Improving at tactics (Tips)

Thread by:  @New_fissy

What are some ways to train in tactics that you could share?

If it's puzzles, discuss ways of solving them.

I personally think 3-6;puzzles a day are easily enough, i actually started to gain rating when i focused more on games. However if you are a bullet/blitz fanatic, seeing patterns quickly is essential.

I like doing one puzzle rush survival a day. To get my new best it usually takes more than 30 minutes (and even when I spend 30 minutes most times I don't make a new best ). That seems a good amount of time to devote regularly. If focusing on tactics then add the puzzle trainer on top of that. Either way, I try to visualize the entire line not just the first move since in most puzzles the first move is a forcing check/capture/threat but the real thing to learn is visualizing all the branches that come from it. Allowing the computer to reply to the first move limits that.

i am a tried and true blitz player. 3 | 2 is my favorite. my trend of time controls below:

3 min (first few days) to give u perspective, my account was made on jan 9 2022, but i didnt start using until may 27 2024

5 min (until my travel hit, around june 13 2024, then i continued until early august 2024)

5 | 5 (for only like 15 games, bc there was too much rating difference, i was about 500 at the time, i would face 700s and 300s, not what i wanted)

switched back to 5 min (mid august, i kind of took a break from chess.com during this period)

3 | 2 (since late october til now)

tbh i know that isnt really tactics, and since this is a forum for tactics, i am sorry.

i like to think deeply about my puzzles, usually at least 1-2 minutes (tbh i dont do that actually)

Random tactics puzzles (like the rated puzzles here): I use the CCT method and try to calculate as much in my head (thus without moving pieces) as possible. If not certain of conclusion make what I think is the best move and repeat the process.
Puzzle rush: only on rare occasions. And I rush them d'uh
An underestimated form of practice imo is doing simple 2 and 3 move checkmates. Doing lots & lots of those burns the patterns in your brain. Really helps a lot.

Alternating Puzzle Rush Survival and Puzzle rush with a time limit. The former just trains finding tactics. The latter trains finding them faster.

i'm never do puzzle
it is only about check,mate,capture or somehow
that is not very useful at all

In my opinion solving puzzles is a great way to improove in tactics! Of course you totally need to combine lessons with with puzzles because the only way for tactics to actually work is carefully to calculate the possition. All in all i think puzzles help with pattern recognition while lessons help with the overall understanding of the game. Obviously you also need to apply this knowledge in real games!

I learnt from Coach Dance the Dream concept, you have to first think on what would be the position you want to achieve, and then you look for a way to reach it. It has helped me a lot.

He Also told me to use the custom puzzles, with these themes: Defense, Mate in 1, in 2 Hanging pieces and Zwischenzgug. Giving variety to avoid looking for a concrete theme.

Focusing on playing Games and analyzing them IS what helped me the most, but I think focusing on tactics 1 day on a training plan it's a good idea.

If you can then try achieving a rating of 2800-2950 in puzzles

If you want to improve in tactics (This time- It's puzzles), If you are a basic member, do 3 puzzles a day, you can do some custom puzzles, do Puzzle battles-they are like the puzzle rush, just It's 3 minutes and you are competing against another player. It's a great way to improve through Puzzle battles. Otherwise, watch youtube videos, that are specifically for tactics. NM Robert Ramirez uses ChessTempo to teach his students tactical positions and etc.

Because I think Puzzle rushes are limited.

I try to solve three puzzles correctly, followed by a rush or battle

that's literally how you win the game???

but is VERY VERY HARD TO see it in the game

and you 'll never meet that positions

I wish the puzzle themes could get fixed. Basically any puzzle that showed a passed pawn or had a vague pin anywhere was tagged as such whether it was relevant to the puzzle or not. I do some puzzles every day but I wish that I could do custom puzzle themes for focused topics. If it's not one of the mate in X themes it can be pretty hit or miss.

I feel like random puzzles is important but for learning different tactics, random puzzles is like trying to learn math concepts by just randomly looking for a problem anywhere in the textbook. Chess.com really would help out improvers by fixing the themes to allow for drilling tactical concepts easier.

i've used a lot of tactical motifs in my games

check my most recent rapid game...I made plenty of intermediate moves that responded to threats with threats of greater force