A chessboard has 64 squares. Rather than memorizing each one individually, there's a more efficient method using specific squares as references. This is the anchor point method.
The anchor point method involves fixing several key squares as "anchor points" and recognizing other squares by their relative position from these anchors.
Why Anchor Points Work
The human brain is better at recognizing relative positions than absolute ones. When reading a map, "2km north of Tokyo Station" is easier to understand than latitude and longitude coordinates.
The same applies to the chessboardβif you remember a few reference points, you can identify other squares as "one right, two up from that square."
Basic Anchor Points
1. The Central Four Squares (Most Important)
- d4/d5
- e4/e5
d4 and e4 are frequently played as opening moves, and d5/e5 are common responses. Use these as your center point and navigate "up, down, left, right" to identify surrounding squares.
2. The Corner Squares
- a1/a8
- h1/h8
These are the rooks' starting positions. Being in the corners, they serve as reference points for the edges of the board.
Castling destination squares (g1/c1, g8/c8) can also be derived from these. Remember that the castling destination square is always the same color as the king's original square.
For example, White's king starts on e1, which is a dark square. Whether castling O-O or O-O-O, the king's destination is always a dark square.
3. Knight Starting Positions
- b1/b8
- g1/g8
These are the knights' starting positions. They help establish the "second file from the edge" reference.
Practical Application
Let's practice identifying squares using anchor points. Since there are multiple squares that can serve as anchors, choose whichever feels most intuitive to you.
Example 1: Where is f6?
- Method A: From the center
- One right, one up from e5 (central anchor)
- Method B: From knight position
- One left, two down from g8 (Black's knight starting position)
Example 2: Where is c3?
- Method A: From the center
- One left, one down from d4 (central anchor)
- Method B: From knight position
- One right, two up from b1 (White's knight starting position)
Example 3: Where is a6?
- Method A: From the corner
- Two down from a8 (top-left corner)
- Method B: From the center
- Three left, one up from d5
Advanced Technique: Opening-Derived Anchors
If you have some knowledge of chess openings, you can use key squares from your frequently played openings as additional anchors.
| Opening | Anchor Squares | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense | c5, d6 | Typical pawn structure in the Sicilian |
| Ruy Lopez | b5, c6 | Key squares for bishop and knight development |
| King's Indian | g6, d6 | Fianchetto and central pawn structure |
| Queen's Gambit | c4, d5 | Essential moves challenging the center |
With these memorized, you can think "two right from the Sicilian's c5" to identify squares in larger chunks. This is exactly the application of "pattern recognition" demonstrated in de Groot's experiment.
Practice Method
-
Master the central four first: Be able to instantly visualize d4, d5, e4, e5
-
Add corners and knight positions: Solidify a total of 12 anchor points
-
Practice with coordinate quizzes: Use the coordinate quiz on this site, answering by calculating relative positions from anchors
-
Integrate with opening study: When learning new openings, consciously add important squares as anchors
Conclusion
You don't need to memorize 64 squares individually. With 8-12 anchor points and the concept of relative positioning, you can efficiently navigate the entire board.
This technique not only forms the foundation for blindfold chess but also speeds up board recognition in regular games. Start with the central four squares and gradually expand your anchor points.