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:

d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 *

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:

8/8/8/8/4k3/4qp2/1RR5/K7 b - - 0 1

PGN for today's exercise:

1... Qd4 2. Rd2 Qb6 *

And the answer is...

Rxb6

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:

c4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qa4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Nf3 0-0 *

And the answer is...

White's move 4. Qa4 is illegal because the pawn on c4 is blocking the Queen's path.

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:

3b1k2/5p2/p3q3/1p1pPp1p/1PrP4/P2Q1P2/4R2K/6R1 b - - 1 1

PGN for today's exercise:

Roebers vs Maurizzi (Wijk Aan Zee, 2026)

1... Bb6 2. Rg5 Bxd4 3. Rxf5 Qg6 4. Rg2 Bxe5+ 5. f4 *

And the answer is...

5... Bxf4+ 6. Kh3 (6. Kh1 Rc1+ 7. Qf1 Rxf1+ 8. Rg1 Rxg1#) (6. Rg3 Bxg3+ 7. Kg2 Be5+) 6... Qe6 7. Rf2 (7. Re2 This happened in the game. 7... Re4 8. Rxe4 Qxf5+ and White resigned. ) 7... d4 and Black is threatening ...Rc3, The white Rook on f5 is under pressure and the white King is very weak. White is completely busted.

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:

r3r1k1/3q1pp1/p2p3p/2pPn2P/2p1N3/1P4Q1/P4PP1/3RR1K1 w - - 0 1

And the answer is...

Nf6+ Kh8 2. Nxd7