As a teenager I used to play blindfold chess. I took on the top three boards of the Mount Allison University chess team in a three-board simultaneous blindfold exhibition, and won all three games.
I used to practice visualizing by setting up an EMPTY chessboard in front of me (no pieces at all, just the empty board) and playing through the game in my mind while watching the empty board.
I would also sometimes hold a wrist-watch to my ear while doing it, and use the tick-tock sound to keep me focused. That was back in the stone age, when wrist watches actually made noise.
... ( waiting for some twelve-year-old munchkin to say "Wait... wrist watches used to make noise? What did you used to make them out of... chipped stone and sticks? )
I just read these chess themed novels where visualizing in your mind the chess board is a key factor in defeating grandmasters in tournaments:
Obviously it would be a great advantage to be able to quickly play out combinations in ones' mind. I assume higher rated players have this ability. Me, I don't seem to even be able to see a 64 square chess board in my mind, although sometimes I can visualize the part of the board and key pieces where I am trying to figure out where to move next. I also can't memorize openings too well. I think they would be easier to remember if I could see them play out in my mind. So this mental ability is something I'd like to try and develop. Anyone have experience in training themselves to do this and maybe can offer some suggestions?