I'd Like to Read Chess Books Without Needing a Board

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monk64

When I read a chess book, I can usually follow a position for a move or two but beyond that, I need to go to a board.  Likewise when playing - my chess "vision" isn't very deep when looking at the current position.

Is there any training program or techniques that can be used to deepen one's chess vision?  My dream would be to look at a PGN and play through the game in my head.  I'm a long way from that right now Laughing

leiph18

Read a book without a board i.e. practice the skill you want to improve.

Ok, going 10 moves deep through will power and time alone is probably unnecessary. But it is useful to go as far as you can every time without a board before you use a board.

Yes this makes reading the book slower, but it's part of the practice.

I don't know how effective it is, but I've tried this more than once. Follow the game score until the position gets unclear in your head (maybe that's only 2 moves for you, that's fine) then replay those moves a few times until it's clear, then set it up on a board (without going through the moves, set up the position as you see it in your head). Repeat until you've gone through all the moves of the game.

TheAdultProdigy
hayabusahayate16 wrote:

search chess.com videos for "achieving full board awareness" and "achieving full board nirvana" both of them are by Daniel Rensch. If you master all the excercises in this video you will be able to play blindfolded.

I second this comment.

monk64
hayabusahayate16 wrote:

search chess.com videos for "achieving full board awareness" and "achieving full board nirvana" both of them are by Daniel Rensch. If you master all the excercises in this video you will be able to play blindfolded.

Thank you very much - watching now!