Chess Visualization with Aiden Rayner

Game Exercise: Close your eyes and follow along with an entire Chess game using the audio below. On each move, try to conceptualize the position clearly and understand how it has changed. Try to follow the game until the end to stretch the amount of moves you can see ahead.

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:

TheLuftvaffel vs sirkhay (Lichess blitz, 2025)

e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 f5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Be7 7. Bg5 O-O 8. O-O c6 9. Re1 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qc1 Qd6 12. Ne2 Nd7 13. Nf4 Rb8 14. c3 Kh8 15. a4 a6 16. b4 Nxc3 17. Nh5 Ne4 18. Ng5 Qg6 19. Nxe4 fxe4 20. Be2 Nf6 21. Qf4 Bg4 22. Nxf6 Bxe2 23. Rxe2 Qxf6 24. Qc7 Qxd4 25. Rb1 Qd3 26. Reb2 e3 27. Rb3 exf2+ 28. Kh1 f1=Q+ 0-1

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:

e4 g6 2. d4 d6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 O-O 6. Be3 Re8 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. O-O-O a6 9. Bh6 Bh8 10. Ng5 b5 *

And the answer is...

Bxf7#

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:

8/8/8/8/8/8/p7/k1KR4 w - - 0 1

And the answer is...

Kc2#

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:

a3 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. axb4 e6 4. Ba3 Nf6 5. Bxf8 Kxf8 6. Nc3 g6 *

And the answer is...

White's move 5. Bxf8 is illegal because the Bishop is blocked by the pawn on b4.

Hybrid Puzzle: 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/conceptualization

FEN for today's exercise:

4rb2/4r1pk/6pp/8/2N5/8/5PPP/2RR2K1 b - - 0 1

PGN for today's exercise:

1... Re4 2. Nd6 Bxd6 3. Rxd6 *

And the answer is...

3... Re1+ 4. Rxe1 Rxe1#