Explore every episode of the podcast Chess Visualization with Aiden Rayner

Welcome to the Friday insight.

I made a list of all the things the things the world's leading expert on Chess visualization should know, but that I don't. Now I'm going about learning it all.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The List of Things I Don't Know
• David C. Baker's "Getting to Know" article

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move!

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
7r/5pk1/6p1/3Pp1P1/p3PN2/Pp4n1/1P6/1KR5 w - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Opening Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. At a certain point, one player will make a mistake and it’ll be your job to find the move to punish it.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nb6 6. d3 Be7 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Qc2 Be6 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Lost Piece Exercise: The audio will tell you the position of most of the pieces on the board. Can you work out where the missing piece is meant to be?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
8/3n4/2k1b3/8/8/8/6PP/3Nb2K b - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Welcome to the Friday insight. This is the seventh and final part of the Conceptualization and Rating series.

Human brains are human brains. Regardless of our Chess rating, the sorts of errors we make, their causes, are the same. Gaining rating is a process of grappling with that.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Four Things
• Vacated Squares
• The Why Blindfold series

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Lost Piece Exercise: The audio will tell you the position of most of the pieces on the board. Can you work out where the missing piece is meant to be?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
4R1R1/1R6/7R/3R4/R4R2/2q5/7R/1R3R2 w - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Illegal Move Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. Somewhere in there, a player will make an illegal move but the game will continue anyway. Find the illegal move.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 d6 13. Bf4 Bf5 14. Nd2 c6 15. Nf3 Qc7 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Opening Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. At a certain point, one player will make a mistake and it’ll be your job to find the move to punish it.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 c5 4. Bh3 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move!

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
kn6/p7/PP6/K7/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Welcome to the Friday insight. This is Part 6 of the Conceptualization and Rating series kicked off a few weeks ago. The brain wants to filter our thinking down to a "point". Breaking through and beyond 1800 is in large part about resisting that.

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Welcome to the Friday insight (on Thursday this week because we're catching up). This is Part 4 of the Conceptualization and Rating series kicked off a few weeks ago. Under pressure, our brains simplify the position for us before we even get a chance to think about it for ourselves. These "frames" affect so much of our thinking, and breaking through 1500 is about breaking those frames.

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Welcome to the Friday insight (on Thursday this week because we're catching up). This is Part 4 of the Conceptualization and Rating series kicked off a few weeks ago. Conceptualization at 1200 is all about the short calculation. Here's the challenges of that and how to approach it.

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move!

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
8/2R5/4pk2/3rN1p1/3P4/6P1/3n2K1/8 w - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Illegal Move Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. Somewhere in there, a player will make an illegal move but the game will continue anyway. Find the illegal move.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. e4 Ba6 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 *

Lost Piece Exercise: The audio will tell you the position of most of the pieces on the board. Can you work out where the missing piece is meant to be?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
8/8/5r2/8/3k4/8/PP6/K7 b - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move!

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
5Bnk/7p/7P/7K/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Hybrid Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are, then read a series of moves from that position. When prompted, try to identify the best next move.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN for today's exercise:
2r3k1/5pp1/7p/4q3/1R6/3Q2P1/2n4P/1K3R2 w - - 0 1

PGN for today's exercise:

1. Qa6 Qc3 2. Rb2 Nb4 3. Qd6 Nd3 4. Rb8 Qc2+ 5. Ka1 Qa4+ 6. Kb1 Qc2+ 7. Ka1 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Find the Blunder Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. One player will blunder and the other will not punish them for it. Can you find the blunder and the best punishment?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Ne4 f5 6. Ng5 Be7 7. N5f3 c6 8. Ne5 O-O 9. Ngf3 b6 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. O-O Re8 12. c4 Nf6 13. Bf4 Nbd7 14. Qe2 c5 15. Bc2 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 cxd4 17. Ba4 Rf8 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Awareness Exercise: Listen to the locations of all the pieces in the position, then answer the questions to test your awareness.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN from today's exercise:
8/5p1k/1bP3rp/8/6N1/7P/2R5/6K1 w - - 0 1

Listen to the episode for the questions and answers.

