# Picture Notation: A Mnemonic System for Chess **URL:** \ **Category:** General Memory Chat\ **Tags:** chess\ **Created:** [January 24, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514 "2022-01-24T20:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zipho\_Lunika](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/zipho_lunika/32/31578_2.png) [@Zipho\_Lunika](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Zipho_Lunika)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 6:52am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/41 "2022-10-01T06:52:21Z")
> [@JohnDen](#): > > ear the I think with storing half moves, you can decide on a pre-determined convention based upon the orientation of the images. For example. The image at the top comes first and then the image at the bottom. Or you can use left to right orientation etc. For example, If I wanted to memorize Bg5 h6. Well Bg5 = 975 = piccolo. h6 = 86 =fish. So piccolo riding a huge, slimy, slippery, smelly silver fish. Picollo is on “top” of the fish and the fish as at the bottom. Something like that ---
**Author:** ![JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/johnden/32/15841_2.png) [@JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JohnDen)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 8:34am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/42 "2022-10-01T08:34:49Z")
> [@Zipho\_Lunika](#): > > I think with storing half moves, you can decide on a pre-determined convention based upon the orientation of the images. For example. The image at the top comes first and then the image at the bottom. Or you can use left to right orientation etc. Yes this is the way I remember two half-moves too. In fact I think you should go further: have a double convention. (1) The first half-move (picture word) is above the second, (2) the first half-move (picture word) is doing an action to the second. Your example of a “piccolo riding a huge, slimy, slippery, smelly silver fish” works perfectly. This makes the image safer for the long run. Also, I believe that both picture words should interact with the location. The piccolo interacts with the location, the piccolo interacts with the fish, the fish interacts with the location. This adds a layer of redundancy. You only need to recall 2/3 of the interactions to recover 100% of the information. [https://i.imgur.com/p620nHj.png](https://i.imgur.com/p620nHj.png) ^This is a diagram of what I mean, from [chapter 2 of my book (pdf)](https://johnden.org/papers/essentialmemorytechniques.pdf), if you are interested. The final chapter, on endgame memory palaces, should be out soon(ish), by the way. ---
**Author:** ![JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/johnden/32/15841_2.png) [@JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JohnDen)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/43 "2022-11-12T14:54:50Z")
I have finished Chapter 6, on **Endgames**. > **[tcmp-chapter6.pdf](https://johnden.org/papers/tcmp-chapter6.pdf)** > > 62.71 KB The basic idea is pretty simple. Like for openings, you start with a position, then memorise a tree diagram repertoire to win. For example, a fundamental position in queen v rook and a-pawn looks like this: [https://i.imgur.com/hFqaURI.png](https://i.imgur.com/hFqaURI.png) Which you can win with this tree diagram in a memory palace. Dotted boxes are optional: [https://i.imgur.com/vIYlELi.png](https://i.imgur.com/vIYlELi.png) To handle reflections, you need to “relabel the coordinates”. [https://i.imgur.com/7o1DOH3.png](https://i.imgur.com/7o1DOH3.png) There is more in the chapter! - Queen v Rook (Philidor position) - Knight and a-pawn v Bishop - Queen v Rook and a-pawn - Rook and a-pawn v Rook - Bishop and Knight checkmate - Rook and Bishop v Rook: Lolli and Philidor positions (2 endgames in 1 memory palace) > **[tcmp-chapter6.pdf](https://johnden.org/papers/tcmp-chapter6.pdf)** > > 62.71 KB ---
**Author:** ![zweb\_chess](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/zweb_chess/32/17277_2.png) [@zweb\_chess](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/zweb_chess)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/44 "2022-11-12T22:06:57Z")
Very interesting thanks. > [@JohnDen](#): > > To handle reflections, you need to “relabel the coordinates”. If I have mirrored scenarios I am mainly just planning to memorize the plan on one side of the board then recall the mirrored plan at the board and abstract it to the actual moves I need to play at the board. I like your idea of relabeling the coordinates of the board temporarily in my mind. > [@JohnDen](#): > > Bishop and Knight checkmate Memorized sequences are much more applicable in some endings than others. This one for example has just 2 key positions to understand and just memorizing 2 simple patterns is enough to consistently win the game. 1 hour of practice is enough to learn it cold and I don’t think it is particularly well suited to mnemonics. I know you are just writing samples but someone seriously pursuing endgame memorization should be careful in which they choose to use mnemonics. Queen vs R and a pawn looks like a good example above. ![image](https://forum.artofmemory.com/uploads/default/original/3X/8/9/89b8d05949d8ad888dfeeb1b0853131af6ab43a0.png) ![image](https://forum.artofmemory.com/uploads/default/original/3X/7/e/7e14c2ce21267c5fa288d0cc530cc6350a93e9d9.png) Everyone knows the first W pattern but this 2nd pattern many don’t know. Put the bishop a knight move away from the corner and the knight 2 squares toward the center to create an electric fence to trap the king. Just these 2 patterns with appropriate related understanding is enough. ---
