Tactics Tips

Tactics on chess.com are one of the best ways to improve your gameplay, awareness, and skill. They very often deal with hanging pieces, blunders, and occasionally positonal advantages. They also commonly deal with sacrifices and moves that seem like blunders, but aren't. Sure, theres not going to be many Mikhal Tal-esque moves, but they're common enough, and recognizable enough, to be played in everyday games. That being said, here are some of my tactics tips that helped me on the road to 3100 tactics! 

• It's ok to not attempt every puzzle. Think about it, because there is a specific solution, but there are several rating points given for speed. Refreshing the page and starting anew every once in a while is fine, but not too much. Otherwise, you're just cheating yourself and not gaining or learning anything new
• If you start a new session of tactics and you immediantly start getting multiple puzzles wrong, close the tab and just take a breather. It may be frustrating if you're on a peak, because you want to regain that rating, but you're likely not in the right headspace to solve tactics at the moment. Trying to force it out of anger, which, believe me, I've done, only hurts yourself. 
• Tactics repeat. Once you get higher up, there are less and less new tactics for you to do, since they do vary based on rating and skill level. Use this to your advantage by memorizing sets. I've spoken to many, ridicously highly rated tacticians on chess.com, such as @PushyDiscovery (R.I.P.)and @FlashyFerrari , and they have all said that once you get to around the 3500-4000 rating mark, the tactics repeat. This is why you can't refresh too often, because these unsolved puzzles will repeat. 
• Move order is critical. If you're deciding between an attacking move with check and one without it, think about how your opponent can counter. Often times, he can, because tactics only have one right answer for you to find. Checks that win material usually aren't wrong, even if it's just winning 1-2 pawns
• Every tactic has a certain, best solution, unlike games. Use this to your advantage, and treat it somewhat like a reward system, because you know you have a chance of getting it right. This is different from a game, where a little piece of it can screw up a whole, beautiful tactic. 
• Tactics are to help enhance your in-game playing and progress by making sure you can see blunders and hanging pieces more well. They don't often include strategy or positioning, which needs immense thought on its own. 

I know I am not nearly the best person to give advice on here, but I thought some of these little tips would help some more beginner-level players quickly grow! Thank you!

okay cool but why did you change the category of this forum twice 

Because the first 2 categories made no sense for this post compared to the others

check the category before you post smh

I dont really understand, because you've went from 1000 tactics rating on average for 4 years up until 3 months ago when you've risen from 1000 to over 3000, but your live rating has only increased by 100 or 200 in that time.
Just curious, do you not find your new-found tactical skills translating to a significantly higher level of play? I'd have thought 3100+ in tactics would boost you to over 2000 at least?

I've heard that quite a bit lol. I feel I spend a lot, and I mean a lot more time doing tactics than in live chess, due to the positional awareness involved and just how I know theres a confirmed way that I'm right. It's that sense of "I know this is right" that really just hooks me. I hopefully expect my blitz and other ratings to go up more, I've played a lot more chess in the past few days and have seen my blitz peak rise almost 70 points since. So I think it takes a while to get accustomed to what you just learned, but if you have a higher blitz and haven't done as many tactics it's much easier to gain tactics rating then. 

how tf is 13860 rating even possible

I think it is good advice. My main study at the moment is tactics. I do 5 a day. My tactics rating has risen from 400 to nearly 1500 since january. I dont play much chess. Mainly Daily, and about 30 games since January (job, family, etc.). I attribute most of my improvement to the puzzles. My calculation, visualisation, tactical vision, and general board vision is much stronger. But it does take time for puzzle habits to become a natural part of your game. There is a delay.

lol yeah.

Solid advice!!

Sir please help my rating is a mere 1200 in tactics and I’m afraid I’m a failure at this specific skill. Can you help?

How did you even get 1700 blitz then...

Step One: Actually Do Tactics 

Step Two: Don't lose 15 points on stream against a 1350 and drop below 1800

Thank you sir very much but that 1350 was a cheater there was nothing I could do sir 

Sorry sir but I think the 1350 who 'cheated' is the person who you took tips from sirrrr

It seemed like you blundered mate though?

Doesn't change the fact that he cheated sir shouldn't we report him?

Let's analyze the game, it looked like you had 3 blunders(in 4 moves) and gave up a brilliant move checkmate?

No sir your engine must be malfunctioning