How do you visualise chess positions?

Hi there! I'm currently exploring the topic of how chess players visualise positions and would like to write a post about it.
I'd be very happy if some of you took the time to try and describe how the process works for you personally and replied here!
I'd like to quote some of the more informative/insightful answers in the blog post.

I explain my motivation and what I mean when I say 'visualise' in this short introductory post:
lichess.org/@/iakov98/blog/how-do-you-visualise-chess-positions/arkzosBZ

To give a quick summary of that: it seems to me that there are two distinct and very different approaches to 'visualisation':
1. actual visualisation: conjuring up a mental image of the position without needing to look at the board, and being able to simply move pieces on that mentally visualised board as if you'd move a piece on an actual board, let's call it approach 'V' for short
2. a memory-based approach where facts about the position (such as 'my king is on g1' or 'in front of my king, there is a pawn' etc.) are stored in memory and processed/remembered/changed as the calculation / blindfold game goes on (approach 'M').

Some questions that could be considered: do you employ approach V or M? Is it some mixture of both? Or something else entirely?
If it is V: how does the picture of the position in your mind look like? Is it lively/detailed or rather abstract / does it only contain the necessary information?
If it is M: describe what kind of facts you store in your memory, how you recall them, etc. And if you don't have aphantasia, why do you think you gravitate towards this approach? Is a chess position simply a too complex/detailed scene to visualise fully?

I'd be very grateful if some of you took the time to think about how visualisation in chess works for you and put it into words. I know it is a difficult introspective task! Would love to read your descriptions.

Thanks for your time and have a nice day. Cheers.

I attempt to visualize by erasing a piece on the chessboard in my mind and replacing it somewhere else, I have to constantly look at the chessboard to remember and I frequently stop being able to visualize after a couple pieces were moved. So I guess V, although I am not good at visualizing

I read your piece. I too find this stuff fascinating.

I guess I use 'V'. But I really struggle with visualization, after about 3 moves ahead I can't hold it in my mind and so I miss all kinds of things, like still thinking a moved piece is still blocking something or whatever. I guess I don't have aphantasia but maybe I'm a bit disphantasic if that's even a word lol.

Your investigation reminds me of something I learned recently, and blew my mind, that readers fall into two groups, those who hear a voice in their heads and those that absorb the text in some other (to me mysterious) way. I wonder if there's some connection.

Also I use some 'M' too I guess, like remembering to maintain a pin or keep a rook on the back rank to avoid mate.

@Oneiro_naut exactly, this makes me think of other topics around thought and how it happens/works as well, particularly the distinction between people whose default (and perhaps only) mode of thinking is verbal (inner monologue) and people whose default mode of thinking is somehow abstract and not (yet) verbalised (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_thought_hypothesis for reference).
I do also wonder whether there is some connection between that and the aphantasia / 'non-aphantasia' distinction.

Postgrad thesis right there lol.

On the verbal side of things, when I'm parsing a chess position, I feel it's non verbal ("wordless grasping" I think Graham Burgess called it), but always there's a kind of verbal commentary going on alongside in my head. "Takes takes takes takes, then he goes there - oh damn!".

Interesting topic. I'm staring at the captcha puzzle trying to figure out what I do. I don't think I have aphantasia, at least not very severe. I have no problem conjuring objects in my mind but I'm not really able to visualize and keep the whole position without losing track of the pieces.
Visualisation seems natural to me and do it for most of the calculation. I'm (re)moving the pieces in my mind but I have to look at the board to make sure I'm looking at the correct squares or it gets kind of hazy. This is also in constant fight with what I actually see on the board often forcing me to start the calculation over. Whole board vision is also extremely hard blindfolded. Not just remembering the position but also for example at what squares bishops aim.
I use memory for calculating trades (changing number of attacking/defending pieces), pattern recognition ( i.e. Philidor's mate - once it's there you can make the moves without thinking) or abstract ideas like focusing on certain squares or color complex.
But I definitely wouldn't think "my king is on g1" as I have trouble with coordinates in the first place. I have to make an effort to realize what square it is.

Totally agree. visualization is the basis of calculation in chess :)