**Author:** ![Chump](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Chump](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Chump)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/45 "2022-11-12T22:22:20Z")
> [@zweb\_chess](#): > > 1 hour of practice is enough to learn it cold and I don’t think it is particularly well suited to mnemonics. I know you are just writing samples but someone seriously pursuing endgame memorization should be careful in which they choose to use mnemonics. I agree. And using mnemonics in this example of BN v K will also rob the player of the valuable understanding and lessons about how these pieces work together to cut off the king, which can arguably be called even more important than learning the exact ending which has a very low chance of occuring at all. (I’ve played 50,000 games and seen it occur naturally only once, none of my students have ever had the ending though I’ve taught it to most of them). The added benefit of taking some time (no more than an hour as you say + some reviews) to learn the ending without mnemonics is that along with the understanding you will also get instant recall, which mnemonics cannot provide. I can’t think of anything worse than getting a BN v K ending for the once and only time in your career, only to be in time trouble and unable to travel to a memory palace and mentally decipher some mnemonic images to find out what to play. However, learning this ending the proper way would give a player the confidence even to perform the mate in a bullet game if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![zweb\_chess](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/zweb_chess/32/17277_2.png) [@zweb\_chess](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/zweb_chess)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/46 "2022-11-12T22:29:41Z")
> [@Chump](#): > > more important than learning the exact ending which has a very low chance of occuring at all. I think it probably would happen a bit more if people were as confident as they are in RK v K. I think few enough know it that I would be fairly happy going for it as a last ditch defense especially since I know how to force them to show all the needed patterns not just W. Even if it never happens in one of my games it is very nice to know it psychologically to just go for that ending with a forcing variation without a thought even if I have good alternatives that are less forcing but maybe gives my opponent some counterplay options. I think it will eventually happen in one of my games just because I want it to. ---
**Author:** ![3nrd](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/3/ac8455/32.png) [@3nrd](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/3nrd)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/47 "2022-11-13T21:04:11Z")
In the 1980s I had a compelling image of 753, a giant CLAM. To some degree clam and 753 are one and the same. This might be a trick question, but what is it you forget and remember. To recall when Rome fell or the melting point of mercury my mneumonic is not for off. For hundreds of digits of pi the mnemonics stay even when the links fade. ---
**Author:** ![JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/johnden/32/15841_2.png) [@JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JohnDen)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/48 "2023-01-03T19:39:30Z")
I’m pleased to say that the book is complete! [Available as paperback](https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0BR9DQMVS?tag=artofmemory-20) or [ebook (pdf)](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1368398070), and [the core chapters are free online](https://johnden.org/chessmemorypalace). I have made a new post for it here: [https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/the-chess-memory-palace/79533](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/the-chess-memory-palace/79533) **Thanks to everyone who has liked, commented and debated in this thread!** It was a good motivation to keep going. [![image](https://forum.artofmemory.com/uploads/default/original/3X/f/2/f2ddc6309770391bdc8a0d216a41997d1603fed6.jpeg)](https://johnden.org/chessmemorypalace) ---
**Author:** ![zweb\_chess](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/zweb_chess/32/17277_2.png) [@zweb\_chess](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/zweb_chess)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/49 "2023-01-03T20:00:58Z")
Congratulations. Do you have plans to memorize your entire opening repertoire using your system? ---
**Author:** ![JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/johnden/32/15841_2.png) [@JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JohnDen)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/50 "2023-01-03T22:55:23Z")
Yeah, I recently changed a lot of my opening repertoire on recommendation of my coach, and I’m looking forward to building new palaces for it. The only issue is, I think the Chess Memory Palace pairs best with sharp, forcing openings, and I generally prefer less tactical positions. I might build a mix of solid/strategic mainlines with a few sharp sidelines in memory palaces. ---
**Author:** ![seamagu](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/seamagu/32/333_2.png) [@seamagu](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/seamagu)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 8:49am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/51 "2023-01-07T08:49:33Z")
Looks great, I checked out the free chapters and you’ve done a great job creating the system. I love how you used the major system too, makes it really easy for me. It looks like the paperback version is only available in US, any plans to put it up on [Amazon.co.uk](http://Amazon.co.uk)? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/johnden/32/15841_2.png) [@JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JohnDen)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 9:49am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/52 "2023-01-07T09:49:46Z")
It’s available in the UK too! In fact it should be available pretty much anywhere Amazon delivers. [https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Chess-Memory-Palace-John-Holden/dp/B0BR9DQMVS](https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Chess-Memory-Palace-John-Holden/dp/B0BR9DQMVS?tag=artofmemory-20) ---
**Author:** ![seamagu](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/seamagu/32/333_2.png) [@seamagu](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/seamagu)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/53 "2023-01-07T11:00:05Z")
![image](https://forum.artofmemory.com/uploads/default/original/3X/e/8/e82790eaf623224e7392445741f80abf000378b0.jpeg) Might be just out of stock ---
**Author:** ![JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/johnden/32/15841_2.png) [@JohnDen](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JohnDen)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/54 "2023-01-07T12:16:48Z")
That’s strange, it’s available when I look at it (through a web browser). The paperback is print on demand, so it shouldn’t be possible to go out of stock. I’ll contact Amazon if that doesn’t resolve in a day or two. ---
