When it comes to improving dynamic and tactical play, I would say the priorities, in decreasing order, are:
(1) Learn to see tactical ideas to begin with: this is a combination of pattern recognition and your own creativity.
(2) Get into a habit of calculating (as in, at all). This may sound stupidly obvious, but you have no idea how many of my students <2000, and other players <2000 (and sometimes up to 2200) I've met, think almost entirely in terms of general concepts and don't calculate specific lines.
(3) Learn to calculate accurately. This is honed by solving lots of puzzles.
(4) Learn to calculate fast enough to avoid getting into terrible time pressure and thereby blundering or losing on time.
That last point, which is the one you're asking about, is by far the lowest priority. If you calculate slowly but accurately, and have the creativity to find tactics and make them happen, you will improve tremendously and have much better results in tournaments. Moreover, tournaments with a classical (long) time control provide a lot of time to think. Unless your goal is to become a better speed chess player, I would put much more emphasis on developing your tactical abilities and less on your tactical speed.
Thanks so much Chud Dog!! I really appreciate the guidance on prioritizing which skills to work on.
When it comes to improving dynamic and tactical play, I would say the priorities, in decreasing order, are:
(1) Learn to see tactical ideas to begin with: this is a combination of pattern recognition and your own creativity.
(2) Get into a habit of calculating (as in, at all). This may sound stupidly obvious, but you have no idea how many of my students <2000, and other players <2000 (and sometimes up to 2200) I've met, think almost entirely in terms of general concepts and don't calculate specific lines.
(3) Learn to calculate accurately. This is honed by solving lots of puzzles.
(4) Learn to calculate fast enough to avoid getting into terrible time pressure and thereby blundering or losing on time.
That last point, which is the one you're asking about, is by far the lowest priority. If you calculate slowly but accurately, and have the creativity to find tactics and make them happen, you will improve tremendously and have much better results in tournaments. Moreover, tournaments with a classical (long) time control provide a lot of time to think. Unless your goal is to become a better speed chess player, I would put much more emphasis on developing your tactical abilities and less on your tactical speed.