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Tactics Aren't Always Rocket Science
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Tactics Aren't Always Rocket Science

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Deepsealore
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Many players on their improvement journey decide to themselves ' hmmmm, I'm going to study tactics to improve my chess.' Then they pull out their phone to check the results to the lastest super-GM tournament. That is when there previous decision comes to a screeching halt. They see brilliant 3000 Elo tactics from players like Magnus or Hikaru. They think to themselves 'Tactics are to hard for me, so why should I bother learning them?

I'm here to show you that tactics aren't to hard for anyone and in order to maximize rating growth, and tactics should be studied regularly to learn new ideas and practice patterns that are familiar.

Take this basic tactic for example:

White plays d5, a discovered attack. This attacks checkmating squares on g7 and h8 whilst simultaneously attacking the queen.  The queen has no way to defend either of those squares and save itself. So white effortlessly wins a queen and the game. In this basic of a form, this tactic will only take 20 minutes of total practice to master. Here is another basic tactic:

This tactic is known as a fork. Nc6+ gives check to the king and attacks the queen at the same time. On the next move, white will pick up the black queen by force an be completely winning. For those reading classified as a beginner or novice based on rating, be advised that the following puzzles will be more difficult. I advise you to stay around and try to solve these tactics. If you get them, great! If you don't, you know what to start studying! These next couple puzzles will demonstrate how easy it is to learn tactics that are commonly played in intermediate to advanced level games. Here is the first one:

Here, white gallantly sacrifices the bishop with bxf7! This wins a pawn because if kxf7 white plays ng5+ collecting the bishop on the next move. This is an intermediate level tactic that is handy in openings like the Ruy Lopez or the Italian Game. It takes about 45-60 minutes of total practice to master this. This is only because as you get to a more advanced level, the follow on can become more difficult. The tactic that follows is often found in high intermediate to advanced level games: 

Black plays b5 forcing white to play a3, then black plays a6 and white runs out of moves. All of the moves they can make are losing. This is known as zugzwang. Because this tactic varies so much based on the situation, I can't give this a timeline. However, having studied it for many hours myself, I know it plays a key role in my supporting my rating gains and growth. This tactical sequence is a must know if you wish to optimize your performance when playing.
This tactic will be a final demonstration that tactics aren't as difficult to learn as you think:
This pattern has saved me so many times and is found in advanced games very often. Best of all, it really does not take that much time to learn. Once you understand the concept, applying it to your play is fun easy, and will both save and win a lot of games for you.
The best thing is that to gain a foundational understanding of all these patterns, you can go to lichess or Chess.com (in this case preferably lichess because it has 'Puzzle Themes') and knock a few structed puzzles to help the tactic you are focusing. I will say there is another more effective way to learn and accumulate tactical understanding and knowledge: getting a mentor. A mentor will guide you through learning how to enhance your tactical play, and whatever else is required. 
Be advised, some coaches are not great. For a coach whose number 1 priority is to see you improve your chess and your confidence at a rate of only $18 per hour along with a $5 trial session; email thinksquarechessacademy@gmail.com  

 

  Thanks for reading! Please comment if you have any feedback! Think Smart. Think Square.