speed tactics

I'm still amazed watching great players solve tactics in just seconds.  I'm just over 2000 on rated tactics, but I have to spend 5-20min per problem to do that.  I guess I'm training calculation not patterns.

I'm working my way through "1001 tactics for beginners" on chessable for pattern training, but I'm skeptical it will help.  I use puzzle rush as a test for progress.  I normally score in the teens, with 21 as my record.  I usually will miss my first problem around the 700-800 range and this is what happens.  My eyes are instantly drawn to only one area of the board.  One or two moves look good, but within 10 seconds I see they are not working, but I have to try one anyway because I can't spend any more time.

So I get the problem wrong.  When I review the problem later, I can take the time to look at the rest of the board and the answer is obvious (to me).  The key piece was on the opposite corner of the board.  Okay, so I'm not able to take in the entire board (position) in just a few seconds.  I start mentally moving pieces while looking at a small piece of the board because I need to move quickly.  I'll try and work on that.  I'm obviously not the only one  with this issue.  Not sure how to improve speed at which I can scan the entire board and catch all the major themes.   I'm just doing some venting and writing helps to figure things out.  Any suggestions are welcome. 

thanks,

David

 

I don't have a lot of experience in using puzzles but my gut response to your amazement watching great players solve things like flashcards is that they probably have them memorized like flashcards, and are slowed down when introduced to something they don't really have a firm grip. In that case, perhaps working on your memorization skills + keepin on keepin on and letting time a practice bring natural memorization will inevitably bring you to that point. A coach probably comes strong for that.

As far as scanning and missing things I personally find that separating from your perspective through a combination of meditative practice and mindfulness can help you be open to everything in front of you but maybe not in a time crunch.

 

-Mike

do the whole chessable book

i promise it will help

what i have noticed is there are some tactical motifs that i am innately better tuned into and can solve these almost instantly (maybe 30 seconds after i double check everything as chess.com seems to have a substantial amount of “gotcha” tactics)

there are others that i fail all the time (and this seems to be a pattern in other facets of my life- if i dont get things right away i will fail forever until i make the conscious effort to get over the hump- it is it’s own process to get through)

like you mention i can usually get a tactic if i totally mull over the position but this seems counterproductive; i try to identify the pattern/motif asap and then solve; if i dont see it i skip and go to the next one

this is where the chessable book comes in handy; by going through all 1001 exercises you are essentially creating your own “tactics trainer” pool of problems and you will be solving these on instinct; you will have (probably) mulled over the problems that cause you issues at some point to get the “a ha” or “eureka” moment
and through the spaced repetition the pattern becomes ingrained

——-

the problem i have always had with chess.com tactics and puzzle rush for that matter (especially some of the early 700-800 problems) is the amount of “wtf” problems

many problems arent tactics at all

after looking at a problem and going “wtf” then going over pretty much all tactical ideas that dont seem to work it comes down to just making a move that “doesnt ruin the entire position”

is this a tactic? i dont recall the theme of “not falling for moves that almost look tactical but instead make a small move that doesnt collapse your entire position” coming after the chapter on pins

then there are the amount of “gotcha” tactics- positions that look like a familiar pattern that arent that at all; i guess this has some merit but not really for tactical “training” more for tactical “testing”