Appendix - Picture Words for all 64 Squares
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This Appendix lists one-, two-, three-, and four-syllable picture words for all 64 squares. This covers all possible moves with candidate pieces I-IV. It also lists five-syllable picture words for d2, d7, e2 and e7, which are the only target squares that ever need five-syllable picture words in practice (for an early knight retreat).1
You do not need to memorise this Appendix! This Appendix is a reference, for when you are sitting at home building your memory palaces. At the board, all you need to do is translate the picture words back into moves, as explained in Chapter 1.
For each target square and number of syllables, I have written my favourite picture word in bold. I encourage the reader to use the words in bold, in the hope of building a community where we can share ready-made memory palaces that use the same picture words. But if you prefer an alternative picture word to my suggestion, do not hesitate to use it instead. The best picture word will depend on the associations you already have in your mind (Chapter 3).
Some mnemonists like to use people, rather than animals and objects, as picture words in their memory palaces. If this is you, I suggest going through the people (and fictional characters) you know, and writing their names as your preferred picture words.
A small handful of picture “words" are actually two words, for example roller coaster as the four-syllable picture word for d5. The important thing is that these are one concept, one picture – even though they are made of two words.
There are seven reserved words you should not use as picture words. Pawn, king and queen are reserved for specified piece moves in the endgame (Chapter 6); rook, bishop and knight are reserved for both underpromotions and specified piece moves (Chapters 1 and 6); and ladder is reserved for special meanings in memory palace architecture (Chapters 5 and 6).
a1
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toast, stud, toad, tooth
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statue, dodo, tadpole, teapot
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stethoscope, detective, potato, stadium, tapestry, Titanic
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Tutankhamen, sitatunga, Tatiana (name)
a2
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tent, stone, tank, tin, ton
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tandem, dentist, donkey, headset, tanker, tuna
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tangerine, dynamite, tandoori, tanzanite, tinderbox
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dandelion, Estonia, Eswatini, Tanzania
a3
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thumb, dam, dime, dome, stump, tomb
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stomach, atom, diamond, dummy
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tambourine, domino, poppadom, steamroller, tomato
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tamarillo, automaton, automobile
a4
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tree, deer, dress, drill, drone, star, straw, string, torch, train
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dragon, cider, ostrich, otter, oyster, starfish, starship, tractor, trumpet
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astronaut, asteroid, butterfly, dragonfly, stroganoff, terrapin, tiara, tornado, trebuchet
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tarantula, motorcycle, oystercatcher, pterodactyl, thermometer, Triceratops, watermelon
a5
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doll, stool, tail, till
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tulip, bottle, dolphin, outlaw, saddle, toilet
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satellite, dalmatian, spatula, telephone, telescope
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Diplodocus, bodybuilder, television
a6
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dish, ditch, thatch
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stopwatch, dodgeball, teacher
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dishwasher, optician
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didgeridoo
a7
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dog, duck, stake, stag, stick, tongue
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tiger, digger, doctor, dugong, pudding, taco, taxi
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woodpecker, petticoat, sparrowhawk, Sudoku, toboggan
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stegosaurus, tapioca, taxidermist
a8
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dove, Dave (name)
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toffee, diver, tofu
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daffodil, DVD
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advertisement, audiophile, developer
b1
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ant, gnat, hand, net, newt, nut, sand, wand
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Santa, centaur, noodle, sandwich, snowdrop, sundae
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anteater, antelope, bandana, centipede, nightingale, scientist
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Cinderella, sanitiser
b2
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nun, (John) Nunn
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ninja, banyan, nanny, onion
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banana, nanobot, Nineveh, panini
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nanoneedle, peninsula
b3
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gnome, nymph
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snowman, Nemo, sunbeam
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snowmobile, cinnamon, Panama (hat)
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anemone, Namibia, (Ian) Nepomniachtchi
Gnome has a silent g.
