Answers.Body: <p>Visualization usually improves as you get stronger, and there are exercises that can be done to improve it. </p>
  
  <p>When following lines in a book, most players use a board,  and sometimes two. The second one is used to explore those side variations,  without having to constantly reset the board and play from the first move. This can be done with either physical boards, or software, which makes it easier to follow a variation,  then go back to then main line with just a mouse click. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-02-22T19:59:12.590Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-02-22T19:59:12.590Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Herb
Body: <p>This is a sample position from a book (no further details are given to avoid copyright issues).</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/9Vybj.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9Vybj.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>I can read the first line and follow it in my mind, departing from the figure. But the continuation in the 2nd and 3rd line is too much. I cannot look at the figure and remember what pieces are supposed to be in different squares, much less do it in a proficient way (i.e. I might place a non-existing bishop in a square in my mind, but not realizing which other squares he is threatening).</p>
  
  <p>However the book is not for advanced players. I wonder how are readers supposed to follow these comments and variations, if you are supposed to use a physical board with pieces, or if you are supposed to visualize all that in your mind and the problem is that I need more practice on that.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-23T09:36:02.663Z
Comments.Text: Variations are supposed to be played, not to be read; you don't have to "read" the chess books, you have to play them on the board.
Comments.UserDisplayName: gented
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-23T17:10:49.987Z
Comments.Text: @GennaroTedesco Phew! It is good to know. I was a bit frustrated.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Mephisto
Tags: <books><annotation>
Title: How are chess variations meant to be read
ThreadText: # How are chess variations meant to be read
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-22)
  
  This is a sample position from a book (no further details are given to avoid copyright issues).
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/9Vybj.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/9Vybj.jpg)
  
  I can read the first line and follow it in my mind, departing from the figure. But the continuation in the 2nd and 3rd line is too much. I cannot look at the figure and remember what pieces are supposed to be in different squares, much less do it in a proficient way (i.e. I might place a non-existing bishop in a square in my mind, but not realizing which other squares he is threatening).
  
  However the book is not for advanced players. I wonder how are readers supposed to follow these comments and variations, if you are supposed to use a physical board with pieces, or if you are supposed to visualize all that in your mind and the problem is that I need more practice on that.
  
  **Tags:** books, annotation
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Variations are supposed to be played, not to be read; you don't have to "read" the chess books, you have to play them on the board.  
  > **username_0**: @GennaroTedesco Phew! It is good to know. I was a bit frustrated.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2017-02-22. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  Visualization usually improves as you get stronger, and there are exercises that can be done to improve it.
  
  When following lines in a book, most players use a board, and sometimes two. The second one is used to explore those side variations, without having to constantly reset the board and play from the first move. This can be done with either physical boards, or software, which makes it easier to follow a variation, then go back to then main line with just a mouse click.
  
  
  ---
  
  