Improving at tactics (Tips)

Sort:
wizzardA1

the key to getting better at this game is to practice until your brain melts and your hands fall off

wizzardA1
gravitas3k wrote:

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.

lichess has an entire database of specific motif problems, and so does chesstempo

the internet is too vast to not find apt resources for improvement, free or not

Commander_SANDF

I first check who hase the most materail then see if I can check mate and see if I can Gain more materail.

anhtue123

it won't be matter if your opinion is different from mine
so we 'd better stop argument

NorwegianNikki

@anhtue123 I get what you mean about puzzles. If you haven't tried them, I would highly recommend at least trying one or two, but they can be incredibly difficult to apply to games (especially shorter time controls). Still, I've found that now that I've gotten into doing puzzles a bit more and playing for longer (when you actually have time to analyze the position each move), it really helps your visualization improve! If you start looking for Checks, Captures, Attacks every move, the puzzles you've done really start to help.

NorwegianNikki

For me, the biggest part was analysing my positions in the same ways that I was analysing my puzzles. Still, they can be hard to apply and I totally get what you mean!

its4u2c

just pick woodpecker's method and do as the introduction says. it's a simple but efficient method

Nick485224

I use the "Custom" facility on Puzzles. I started with the difficulty limits set to 500-1000, so easy. After a few weeks I raised limits to 600-1100. My plan is to proceed in this way, gradually increasing the difficulty. This helps simple patterns get wired in to my head.

Also useful, for harder puzzles that I missed, I use Custom to review only those puzzles.

Also useful, Chess Training Pocket Book by Lev Alburt.

southernrun

I switched the puzzles on this site to leveling up in points vs the classic model and have really felt good about my tactics growth since doing that. Have also added into my solving tactics trying to address each puzzle as I would in a game if I had the same position and thinking through all moves before making my selection.

TdsFan1600

I'd say learning a tactic and then trying to execute it in a game. Doesn't matter if it's with a bot or not, just try to execute it. Once you have, keep playing and trying to execute the tactic. Don't become single-minded and focus on winning as well. If you had to choose between a clear M2 or an instant tactic use, go the M2.

cegalleta

do a lot of quick tactics under time pressure (try to do them FAST), and the harder ones do them thinking thoroughly. 10 easy puzzles or so + 2-3 hard puzzles a day made me significantly better. Also, try to solve them on paper and leave online puzzles for when you're on the bus or metro

Nibir2
wizzardA1 wrote:
gravitas3k wrote:

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.

lichess has an entire database of specific motif problems, and so does chesstempo

the internet is too vast to not find apt resources for improvement, free or not

Chess.com also have such feature but only 5 per days are allowed for free member. So i believe lichess & chesstempo is much better place for tactics training.

~

Sebu13

I think it's good to train tactics focusing on a specific theme at a time, like today I'll do only forks, tomorrow only pins and so on, just to give an example. Mixed tactics are more for testing yourself and training calculation.

Bilirubin

Take your time with puzzles. If it looks like it doesn't work but you want to try it and see...its not the right move

ATM015
wrote:

Take your time with puzzles. If it looks like it doesn't work but you want to try it and see...its not the right move

For me it is a lot of time, especially in puzzles under 2000

EnCrossiantIsBrilliant
wizzardA1 wrote:

the key to getting better at this game is to practice until your brain melts and your hands fall off

yes

ATM015
wrote:
wizzardA1 wrote:

the key to getting better at this game is to practice until your brain melts and your hands fall off

yes

You guys still have brains?

achessplayer2600

just get the woodpecker method course

darth-vader12345678

The best way to improve tactically is to solve puzzles every single day.

TdsFan1600
achessplayer2600 wrote:

just get the woodpecker method course

Not helpful if they can't afford it.