I have a freaking 2500 tactics trainer rating. I see a lot of tactics during my games and my Chess Tactics Server rating is pretty high too (~1720), and yet I can't get past 1500 in rating in 5 minute games on FICS!

I have checked all my games and I know that when I lose it is always because I allow a stupid knight fork or sometimes just hang a rook?! I have tried asking my self 'what is his threat' but very often this scenario happens:

*opponent makes a move*

me: What kind of move is that?! What is he threatening? NOTHING! I'll just grab that knight. What a stupid move.

*opponent delivers a mate in one that I missed*

It's not that I don't see the mate if I actually look, it's just that I completely cease playing intelligently when having to move quickly!

Is this something a chess player 'grows' out of? I was thinking that maybe strong players have a sort of 'map' of what squares on the chess board that are 'safe' to go to etc. I have only played for a little less than two years. I suppose I just have to play more chess... What do you think? Discuss

I feel your pain.....

Ditto

Slow your games down.  Catalogue the "gotchas" that you've fallen for and always check for counterplay from your opponent against this list.  With time you'll begin to see the tactical opportunities your opponent has and to prevent his counterplay.

Yep, do the blundercheck - when you've decided on your move, quickly check out all obvious captures, checks, threats - even if this only saves you from making a horrible blunder 1 in every 40 attempts, that's once a game!

My tactics trainer rating is 1020, I don't know why it's that low though all I can come up with is I don't make moves that fast so I often run out of time to make a move, I play in a unorthodox way.

1.because I allow a stupid knight fork or sometimes just hang a rook?!

2.*opponent delivers a mate in one that I missed*

3.It's not that I don't see the mate if I actually look, it's just that I completely cease playing intelligently when having to move quickly!

Suggestions, first let me say that I have reviewed your stats, your live chess sits at a 1700 rating with 140 games played, pretty decent in my book,ypur on;ine chess is at close to 2000 with 500+ games played, again a prety good rating:

Suggestions for you :

1. Always beware of the opponent's knight, this is the first thing you must look at before you think about any move. My friend that has played with me for 40+ years has simply decided to exchange my knights as he cannot see them coming thru the back door or even simply straight forward.

There are 2 excercise that I recommend to sharpen your night's ( I could not resist the pun) knight's view.

a. Move your knight on the chess board to cover all of the squares without going over the same square twice, for me easy, but for you?? Do it until you can comfortably do it without thinking. 

b. Find knights problems that allows you to take every piece in a single move and not going back on a previous move.

See:

http://mindbluff.com/askchess.htm

http://www.chessville.com/Wong/knightwheel.htm

and look for more.

2. Mate in 1 move, your attetion to the game is elsewhere, at your level you must analyze and not play speedily, unless under a time factor.

3. Keep your devoted attention to the game and do not look away for a second.

When your opponent is thinking use that time to yourself review the possible moves on his side and your response.

Chess is a game of constant and deep thinking.