b4
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nurse, nerve, snare
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narwhal, snorkel, spanner
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newspaper, anarchist, anorak, scenery
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(Daniel) Naroditsky, Herodotus, norovirus
b5
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snail, nail
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snowball, pencil, snowplough
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pineapple, Napoli
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Napoleon (Bonaparte), Honolulu, nobility, snallygaster, Penelope (name)
b6
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sponge, bench, hinge
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banjo, angel, engine, poncho, snowshoe, spinach
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anchovy, engineer
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Angelina (name), Angelica (name), Nigeria
b7
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snake, neck, snack, zinc
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beanbag, hanbok, insect, necklace, snooker
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unicorn, pancreas, sunglasses
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Pinocchio, anaconda, binoculars, (Hikaru) Nakamura
b8
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knife, nave
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anvil, snowflake
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sunflower, envelope
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invitation, environment, university
Knife has a silent k.
c1
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maid, mast, mat, moth, mouth, mud
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swimsuit, mittens, mother, moped, moustache
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scimitar, amethyst, behemoth, mastodon
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meteorite, Madagascar, mathematics, Mitsubishi
The c in scimitar is silent.
c2
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moon, man, mink, mint
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monster, manger, miner, money, salmon
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Minotaur, ammonite, manatee, mayonnaise, omnibus
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mahonia, Minnesota, monopoly, Montenegro
c3
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mime, meme, mumps
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mammoth, memo, mummy
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museum, Mombasa, mummichog
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(Shakhriyar) Mamedyarov
c4
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Mir (Soviet/Russian space station), moor
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meerkat, hammer, marble, mirror
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samurai, boomerang, emerald, maraca, marmalade, marshmallow, mercury, sombrero, submarine, umbrella
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marionette, embroidery, (Diego) Maradona, merry-go-round
c5
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mole, mail, milk, mule
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cymbal, mallet, milkshake, muscle, mussel
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bumblebee, millipede, mulberry, pomelo
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melodica, semolina, Somalia
c6
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match, mash, midge
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machine, mushroom
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magician, machete
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majority
For majority I imagine a baying crowd in a group (so that it forms one “object"). Be careful to distinguish it from family (h3).
c7
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mask, muck, mug
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magpie, hammock, magnet, smokestack
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hummingbird, magazine, mechanic, microphone, mosaic, mosquito
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pomegranate, macaroni, Makemake, magnesium, magnolia, mascarpone
c8
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(ear)muff, mauve
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muffin, movie
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amphora, maverick
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amphetamine, amphibian
d1
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heart, broth, Earth, rat
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robot, parrot, pirate, rabbit, rooster, warthog, wizard
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president, barrister, hairdryer, protester, radio, risotto, sourdough
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rhododendron, artillery, paparazzi, radiator, ratatouille
d2
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brain, horn, prawn, wren
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heron, orange, parsnip, rainbow, ribbon, robin, siren
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piranha, barnacle, raisin, roundabout, soprano, Uranus
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rhinoceros, Esperanto, pepperoni, uranium
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serendipity
Although not technically accurate, for serendipity I imagine a four-leaf clover. Never led pedantry get in the way of a good image.
d3
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ram, arm, broom, pram, rum, worm
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Roman, army, bromine, primrose
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pyramid, ceramic, ramekin
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armadillo, barometer, harmonica, supermodel
For Roman I imagine a Roman soldier. Don’t be tempted to treat it as an adjective, for example if you are remembering Roman ram, don’t memorise a ram pretending to be a Roman soldier. Always have two separate (but interacting) pictures: a Roman soldier and a ram.
d4
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roar, rear, Ruhr
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robber, briar, harbour, razor, wrapper
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warrior, horseradish
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barbarian, arboretum, respirator
For roar I imagine a lion.
d5
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pearl, rail, roll
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barrel, barbell, barley, bracelet, parsley, spiral
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cereal, porcelain
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roller coaster, paralegal
d6
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brush, birch, broach, bridge, porch
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airship, archer, porridge, warship
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projector, archerfish
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Argentina, Azerbaijan
d7
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rake, ark, brick, orc, ring
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sparkler, iceberg, orca, organ, raccoon, racket, rocket
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harpsichord, architect, broccoli, parakeet, porcupine, recorder
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orangutan, architecture, asparagus, hieroglyphics, oregano, origami, paraglider
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Brachiosaurus, archaeology
Be careful to distinguish Brachiosaurus from Diplodocus (a5).
