How to Remember Like a Chess Grandmaster

Let's play a game. I want you to remember where all the chess pieces go on this board. Ready?

Let's play a game. I want you to remember where all the chess pieces go on this board. Ready? Time's up. I know that felt fast, but the crazy thing is that chess grandmasters would be able to remember every piece. And it's not because they have exceptional memories. It's because they're using a tactic. I have my PhD in memory. Let me explain how you can use this tactic to remember anything you want. Grandmasters aren't remembering individual pieces, they're remembering patterns. They see the whole board the same way you or I see a word instead of individual letters. It's called chunking, and it's a super powerful memory tool. Let me explain how to use it. First, study real examples. If you're trying to remember a concept, look for examples of where that concept applies in real life. 2. Quiz yourself. Cover up the information and try to recall it by yourself as well as you can. Three, try to name different patterns. Your brain grabs something that's named better than something that's not. Or space out your memory and mix up when you're doing your studying. Tell me what you're trying to remember in the comments and I'll tell you how to break it into patterns.