I'm fairly good at tactics and such, but I find that I have a serious discrepency when it comes to visualizing a chess position in my mind. I can do it, but not well. With corr games this is not always a problem, because I can set up a position on a board and move the pieces. Even then, however, I don't always have the liesure to do this.
In short, does anyone know any good techniques for improving my chess vision and memory? Even seemingly ridiculous suggestions would be welcome.
Originally posted by thesonofsaulYou could try setting a little chess board beside your computer and move the pieces around accordingly.. but., it would be much work if you have multiple games in progress.. You would have to set the board to match each time for each game.
I'm fairly good at tactics and such, but I find that I have a serious discrepency when it comes to visualizing a chess position in my mind. I can do it, but not well. With corr games this is not always a problem, because I can set u ...[text shortened]... d memory? Even seemingly ridiculous suggestions would be welcome.
Originally posted by thesonofsaulStart by making flashcards.
I'm fairly good at tactics and such, but I find that I have a serious discrepency when it comes to visualizing a chess position in my mind. I can do it, but not well. With corr games this is not always a problem, because I can set up a position on a board and move the pieces. Even then, however, I don't always have the liesure to do this.
In sho ...[text shortened]... r improving my chess vision and memory? Even seemingly ridiculous suggestions would be welcome.
For example: What colour is square b2?; what squares does a Nf5 attack?; what are the shortest routes for a N between a1 and h5?; With a K on e5 and Q on d4, where can you place a piece to win the Q?
It also helps to make a serious effort to follow games and analysis lines in your head. If it's too hard at first, play over the first few moves of a line on the board and then reset the position and play over the line again in your head until you 'see' it, and then try and go a move or two further.
(More suggestions to come later)
Originally posted by thesonofsaulActually, I have the opposite problem and I have been taking out every tactical puzzle book I can find, but to no avail, so perhabs you can tell me the techniques you use to improve tactical play, and I can do vice-virsa, and we can help each other? I don't think my tactical play is weak per-say, however, my defense against tactics and my inability to avoid doing simple blunders seems to be my downside.
I'm fairly good at tactics and such, but I find that I have a serious discrepency when it comes to visualizing a chess position in my mind. I can do it, but not well. With corr games this is not always a problem, because I can set up a position on a board and move the pieces. Even then, however, I don't always have the liesure to do this.
In sho ...[text shortened]... r improving my chess vision and memory? Even seemingly ridiculous suggestions would be welcome.
BTW, when it comes to evaluating positions, DO NOT TRUST CHESS ENGINES. I can't say this enough, chess engines are weak at understanding positional play, although chess engines are plenty smart and good at chess, it would be like asking a lawyer to do open heart surgery. Usually when I play on my chessmaster 10K, it thinks my unique Taimanov black opening is very weak, it usually grades me down almost an entire pawn. Of course, I do not agree with this assessment and the results are in my favour, especially considering I rarely lose games in the opening or the endgame this opening generates, it is usually in the late-mid game I screw up, the late-mid game is a time when tactics go crazy.
An engine like Fritz 7 or shredder has better positional evaluations then both of us combined. All engines have problems with openings...that's why there are opening books that force them to play certain moves. When I analyze games after I finish with Fritz on full analysis, it points out good positional elements and bad ones, and I am confident that it is correct. No Engine ties the worlds highest rated player without positional skills.
