🚀 go-pugleaf

>A question.  In trying to determine the weaknesses in my play, I have
>decided that an inability to compute variations quickly and accurately
>is the trademark of my numerous defeats.  Upon further investigation,
>it was discovered that I am completely unable to follow even the "main
>line" of a maneuver more than about 6 or 7 halfmoves.  After this I
>do not have a concrete grip on where the pieces are.
>
>How do people analyze variation so far out?  Does one keep a mental
>picture of the board in one's head, and make the necessary chganges
>on that board?  (I hope not).  How does this work?

There are exercises one can do to strengthen one's ability to
calculate variations. My favorite is to solve positions where
there is a forced mate in x moves, in my head. A useful book
for this purpose might be Reinfeld's 1001 Brilliant Ways to
Checkmate. (Not that I am a fan of Reinfeld by any means :-)
There are quite a few other such books that are useful. I
prefer working on positions where there is a forced mate to
other combinations because the solutions tend to be clear
once you find them, whereas sometimes non-mating combinations
are obscure and it is frustrating trying to find the idea
which may not be that obvious even after you peek at the
solution. (Also I missed a mate in 3 I had against John Grefe
about 10 years ago when I was an A player. I drew that game
but resolved never to miss a mate in 3 again.)