5th Kyū

Since all four sections are self-similar — they share the same structure — we can apply the same logic to create anchor points for the entire board.

Notice also the pattern: each corner square of the full board pairs with one of the center squares. For example, in the top-left section, a8 pairs with d5.

Once you've established these anchor points, you're ready to put them into practice.

The greatest advantage of this method is that every single square on the board is either an anchor point itself, or adjacent to one.

For example, suppose your opponent plays 1...Nf6. Here's how you might recognize f6:

Step 1: Identify the area.Even if you can't pinpoint f6 immediately, you can quickly determine that it falls within the top-right area (e5–h8).

Step 2: Determine the anchor point.The anchor points in this area are e5, h5, e8, and h8. Look for the nearest anchor point by file and rank — in this case, e5 works well.

Step 3: Check the relative position.f6 is one square to the right and one square up from e5 — in other words, diagonally upper-right.

In this way, instead of constructing a mental image from absolute coordinates like "the f-file... the 6th rank...", you recognize positions relatively: "top-right area, upper-right of e5." This reduces cognitive load and allows for more efficient board visualization.