Ask Coach Jessica: Practice your Visualization Skills

HeroicPatch wins again! He wants to know how to visualize better, because it's hard in "extremely complicated positions." I mean, it's hard in any position, right? Visualizing is a wonderful skill that can help you calculate a strong line when you are considering your candidate moves. It is the ability to see "in your head" what your future chess position might look like. And this is definitely not easy!

By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).

So here's where I would start: Dvorestsky. No, OK maybe too much. But do start with his concept of studying the board. You set a clock for maybe 20 minutes and plunk down a super hard position, from, anywhere: a GM game, your own game, the end of an opening line, whatever. And then you stare at the board like you're divining through a misty glass ball the biggest mysteries of the universe.

After the time is up, you should have gone from 80 million possible choices to three candidate options, to one really good move+plan. Hopefully, you were not just thinking about what mom was cooking for dinner, but about the best moves in the position. Imagine best play for both sides of course.

Remember when you are searching for a good plan and evaluating the position, look for king safety, piece placement (are all your guys out on the dance floor?), hanging pieces, weak pawns or structures, and forcing moves.

Try this quiz: Black played e5 in this position. What should white play? And where would the pieces and pawns be after only one more move? Hint: White would like to unleash the fianchetto bishop!

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Another way of practicing these skills is to play blindfold chess! There are two ways to play:

1. Set out a board and sit across from your partner. Keep the pieces in the bag. Call out the moves you'd like to play. You can look at the board as a reference. A third person can notate the moves you both announce, and he/she can check on a secret hidden board if your moves are legal or illegal.  See if you can make it to five moves without making any illegal moves! 

2.  Super Blindfold Chess. No board! See how many moves you can make without fumbling or cracking up laughing. This is really great for your visualisation skills because you are having to see the entire board and pieces all in your head! Play alone or with a partner.

Naka resigned in this position, understandably! He and his opponent saw all the checkmates coming. Can you find at least one? I have just moved the black king from f4 to e4 for this puzzle.

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