There is a really simple way to improve your visualisation skills fast.
Play imaginary chess.
1) Start by doing some simple visualisation exercises like i) visualising one or two plus pieces on given squares and say the colour of that square then ii) visualise pawns on given squares and saying if they can move to the next said square and iii) visualising a bishop on a square and saying if it can move to the next squares said then iv) place a knight on a square and say if it can move to a said square in one move and then v) the same but if it could reach there in 2 moves.
2) Then move onto simple chess puzzles. i) Start by visualising setups with 1 white rook and king vs 1 black king. ii) then 1 white rook and king vs 1 black pawn and king, iii) then 1 white rook, bishop and king vs 1 black pawn and king iv) then 1 white rook, knight and king vs 1 black pawn and king. v) Then finally moving multiple pieces to solve an end game puzzle in a few moves (you can use the puzzles at the bottom of this blog).
3)Then move onto playing Alice in Wonderland Chess (explained below) which forces you to visualise missing pieces.
4) Then play normal chess but have one side as real pieces and the other as imaginary pieces.
5) then eventually progress to both sides being imaginary and finally do this completely in your mind - without a board
ALICE CHESS
This requires two boards as opposed to only one!
Game play is as normal - except at the end of each pieces move - it goes through the looking glass and gets transported to the exact same spot onto the alternate reality chess board (the second chess board) and there it remains until it makes another move, at the end of which it gets transported back through the looking glass into normal reality again (the first board!) - - it gets very difficult to keep track
The main thing to remember is that you can only move to a square if you are able to transport though it at the end of the go - if there is a piece occupying the square on the other board (blocking your ability to transport to it) you cannot move there! - - You only 'kill' pieces on your side of the looking glass (on your board) and cannot kill the alternate reality piece (i.e. cannot transport through to the otherside at the end and then kill the piece you land on!)..
this means you can keep your king safe by moving him through the looking glass onto the other board! it also means that it is a lot harder to check the King as you must move into position on the other board so that you transport into the position of check (otherwise if you attempt to check him on the same board - you will simply transport to the alternate board at the end of your move and so the King will not be in check - you can not check THROUGH the looking glass!!)
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE TWO CHESS BOARDS!!
If you dont have two chess boards - then this game can be modified slightly to be played on two halves of one board - imagining a giant mirror inbetween the two halves of the chess board!
Of course - this means there is less space to set up your army (4 squares wide as opposed to 8 squares) -
so to compensate each army will start in THREE rows instead of the usual two -
the front row will consist of 4 pawns (not 8), the second row will have your semi-precious pieces: knights on the outside and bishops in the middle, and the back row will have your rooks on the outside protecting the King and queen on the inside. - Remember - at the end of each move - the piece is transported to the same spot on the alternate side of the board! enjoy
PRACTICE: 1) play alice chess - both armies starting in normal reality (same board). 2) play alice chess - one army starting in alternate reality / wonderland (one army starts on the second board). 3) play alice chess with a third chess board - so there are three possible worlds - and you have the option of which board you teleport to!
1) Start by doing some simple visualisation exercises like i) visualising one or two plus pieces on given squares and say the colour of that square then ii) visualise pawns on given squares and saying if they can move to the next said square and iii) visualising a bishop on a square and saying if it can move to the next squares said then iv) place a knight on a square and say if it can move to a said square in one move and then v) the same but if it could reach there in 2 moves.
2) Then move onto simple chess puzzles. i) Start by visualising setups with 1 white rook and king vs 1 black king. ii) then 1 white rook and king vs 1 black pawn and king, iii) then 1 white rook, bishop and king vs 1 black pawn and king iv) then 1 white rook, knight and king vs 1 black pawn and king. v) Then finally moving multiple pieces to solve an end game puzzle in a few moves (you can use the puzzles at the bottom of this blog).
3)Then move onto playing Alice in Wonderland Chess (explained below) which forces you to visualise missing pieces.
4) Then play normal chess but have one side as real pieces and the other as imaginary pieces.
5) then eventually progress to both sides being imaginary and finally do this completely in your mind - without a board
ALICE CHESS
The main thing to remember is that you can only move to a square if you are able to transport though it at the end of the go - if there is a piece occupying the square on the other board (blocking your ability to transport to it) you cannot move there! - - You only 'kill' pieces on your side of the looking glass (on your board) and cannot kill the alternate reality piece (i.e. cannot transport through to the otherside at the end and then kill the piece you land on!)..
this means you can keep your king safe by moving him through the looking glass onto the other board! it also means that it is a lot harder to check the King as you must move into position on the other board so that you transport into the position of check (otherwise if you attempt to check him on the same board - you will simply transport to the alternate board at the end of your move and so the King will not be in check - you can not check THROUGH the looking glass!!)
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE TWO CHESS BOARDS!!
If you dont have two chess boards - then this game can be modified slightly to be played on two halves of one board - imagining a giant mirror inbetween the two halves of the chess board!
Of course - this means there is less space to set up your army (4 squares wide as opposed to 8 squares) -
so to compensate each army will start in THREE rows instead of the usual two -
the front row will consist of 4 pawns (not 8), the second row will have your semi-precious pieces: knights on the outside and bishops in the middle, and the back row will have your rooks on the outside protecting the King and queen on the inside. - Remember - at the end of each move - the piece is transported to the same spot on the alternate side of the board! enjoy
PRACTICE: 1) play alice chess - both armies starting in normal reality (same board). 2) play alice chess - one army starting in alternate reality / wonderland (one army starts on the second board). 3) play alice chess with a third chess board - so there are three possible worlds - and you have the option of which board you teleport to!
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