Strategy and Tactics

Chess is 100% tactics. It is also 100% strategy. The idea of tactics vs strategy is a false dichotomy. One term does not oppose the other. In fact, they are intertwined.

Look at the online definition of each:

tac·tic
/ˈtaktik/
plural noun: tactics
an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.

strat·e·gy
/ˈstradəjē/
noun: strategy; plural noun: strategies
a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.

According to dictionary definitions, these terms are almost identical!

So, what is the difference between the two?

The answer lies in the very beginning of the definitions; a tactic is “an action” while a strategy is a “plan of action.” One way to look at the difference is that a strategy is “what to do” and a tactic is “how to do” it.

There are specific strategies related to each phase of the game; the opening, middlegame, and endgame. Many of these general strategies are also known as “principles.”

In the opening for example, a general strategy is development – the idea is to get your pieces out of their starting squares and get them engaged in the battle. The quicker, the better. Time is of the essence. Another important opening principle is control of the center. These two strategies intertwine.

So, here we have a basic opening strategy, “Get your piece out quickly to control the center.”

This means we have an idea of “what” to do ... our strategy. Now, it is up to us to decide “how” to develop and control the center.

Remember that there is no such thing as “tactics versus strategy.” They both go together as the “how-to-do-what-to-do” in a game of chess.