visualization
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Haughtyharry09
Jun 19, 2020
0
#1
Hello everyone, I have read somewhere that to become a better chess player, one needs to be able to visualize a clear chessboard in mind. So what kind of chessboard and pieces do great players visualize? Is it 2D or 3D, also is color important? It has been bugging me for a long time. I would really appreciate it if someone can shed some light on the same. Thank you
Jun 19, 2020
0
#4
Studies have proven that the brain absorbs more in 3D. 2D will work, just not as well.
I think it depends. People who grow up with computers often visualise a “screen”. Old school players visualise physical pieces. However, as far as I know, they don’t have the entire board in the mind, but the relevant chunk of pieces, the pawn structure, etc.
The best demonstration of visualisation is playing blindfolded chess. I can play games blindfolded agains beginners, hoping that they play a bad defence which I know well, like 1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 f6?! 3.Nxe5!? fxe5?? etc, and mostly I will checkmate them. However, if the game is not forced I get soon lost, and I need at least an empty physical board to go on playing.
The best demonstration of visualisation is playing blindfolded chess. I can play games blindfolded agains beginners, hoping that they play a bad defence which I know well, like 1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 f6?! 3.Nxe5!? fxe5?? etc, and mostly I will checkmate them. However, if the game is not forced I get soon lost, and I need at least an empty physical board to go on playing.
Jun 20, 2020
0
#7
I visualize in 2D since I majorly play online so I wouldn't know the proper advice to give for OTB. If by colour you mean the colour of the squares, then yes it is important or at least it helps. At first I had issues visualizing the colors of the squares and had to use an algorithm but I found that a bit unnatural. Luckily, most of my problems with diagonals and colours were fixed when I started visualizing the board in four quadrants, so maybe that may help you too.
I visualize lines. But I visualize them very bad.
Jun 20, 2020
0
#9
haughtyharry wrote:
Hello everyone, I have read somewhere that to become a better chess player, one needs to be able to visualize a clear chessboard in mind. So what kind of chessboard and pieces do great players visualize? Is it 2D or 3D, also is color important? It has been bugging me for a long time. I would really appreciate it if someone can shed some light on the same. Thank you
That's actually a very good question. I'd like to hear a bunch of super GMs describe what they visualize in their mind's eye. From the little reading I've done, it's usually described as an abstract model of a board, but the explanation is usually extremely vague.
Jun 20, 2020
0
#10
I've found that it helps to visualize a board full of living pieces...
... except with naked women.
...
...
Look at my rating, and then argue.
Steven-ODonoghue wrote:
brasileirosim wrote:
I think it depends. People who grow up with computers often visualise a “screen”. Old school players visualise physical pieces. However, as far as I know, they don’t have the entire board in the mind, but the relevant chunk of pieces, the pawn structure, etc.
The best demonstration of visualisation is playing blindfolded chess. I can play games blindfolded agains beginners, hoping that they play a bad defence which I know well, like 1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 f6?! 3.Nxe5!? fxe5?? etc, and mostly I will checkmate them. However, if the game is not forced I get soon lost, and I need at least an empty physical board to go on playing.
The best demonstration of visualisation is playing blindfolded chess. I can play games blindfolded agains beginners, hoping that they play a bad defence which I know well, like 1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 f6?! 3.Nxe5!? fxe5?? etc, and mostly I will checkmate them. However, if the game is not forced I get soon lost, and I need at least an empty physical board to go on playing.
You never actually visualise the board or peices, just chunks of abstract information. Ask any good blindfold player whether he sees in 2D or 3D and he will say neither
I said already above that people only visualise chunks, not whole positions. And concerning 2 or 3D: I found some IMs or GMs talking about using one or the other, or sometimes only an abstract “feeling” of a specific part of the board( which is what you are talking about, I guess). I began a new threat top to collect quotations about visualisation, check there what Axel Smith wrote on this subject.