d8
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raft, reef, surf
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perfume, earphones, prefect, prophet, raven, rifle
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referee, privateer
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ravioli, Orvieto (wine), profiterole, supervisor
e1
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sloth, belt, lathe, light, lute, salt
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lobster, ladder, laptop, lettuce, lipstick, pilot, wallet
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bulldozer, albatross, Hollywood, ocelot, wildebeest
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lederhosen, Elizabeth (name), politician, polyester, solicitor
Be careful to distinguish lobster from crab (g4).
e2
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plane, lynx
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balloon, blanket, lantern, linnet
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alien, Bologna, bullion
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jalapeño, Albania, Bolonoodle, polonium
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planetarium, hallucinogen
Be careful to distinguish plane from jet (f1).
The first letter of jalapeño sounds like an h, so we ignore it when finding the target square.
Don’t use lion, because it conflicts with the picture word roar (d4).
e3
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lamb, blimp, lamp, lime, loom, plum, slime
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lemur, helmet, lamppost, lamprey, lemon, llama
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policeman, halloumi, limousine, salami
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salamander, Lamborghini, Olympian, palomino (horse), policewoman
e4
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lore, lair, lark
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sailor, lawyer, leper, lorry, slipper, walrus
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wheelbarrow, blueberry, celery, Labrador, wallpaper
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allosaurus, celebrity, Liberia, pliosaurus
For lore I imagine a medieval manuscript or something that would appear in a fantasy novel.
e5
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lol, Lil (name)
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lily, label, lilac, loophole
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lollipop, Lilliput
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hallelujah, Lilliputian
Lol is the online shorthand for laugh out loud. I imagine a jester. For hallelujah I imagine a colourful banner.
e6
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leech, bleach, sledge, slush
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polish, ledger, lodger, lotion
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eyelashes, plush velvet
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Algeria, zoology
Remember that eyelashes is plural, three syllables.
e7
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hulk, leek, log, lung, sling, slug
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blackboard, logo, luggage, (Judit) Polgar
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alpaca, alcohol, blackberry, bulgogi, liquorice, pelican
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helicopter, alligator, balaclava, electrician
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Alexandria, polycarbonate
e8
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wolf, leaf
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lava, lifeboat, lifeguard, liver, olive
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elephant, lavender, wolverine, xylophone
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Bolivia, Slovakia, Slovenia
Be careful to distinguish elephant from mammoth (c3).
f1
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jet, jade, sheath, shed, sheet
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cheetah, chestnut, hatchet
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shuttlecock, chapati, Jupiter
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Chateaubriand (steak), Shostakovich
Be careful to distinguish jet from plane (e2). I imagine a jet pack.
f2
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jeans, chain, gin
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genie, chainsaw, ginger, pigeon, potion
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chinchilla, chancellor, chandelier, janitor, Shinkansen
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generator, gingerbread man
f3
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jam, gem, Jim (name)
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gymnast, champagne, chimney, shampoo
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chimpanzee, chamber pot, champion, pyjama
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gymnasium, chimichurri
f4
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shark, chair, jar, shirt, shorts, shrew, shrimp
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giraffe, badger, cherry, shepherd, sheriff
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chariot, chardonnay, shawarma
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budgerigar, jabberwocky, Jeremiah (name), Jerusalem
f5
-
shell, chalk, gel
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cello, chilli, jelly, shallot, shelduck
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jellyfish, gelatin, jalfrezi, shipbuilder
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shopaholic, geologist, Juliana (name)
f6
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judge, Josh (name)
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shisha, japchae, sheepshank (knot), shoji
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jujube, chapshoro, jajangmyeon, Joshua (name), jujitsu
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shabu-shabu, Chachapoya, Jojo Rabbit, shachihoko
f7
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chick, jug, shack
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hedgehog, chicken, jackpot, jigsaw, jockey, juggler, sheepdog, shekel
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jaguar, cicada, shopkeeper
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washing machine, Chicken Little, geographer, shakuhachi
f8
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chef, chaff, chief
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shovel, chaffinch, Java
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shoveler, Chevrolet, shaving foam
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shaving powder, chauvinism, shaving mirror
g1
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squid, cat, coat, cot, goat, kite
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kitten, baguette, bucket, guitar, kestrel, scooter, skittle, wicket
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catapult, basketball, cuttlefish, octopus, pagoda, spaghetti
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caterpillar, bacteria, psychiatrist
g2
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gun, can, cone, gown, skin
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canoe, bacon, candle, candy, conker, cannon, gibbon, kidney, wagon
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candyfloss, bikini, buccaneer, canopy, canister, conifer, signalman
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Pocahontas, begonia, economist, iguanodon
If you dislike visualising realistic violence with a gun, you can imagine a water pistol, finger gun, or tranquilizer gun.
