Introduction to Visualization pt. 3

Here is the long awaited... introduction to part 3! Support and feedback allows me to accelerate this discussion so please leave comments! My mind is everywhere at once, I will work on the series on Mechanics soon!! While editing my series on visualization I felt the need to expand on my ideas due to my latest search

For those who do not know the author Jonathan Rowson, he is one of the leading authors on the discussion chess psychology. In contrast to Dvoretsky, whose discussion of chess psychology is largely based on the concrete operatives of the game, Rowson discusses more of the nuances that may be plaguing the thinking process in itself.

His two books, Seven Deadly Chess Sins, and Chess for Zebras, he discusses the pitfalls that our mind falls into, without our very conscious. My endeavor is to define "visualization" and its relevance to our subconscious (which inadvertently will also be a discussion of whether or not this is by virtue of nature or nurture as discussed in Part 2)

In part 3, I wish to tackle his first publication, the 7 Deadly Chess Sins, in regard to our search for an answer of the operations of visualization. What part of our subconscious is it important to evaluate in the way we evaluate evaluation?! And how is it pertaining in the way we are conducting the game as a whole?

An Answer to this discussion?

As defined by Aagaard, the learning process has four phases, "The first phase is called unconscious incompetence, the second conscious incompetence, the third conscious competence, and fourth phase is called unconscious competence"

• Chess pieces are pieces of wood. No knowledge of the rules at all.
• Knowledge of the rules but with a great amount of possibilities that can not truly be evaluated. This is the situation of the beginner. All the legal moves are possible candidates.
• A greater knowledge of chess and evaluation of moves. The amount of possibilities become greatly reduced. This is the level of club player and developing players.
• Chess positions immediately make sense and obvious moves appear in the subject's head. This is the situation of a very strong chess player with a fully developed intuition.

So at what point does our subconscious play into our development as a player? And at what point does it translate into the process of "visualization" in chess?

Another question is in this four phase process, can it not be that the mind starts the compilation of chess paterns starting from phase 1 transitioning into phase 2? Is it even relevant to examine our subconscious in the context outlined by Aagaard?

I will try to tackle this discussion head on and offer the reader insight to these questions, and alternatives in which Rowson offers as a solution to the 7 "sins", and to generate some ideas how this is relevant to our discussion of "visualization". As we get closer to some clearer ideas, we can begin to identify the features in which defines this historically confused word. In the book, Rowson (I think rightly) left for the reader to discover these nuances of overcoming our subconscious, but at the same time if he does not offer a solution to the problem, are we mere philosophers?

Tune in for updates!