Hybrid Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are, then read a series of moves from that position. When prompted, try to identify the best next move.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN for today's exercise:
5rk1/5np1/6p1/8/8/8/P5PP/4R2K w - - 0 1

PGN for today's exercise:

1. a4 Ng5 2. a5 Ne4 3. Rxe4 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Welcome to the Friday insight. This is a quick aside for the ongoing "Conceptualization and Rating" series on the Friday Insight. You can find the first part on the pod a couple of weeks ago.

Pattern recognition and intuition can be strengths, but left unchecked can override what we consciously intended to do. And, for example, cause you to write, record, and release the entirely wrong episode on the entirely wrong week and not notice. Y'know, just as an example.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Willpower is Not the Answer
• Jessika's Review
• The New Mantra Technique article
• Can Kabadayi's CLAMP method for blunder checks

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Lost Piece Exercise: The audio will tell you the position of most of the pieces on the board. Can you work out where the missing piece is meant to be?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
r3r2k/2q1n2p/2n3p1/5p2/1p6/1B3P2/1P4PP/3Q1RK1 b - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move!

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
5qk1/R7/6pP/4B1K1/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Find the Blunder Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. One player will blunder and the other will not punish them for it. Can you find the blunder and the best punishment?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. e4 d6 7. Nc3 Nf6 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Awareness Exercise: Listen to the locations of all the pieces in the position, then answer the questions to test your awareness.

To get comfy with your square colors, spend a couple minutes each day in the Don't Move Square Color Trainer (free)

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN from today's exercise:
8/4bpk1/4b3/7P/3KR1P1/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Listen to the episode for the questions and answers.

Welcome to the Friday insight. This is part two for the ongoing "Conceptualization and Rating" series on the Friday Insight. Find the first part in last week's insight episode.

Starting out with Chess is tough on the brain. Here are the key conceptualization skills you need to finally reach 1000.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Don't Move Until You See It training tools
• The New Mantra Technique article

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the 10-minute stretch feature and the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Opening Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. At a certain point, one player will make a mistake and it’ll be your job to find the move to punish it.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. Nc3 d6 8. Nd5 Ng4 9. O-O Na5 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bd2 Nxb3 12. axb3 c6 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Hybrid Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are, then read a series of moves from that position. When prompted, try to identify the best next move.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN for today's exercise:
7r/1k4pp/1pp5/2b5/3pB3/3K4/7r/5R2 w - - 0 1

PGN for today's exercise:

1. Rf7+ Ka6 2. Rxg7 Rh3+ 3. Kc4 Re8 4. Bxc6 d3 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Illegal Move Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. Somewhere in there, a player will make an illegal move but the game will continue anyway. Find the illegal move.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Be7 4. d4 d6 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Bxd8 7. e4 Nf6 8. Bd3 O-O *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Opening Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. At a certain point, one player will make a mistake and it’ll be your job to find the move to punish it.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d5 4. Ne2 Nf6 5. Ng3 Bg4 6. Be2 Bxe2 7. Qxe2 Qd7 8. d4 Bb4+ 9. c3 O-O-O *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Lost Piece Exercise: The audio will tell you the position of most of the pieces on the board. Can you work out where the missing piece is meant to be?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
8/8/8/2k5/3p4/5R2/2K5/4n3 w - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

In my work with 1800 and 2000 rated students, I've seen two common areas for improvement that seem to mark the difference between players at that level and the level above. Here's what they are and how to train them.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

Welcome to the Friday insight. Today we kick off a new series walking you through key rating milestones and exactly what conceptualizations skills are most important to master at each one.

For more articles like this, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/articles

And to learn more about the 10-minute stretch feature and the Don't Move membership, head to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/join

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move!

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
2r3k1/2r2pp1/p3p3/1p2P3/2nPp3/7R/PP2NP1P/1K5R b - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Awareness Exercise: Listen to the locations of all the pieces in the position, then answer the questions to test your awareness.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN from today's exercise:
2r2rk1/5Rp1/p4bQp/8/8/6P1/1qB1RPKP/8 w - - 2 1

Listen to the episode for the questions and answers.