g3
-
gum, comb, game
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camel, comet, kimchi
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kimono, Camelot, computer, Komodo (dragon)
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chameleon, aquamarine, camellia, hippocampus, oximeter
g4
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crab, car, crane, cream, cross, crow, crown, corn, grass, scar, scarf, screw, skirt
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ogre, boxer, carrot, cricket, crystal, speaker, squirrel
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crocodile, acrobat, caravan, cormorant, grasshopper, gorilla, scorpion, screwdriver
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accordion, carburetor, chrysanthemum, coriander, Krakatoa, secretary
g5
-
skull, clam, claw, clock, coal, glass, glove, glue
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eagle, bagel, cola, gazelle, igloo, seagull
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skeleton, clarinet, goalkeeper, icicle, koala
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gladiator, calculator, kaleidoscope, ukulele
Be careful to distinguish gladiator from warrior (d4).
g6
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coach, cage, cash, quiche
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ketchup, cabbage, cashew
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kedgeree, acacia
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cappuccino, Saskatchewan
Be careful to distinguish cappuccino from coffee (g8).
g7
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cake, cog, gong
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peacock, cockroach, cookie, cuckoo, cupcake, goggles, kayak, pickaxe
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coconut, cockatrice, cockerel, cucumber, kingfisher, skyscraper, wobbegong
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kookaburra, cucamelon, guacamole
g8
-
gift, cave, cuff, skiff
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coffee, gopher, guava
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saxophone, governor, scaffolding
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cafetière
h1
-
foot, vat, vest, vet
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feather, father, football, softball, voter
-
footballer, avocet, physicist, veteran, video, vitamin
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phytoplankton, afterburner, photography
h2
-
fan, fawn, phone, sphinx, van, vane
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phoenix, fountain, puffin, Venus, vinyl
-
sousaphone, vinegar
-
ventriloquist, ventilator
h3
-
foam, Vim (software)
-
vampire, vomit
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family, Fumika (name), sophomore
-
feminism, famotidine
For family, I imagine a small family hugging (so that it forms one “object”). Be careful to distinguish it from majority (c6). For feminism, I imagine Mrs Banks wearing a “votes for women” sash, from the film Mary Poppins.
h4
-
frog, fern, fir, fridge, sphere
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fairy, beaver, farmer, ferry, saffron, sapphire, viper
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ivory, hovercraft, officer, overalls, overcoat
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firefighter, frangipani, fortepiano, vermicelli
h5
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flute, flag, flan, flea, flint, foal, foil, fowl, veil, vole
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waffle, flower, fossil, soufflé, vessel
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flamingo, buffalo, falafel, flamethrower, viola, vulture
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philosopher, Floridian, flowerpecker
h6
-
fish, fudge
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(Mount) Fuji, (Bobby) Fischer, fishcake
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fisherman, fishmonger
-
vigilante, fisherwoman, vegetable
h7
-
fox, fax, fig, fog
-
Viking, foghorn, vaccine, vicar
-
Victory, factory, vicarage
-
avocado, focaccia
For Victory, I imagine Horatio Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory.
h8
-
five, fife, Viv (name)
-
fiver, viva
-
favela, Vivaldi, Vivian (name)
-
vuvuzela, Vesuvius
For five I imagine a seahorse in the shape of a 5.
-
In the unlikely event that you move candidate piece V+ to a different target square, just take the one-syllable picture word and cover it with sticky oil, for example toast covered in sticky oil would be a move to a1 with candidate piece V. I have never needed to do this. ↩