Dr. Nick Vasquez - Visualization, Productive Failure and Chess Improvement

In this episode, I talked to Nick Vasquez, a medical doctor, adult chess improver, and author of the insightful blog Chess in Small Doses.

Nick has been featured on the Perpetual Chess Podcast and brings a unique perspective to chess learning through cognitive science. We'll be diving deep into topics such as working memory, visualization, and how these concepts can help adult chess players unlock their potential. Nick shares his personal journey in chess, including how he started taking the game seriously in 2020, progressing from a 1650 chess.com rating to an impressive 1913 in classical games on lichess.

Along the way, Nick overcame plateaus by embracing visualization exercises that significantly boosted his performance. In our discussion, he explains how targeted visualization training can be a game-changer, especially for adult players who often struggle with seeing ahead on the board, and why this approach is key to building stronger chess habits. We also explore evidence-based learning methods, discussing the balance between direct instruction and productive failure. Nick’s experience highlights the importance of making chess learning personal and relevant, emphasizing that true growth often comes from hands-on experimentation and learning from mistakes.

Whether you're an adult chess improver or a coach, this episode offers valuable insights into the science of learning and practical strategies for breaking through barriers in your chess journey.

00:00 Intro 02:58 Visualization Training/Step 2 Thinking Ahead 11:14 Information Overload and Finding Relevancy 14:24 Direct Instruction vs. Productive Failure 21:48 Craft Learning vs. Academic Learning 24:14 Science Behind Chess Improvement 31:38 Visualization Drills 41:01 Positional Chunks and Patterns 47:22 Evidence-Based Learning Approaches 55:31 Testing Nick: Position 1 01:01:51 Testing Nick: Position 2