I hope that the last article about visualization gave you some idea about how to train your visualization skills. In this article, we are going to visualize the first part of my game. YES. Let us explore this power that we all have .

Before going with the tough one, let us solve 5 quick positions without looking at the board.

Set up a mental board. Let’s welcome the squares. Start with a1, b1, c1, d1, e1, f1, g1, h1, h2, g2, f2 and so on. Take a few minutes to cover all the squares. Next, greet the pieces. Start with the pawns, then the minor pieces followed by major pieces.

A) 1. e4 c5 2.Bc4 g6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Ne5 Nxe4 
Now, it is white to play and win

B)  1.f4 e6 2.g4 
Black to play and win

C) 1.Nc3 c6 2.Ne4 e6 3.d4 Ne7 
White to play and win

D) 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nh6 4.Nc3 Ng4 5.Bd2 
Black to play and win

E) 1.c3 e5 2.d3 Qe7 3.d4 Nc6 4.dxe5 Nxe5 5.Nd2 
Black to play and win

Solved?

White: Navalgund Niranjan
Black: Ben Artzi,Ido (2423)
World Junior Chess Championship Pune (4.22), 09.10.2014

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3
Have you got the position in the mind now? Notice that white has made three pawn moves. The d pawn has moved to d4, then the c pawn moved to c4 and the g pawn has moved to g3. White is intending to develop the bishop on g2.

3… Bg7 Black develops the bishop and white follows the suit. 4.Bg2 d5
This move marks the beginning of Grunfeld. The black pawn is now in contact with the c4 pawn. Both the players have fianchettoed their bishops and are about to castle.

5.cxd5 Nxd5 There is a change in the structure now. White has captured black’s d pawn in return for his c pawn. The black knight has landed on d5.

6.e4 With this move, black is threatening the knight on d5. So, black moves his knight to b6 6… Nb6 7.Ne2 c5 8.d5
How are the white’s centre pawns placed? Where are the white knights? Where are the black knights?

If you are able to answer these questions, go ahead with the game without looking at the board. If you have reached this far, kudos! For those who are trying this for the first time, do compare the visual board with the diagram below

8… 0–0 9.0–0 e6
Notice the changes in the position. Are the white and black kings on g1 and g8 respectively?

10.Nec3 The Knight from e2 supports the pawn on d5 as white wants to place his b1 knight to c4 via a3. 10… Na6 11.a4 Nb4 12.Be3

The bishop is attacking the pawn on c5. The black knight is on b4 and so the knight hops back to a6 12…Na6

Where are the black knights? Where is the black’s e-pawn? Where are the white knights?
Where are the white bishops located?
Asking questions like these will help you become aware of the position.

If you have the answers to the questions, move ahead. If it is getting a little tougher, refer the board and move on.

13.Na3 As planned, the knight on b1 aspires to go to c4 via a3. 13…exd5 14.exd5

There is a change in the structure now. White has managed to create a passed pawn in the centre, thanks to the pawn exchanges.

14…Bd7? 15.a5 Nc8

The Knight is pushed away, the white pawn on a5 is now controlling the b6 square

16.Nc4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Bb5 The Bishop is attacking the knight on c4. Is the knight on c4 supported? NO. So, white develops his queen to b3, supporting the knight on c4 and also attacking the bishop on b5. Where are the white pawns located? Where are the black pawns located?

I would recommend all those who have visualized the position till here to continue. The rest can skip to the next diagram.

Congratulations to you for having come up till here!

18.Qb3 Bxc4 19.Qxc4 Nd6 20.Qa4 20.Qf6 21.Qf4 Qd8 22.Rfe1 Re8 23.Bd2 Qd7

White is all set to exploit the dark squares on the a1-h8 diagonal

24.c4 intending to play Bc3

24…Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Re8 26.Rxe8+ Nxe8
White is still better after all those exchanges. How many minor pieces are left on the board?
There are two white bishops and two black knights.

27.Bc3 Nac7 28.h4 Kf8 29.Be5 b6 30.axb6 axb6 31.h5 31…b5 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.d6 g5 34.Qxg5 f6 35.Qh6+ Kg8 36.dxc7

1–0

Solutions:

A) 1. e4 c5 2.Bc4 g6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Ne5 Nxe4  5.Bxf7#

B)  1.f4 e6 2.g4 Qh4#

C) 1.Nc3 c6 2.Ne4 e6 3.d4 Ne7 4.Nd6#

D) 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nh6 4.Nc3 Ng4 5.Bd2 Bxf2#

E) 1.c3 e5 2.d3 Qe7 3.d4 Nc6 4.dxe5 Nxe5 5.Nd2 Nd3#

I hope you enjoyed the training today! Will be back with another article soon