Best way to improve tactics

The question on every budding chess player's mind: how do I improve my tactical vision?

In an effort to be more methodical in my chess development, I am curious to know the community's opinion on the best way to improve one's tactics. Is it better to 1) solve chess.com puzzles in their entirety,  2) solve chess.com puzzles by theme, or 3) buy a good tactics book and solve that?

I'm sure at the end of the day the best answer is "whatever you think you'll consistently do."

I'm about a 1400 player in 10 minute rapid (my main focus) and I have been looking at buying John Nunn's Learn Chess Tactics. I'd love suggestions on other tactics books for late beginner/early intermediate players.

Any input is greatly appreciated! 

1 is better than 2 and 3

"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" - Fischer is a good tactics book

"Chess, Training in 5333 + 1 positions" - Polgar is good too

Play long games > 10 minutes. After each game analyze the game and variations. I copy my PGNs to www.chesspractice.com. I analyze every game I play before playing another game.

When you analyze, take screenshots and save for later review. I use an iPad and use the Notes app to store the screenshots and comments. And the urls to each screenshot for easy review and practice. I have separate notes (files) for each opening I play or play against. And a note file on tactics. With www.chesspractice.com, it’s easy to save variations and then copy the urls to my notes. I review the notes several times a week. Many past chess masters has many notebooks where they analyzed their games. Bobby Fischer and Yasser Seirawn did.

You will find more than enough tactics in your game reviews so I see little value in doing puzzles. Learning from your mistakes will sink into your memory far more than learning from someone else’s mistakes.

If you want books and want to pay the shipping, I can send you a ton. YouTube has replaced books and most books are too dry. Books were great pre-computer. YouTube is far more entertaining but is really not useful for in depth improvement.

Chess coaches are the best alternative if you can’t self study. Otherwise, save your money. Chess coaches will cost you hundreds of dollars. If you can self study then use www.chesspractice.com or YouTube.

I'm not the dude who asked, but thank you very much!

@FireAndIce thank you so much for the in depth answer! I really appreciate the thought you put into your response. I definitely have not been analyzing my games as rigorously as I should. Usually I'm too lazy and just do the chess.com computer analysis, thinking "eh close enough, right?"

Seems like an inconvenient truth of life that anything worth learning is hard work. But then again, that's what makes improvement so gratifying!

Solve loads of puzzles, by theme or random, or both. The more you solve, the better you'll get. Try the woodpecker method on chessable. Or make your own flashcards with the tactical themes you get wrong the most. Set small goals and enough time to achieve it. Best of luck

How to solve chess tactics.

Chess Tactics are probably the most important part of the game you can work on. 

Chess Tactics are broken down into different “motifs” with the most common ones being:

1. Forks (Double-attacks)

A fork, or double-attack, occurs when your move makes 2 or more threats at the same time. A fork or double-attack is a powerful tactical idea because it’s hard (or sometimes impossible) for your opponent to defend against multiple threats at the same time.

1. Pins

The power of a pin lies in the fact that the pinned piece essentially can’t move since doing so would expose another, more valuable, target. The point is that you can often find a way to take advantage of the immobilized (pinned) piece.

1. Removing the Defender

When a piece or important square is defended, then that piece or square can become vulnerable once you remove its defender. This is usually done by a trade, threat or sacrifice that removes the defending piece.

1. Discovered Attacks

A discovered attack occurs when you move a piece away that reveals a strong threat from a piece that was behind it. The power of this idea lies in the fact that you can also use the moving piece to make a strong threat of its own.

1. Tempo-moves

A tempo move is a move that gains time by making a threat that forces your opponent to defend passively. This kind of move is particularly useful if you can use the tempo to achieve a tactical (or even strategic) advantage.

 

How do you find tactics?

Whenever you are doing tactics, you will notice that the side with the tactical shot will generally always have one or more of the following advantages:

1. Advantage in space.
2. Advantage in material.
3. Piece activity.
4. Weaknesses in the opponent’s position. Such as weakened pawn structure.

 

 

How do you calculate tactics?

Look for Forcing Moves:

Checks

Captures

Threats

You look for these 3 things in the order given. 

Checks are the most forcing, as the King is being threatened.

Captures are next, as you are threatening to win material.

Threats are last, since they are the least forcing of the three.

Forcing Moves are easier to calculate out, as they are forced lines of continuation.

 

Start by looking for any Checks you may have.  Calculate them out as far as you can. 

Then calculate out any Captures you may have.  Calculate them out as far as you can.

Then calculate out any Threats you may have.  Calculate them out as far as you can.

Once you have found the Forcing Move you think is correct.  Play it!  Right or wrong, go with what you think is the correct move.

After each tactic, whether you got it right or wrong.  Make sure you understand the tactical motif, and why you had the correct, or incorrect answer.

Amen.