Chess.com Resources for Improving Tactical Skill Part 1

I frequently receive messages from individuals seeking advice regarding improving tactical skill. Instead of answering the same question again and again, I thought I'd just write a blog post regarding this topic.

I can summarize the answer by repeating the same word three times: practice, practice, practice!

Pattern recognization along with grasping the basics of analyzing is all it takes to improve tactics. It is important you understand common tactical patterns and solve hundreds of tactics puzzles.

 

Homework Plan for Under 1400 USCF/FIDE Chess Players for Improving Tactics:

* Spend 30 minutes DAILY doing problems from Chess.com's Tactics Trainer:

http://www.chess.com/tactics/

 

Watch the following chess videos:

 

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-basic-tactics---1

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-basic-tactics---2

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-beyond-the-basics-1

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-beyond-the-basics-2

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-mating-nets---1

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-mating-nets---2

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-mating-nets---3

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-mating-nets---4

http://www.chess.com/video/player/patterns-everyone-must-know-mating-nets---5

Watch all the videos from this guide:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/video-series-intermediate-checkmates

 

Do These Chess Mentor Courses:

 

Exclusively Checkmates: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=5

Introduction to Tactics: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=4

Essential Checkmate Patterns: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=25

Champion Tactics with GM Wolff series:

Forks: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=273

Pins and Skewers: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=274

Double Attack: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=275

Discovered Check & Double Check: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=276

Deflecting the Defender: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=277

Clearance Sacrifice: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=278

In-Between Moves: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=279

Interference: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=280

Misplaced Pieces: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=281

Back Rank Mate: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=282

Smother Tactics: http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course?id=283

 

That should keep you busy for a while :)

 

Comments

  • 3 years ago

    GeniusKJ

    You are welcome!

  • 3 years ago

    MyRook

    Glad I found this Genius.I am a fairly strong player but my tactics have been faltering as of late.This has helped me get back on track. Sometimes you have to go back to basics in order to go forward.(One step back,Two steps forward)Thank you Smile

  • 3 years ago

    GeniusKJ

    But diamond membership is definitely worth the cost :)

  • 3 years ago

    earthpegasus3387

    Too bad it's only for premium members

  • 4 years ago

    Hedgefox

    Thanks for the terrific resource.

  • 4 years ago

    Dr_Cris_Angel

    Wow! What a terrific resource! I'm happy I stumbled upon your profile when looking around! I am quite sure this will be very helpful! I'm glad I'm doing one thing right. Practice, practice, practice. I'm trying to do at least 15 minutes of tactics daily as well! Thank you again for posting this!

  • 4 years ago

    left-to-forget

    thanks for the advice :)

  • 4 years ago

    mattyf9

    This is a great regimen to use to improve tactics.

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