**Author:** ![3nrd](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/3/ac8455/32.png) [@3nrd](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/3nrd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/55 "2023-01-07T17:41:03Z")
It should not be possible for many things to be out of stock. A popular answer is “supply chain”. Four months the new sim card for my phone ten “is in the mail”. Lies so transparent, and the truth burried deep. I thought europe was less arrogant than corporate USA. ---
**Author:** ![joereddington](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/joereddington/32/16073_2.png) [@joereddington](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/joereddington)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/56 "2023-01-07T19:42:44Z")
> [@JohnDen](#): > > That’s strange, it’s available when I look at it (through a web browser). The paperback is print on demand, so it shouldn’t be possible to go out of stock. I’ll contact Amazon if that doesn’t resolve in a day or two. So, my UK copy arrived yesterday. More generally - because I run [https://whitewaterwriters.com/](https://whitewaterwriters.com/) I’ve put about 250 books through the kdp publishing system - random messages of this type do appear and my best guess is that it really means “The machine(s) we use to do print-on-demand are backed up to the point that we cannot guarrentee the delivery date of this and so we make you wait because we know you can’t buy it elsewhere (also we like shifting paper sales to ebooks)” the issue normally clears up in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![joereddington](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/joereddington/32/16073_2.png) [@joereddington](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/joereddington)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/57 "2023-01-07T19:44:22Z")
Very pleasingly - I went on a tour of the amazon warehouse partly to see if I could see the big print on demand machines - no such look, but when I went to tour schools for my daughter it turned out that Amazon had donated the school the blank (but with all the cool guidelines) books that they use to test the machines are working (I live very close to what I understand is the main print-on-demand centre) ---
**Author:** ![seamagu](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/seamagu/32/333_2.png) [@seamagu](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/seamagu)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:21am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/58 "2023-01-08T07:21:22Z")
I got a pdf version on Etsy so all is good. Great book and a great system by the way. I’m excited to see how this can improve my game, Thanks and fair play to you for writing it and releasing it, Séa ---
**Author:** ![JFJ](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@JFJ](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JFJ)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/59 "2023-01-08T18:15:44Z")
First great job with the book and the explanations. I saw this while looking for a system to learn chess openings. I was excited at first, but upon reflection, this system is ultimately less effective than a straightforward PAO to learn chess. Though there is marginally less prep time than with a PAO, the image encoding is as taxing in and the decoding (if required,) is slightly more complicated than with a PAO. There are also better ways to encode a chess only system. To prep the image system one needs to learn and memorize a Major-like system to decode objects into 4 digits and then memorize 64 Objects. To prep a PAO for chess, one needs to understand the PAO system and learn 64 PAOs. The prep time with the image system is noticeably shorter, but prep time is such a small factor when trying to memorize thousands of moves, that it almost doesn’t matter – it’s kind of a mnemonic loss leader. When it comes to encoding, the image system only requires 4 numbers per location. Yet as it is applied as a PAO (or rather an OAO – object action object) anyway, \* the system ostensibly requires you to memorize an action despite not utilizing it- and then requires you to count syllables and visualize the board in order to gain the information that could have been encoded to begin with. This system also completely breaks down with any variation on the board as this would fudge the piece notation. One could say that having learnt the image system, then there would be no need to memorize the number-person-action-object associations that one might need to recall with a PAO. Yet this advantage is also present within a PAO based on the major system. It’s also much easier to set one’s own much simpler rules for PAO recall. Ei; a theme for each set of ten and a first letter association for single digits. It’s also worth noting that there are likely easier ways for those that just want to use mnemonics for chess to encode something like N f4 than with consonants. For instance f could be the first letter of the object, and 4 could be the alphabetical placement (D), of the 3rdletter. As for the pieces themselves they could be thematic to the object or something to do with the number of letters in the word etc… \*I do wonder if the Image “action” might have some advantages. In the image system, the choice of action might be more logical than with the PAO’s randomly assigned action, yet the other hand, the PAO’s recurring actions might help encode the system. The fact that the action is not actually required for decoding also helps prevents some issues in the image system. Finally some people might just remember Shark Jester, as opposed to a Shark biting a Jester even though it’s less sticky. ---
**Author:** ![JFJ](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@JFJ](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/JFJ)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514/60 "2023-01-08T18:38:45Z")
That would be interesting to look at if you’re willing to share it. I’m still trying to decided what the best way forward might be, but it looks like a PAO, or a tweaked PAO might be the best way. If I can add 2 digits and encode 4pairs in a single location? [Previous page](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/picture-notation-a-mnemonic-system-for-chess/70514.md?page=4)