can only make 2-3 moves and extend the position but the further it goes the more likely I am to be unable to correctly remember the wider board.
In order to play "new" positions with any accuracy I need to have a solidified memory from training or an actual blank board at the very least in front of me.

If there's one thing I think is very telling it's that I'll incorrectly remember where a piece was a few moves ago and be unable to proceed thinking it's still there (when blindfolded).

I have 9/10 aphantasia, and I can confirm there's no real way I can visualise and hold in my mind a position generated out of the blue. Nor can I manipulate pieces beyond positions I've commonly seen. Given a position I've seen before or from starting positions (especially blindfolded) I can only make 2-3 moves and extend the position but the further it goes the more likely I am to be unable to correctly remember the wider board. In order to play "new" positions with any accuracy I need to have a solidified memory from training or an actual blank board at the very least in front of me. If there's one thing I think is very telling it's that I'll incorrectly remember where a piece was a few moves ago and be unable to proceed thinking it's still there (when blindfolded).

robin_esperoza

#24

I'd say I combine both. (Rated 2300 rapid; probably around 1900 fide).

I create an image of the board, but I feel everything is "blurry" unless I focus on it. Generally I do this in areas that are relevant.

It works mostly geographical (for instance a quater of the board), but not entirely so. If I think of the white kingside, that nasty bishop on g7, eying my kingside, might pop up in my mind and "flare" its visability.

My results blindfold are MUCH better if I can look at an empty board (rated 1600 blindfold on lichess). I'm basically doomed without.

I'd say I combine both. (Rated 2300 rapid; probably around 1900 fide). I create an image of the board, but I feel everything is "blurry" unless I focus on it. Generally I do this in areas that are relevant. It works mostly geographical (for instance a quater of the board), but not entirely so. If I think of the white kingside, that nasty bishop on g7, eying my kingside, might pop up in my mind and "flare" its visability. My results blindfold are MUCH better if I can look at an empty board (rated 1600 blindfold on lichess). I'm basically doomed without.