Hybrid Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are, then read a series of moves from that position. When prompted, try to identify the best next move.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN for today's exercise:
8/8/1q6/3k1B2/8/3P1P2/3NK3/8 w - - 0 1

PGN for today's exercise:

1. Be4+ Kd6 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Find the Blunder Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. One player will blunder and the other will not punish them for it. Can you find the blunder and the best punishment?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. g4 b6 2. Bg2 Bb7 3. Nf3 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Walk through a conceptualization exercise with Aiden from Don't Move Until You See It.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/

In today's I-do-whatever-I-want episode, I give you three "Meredith" mate-in-2 puzzles to memorize and chip away at through your day.

Here's the positions in human notation (rather than an FEN).

White: Kb2, Qf3, Nb3, Nd3
Black: Kc4, Nf6, b5, d6

White: Kc6, Nd6, Ne6, b7, c7, f7, g7. h7
Black: Ke7, Nb6, Nf6

White: Ka4, Qc8, Ra1, Ba8, Bf1
Black: Ka6, Qb7, Rd7, d5

Answers at the end of the episode.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

The new Don't Move Until You See It is live! And the feedback's been very good.

If you’re fired up about training and understanding your adult Chess brain, reducing blunders, and calculating with clarity and confidence, there’s never been a better time to join as a Don't Move member. Find out more and sign up here.

ry the new free interactive training tools here.

Or just jump in and explore what the new site has to offer.

If you have any ideas how I could integrate the site and the podcast in fun, exciting ways, let me know. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Reach out.

Find the Blunder Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. One player will blunder and the other will not punish them for it. Can you find the blunder and the best punishment?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 10. Nc3 Qxe5 11. Re1 Qd6 12. Nb5 Bxb5 13. Bxb5+ Kd8 14. Be3 Ne7 15. Rc1 Nf5 16. Bc5 Qf4 17. g3 Qg5 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Qa4 Qe7 20. Rc3 Qd6 21. Bd3 g6 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Lost Piece Exercise: The audio will tell you the position of most of the pieces on the board. Can you work out where the missing piece is meant to be?

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
1r4r1/7p/1P5b/Nb3p2/6n1/1B6/1BP3PP/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Opening Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. At a certain point, one player will make a mistake and it’ll be your job to find the move to punish it.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

PGN for today's exercise:

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Nf6 *

Answer at the end of the episode.

Vigilance Exercise: Follow the sequence of moves from a position and decide at the end which of two moves should be played.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN from today's exercise:
8/1R6/8/4pk2/r7/4K3/8/8 w - - 0 1

PGN from today's exercise:

1. Rf7+ Ke6 *

Answers at the end of the episode.

Walk through a conceptualization exercise with Aiden from Don't Move Until You See It.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/

In today's I-do-whatever-I-want episode, I discuss the conceptualization spectrum and break down some of the most interesting models I've run into in my half-decade of researching this stuff. And I try (and fail) not to go on tangents about cool Chess conceptualization stories.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

A quick lesson in conceptualization from Aiden at Don’t Move Until You See It.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

Vigilance Exercise: Follow the sequence of moves from a position and decide at the end which of two moves should be played.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN from today's exercise:
2k5/5R2/1p5b/p3B3/3Pn3/1KP5/PP4r1/8 w - - 0 1

PGN from today's exercise:

1. Rc7+ Kd8 2. Rc6 b5 3. Rxh6 Nd2+

Answers at the end of the episode.

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move!

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:
5n2/5k1p/2b3N1/4Qp2/2p2P1q/7P/6P1/3B1R1K b - - 0 1

Answer at the end of the episode.

Awareness Exercise: Listen to the locations of all the pieces in the position, then answer the questions to test your awareness.

To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it

FEN from today's exercise:
1k3b2/2p5/8/3R4/4K3/8/7P/3n4 b - - 0 1

Listen to the episode for the questions and answers.