I’m stuck on tactics
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wrongway66
Jul 25, 2018
0
#1
Evidently I am the only one that struggles with tactics because I see no one else so much as mentioning the subject . In the 4 years I’ve been with chess.com I’ve worked a half of Trillion problems. And I remain at a constant 1400(one time I made it to 1675, but it was a total fluke) If Daniel Rensch was my personal teacher I would still remain a constant 1400 . I don’t expect an answer to my frustration. I’m more or less just venting. I’m probably getting too old.
wrongway66 wrote:
Evidently I am the only one that struggles with tactics because I see no one else so much as mentioning the subject . In the 4 years I’ve been with chess.com I’ve worked a half of Trillion problems. And I remain at a constant 1400(one time I made it to 1675, but it was a total fluke) If Daniel Rensch was my personal teacher I would still remain a constant 1400 . I don’t expect an answer to my frustration. I’m more or less just venting. I’m probably getting too old.
You have done a lot of problems. It appears that you take your time. You just get a lot of them wrong.
Apart from the ratings "resets" you do, it does appear that you are making some progress. There is a slow upward trend over time. I would keep at it.
Jul 25, 2018
0
#5
Maybe you need a more structured/themed tactical training approach before you try to take on random positions with a program like Chess Tutor.
Jul 25, 2018
0
#6
wrongway66 wrote:
Evidently I am the only one that struggles with tactics because I see no one else so much as mentioning the subject . In the 4 years I’ve been with chess.com I’ve worked a half of Trillion problems. And I remain at a constant 1400(one time I made it to 1675, but it was a total fluke) If Daniel Rensch was my personal teacher I would still remain a constant 1400 . I don’t expect an answer to my frustration. I’m more or less just venting. I’m probably getting too old.
You have played 11,030 Blitz games, and 9 Daily games. I'm not sure how you expect to improve when all youre playing is Blitz.
Jul 25, 2018
0
#7
IMBacon schreef:
You have played 11,030 Blitz games, and 9 Daily games. I'm not sure how you expect to improve when all youre playing is Blitz.
IMBacon has a point 
Jul 25, 2018
0
#8
Spelenderwijs wrote:
IMBacon schreef:
You have played 11,030 Blitz games, and 9 Daily games. I'm not sure how you expect to improve when all youre playing is Blitz.
IMBacon has a point
This is what happens when i dont wear a baseball cap...
From your profile you play essentially fast time controls. That’s ok if you’re playing chess primarily for fun, and where your results are secondary. But you are unlikely to improve significantly doing this; by playing fast time controls you have little time to think about what you should be doing. If you’re seriously committed to improving, then I suggest that you...
1. Play longer time controls - a higher percentage of your games should be at the longest possible time controls, including daily chess...so you have time to think about what you should be doing...
https://www.chess.com/article/view/longer-time-controls-are-more-instructive
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/how-blitz-and-bullet-rotted-my-brain-don-t-let-it-rot-yours
2. Maximize The Usefulness of Your Moves....start to incorporate ideas like these in your play...
http://www.mark-weeks.com/aboutcom/aa06b18.htm
3. Study the game - learn what you should be doing.....
Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-positional-chess-planning-strategy
There are reasons why I never practice random puzzle on chess.com or tempochess
"Very nice, but solving tons of random tactics puzzles is in fact not an effective chess tactics training method."
https://chessfox.com/how-to-get-better-at-chess-tactics/
Take your time and try to get them right.
This is what happens when i dont wear a baseball cap...
But you did have a point.
Omg! OP did 57,000 puzzles!! Tactics are the hardest area of chess cos you have to play perfect sequence of moves exactly the same as 3500 rated stockfish moves (or 4500 rated perfect chess moves).
If you are stacked in tactics,
1. Think more deeply. (If you always think about only 5 moves ahead, you will unlikely to solve higher rated puzzles, so your tactics rating will be stacked)
2. Know the candidate moves/priority moves.
Our human brain cant calculate all mathematical possibilities in 10 moves ahead, 10^10, but just have to explore the best possible moves. Priority moves are check, captures, opening files/diagonals, attacking on weak pieces , overloading on a pieces(deflection)
3. Apply certain memorized patterns, eg dove tail mate, smothered mate.
Jul 26, 2018
0
#14
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
That looks to be a pretty inane website.
chessfox.com is the "t-ball"/"participation trophy" of chess websites.
Jul 26, 2018
0
#15
KingSullian wrote:
This is what happens when i dont wear a baseball cap...
But you did have a point.
I get off a good one every now and then.
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
That looks to be a pretty inane website.
The advise is not rocket science so I did not have to judge the credibility of the website. It is very sound to me. Do you expect to see the results by doing random things in gym, school, or in any area of life? I don't think so. Does random tactics work? For some people, but not for me. However, the truth is OP has been training with chess.com tactics for 4 years and he has not yet earned the results he deserves. So, it is time to change.
With all due respect I think you're going about learning tactics all wrong. The Tactics Trainer is for testing your knowledge of tactics. Learning tactics is best done through the Lessons. You're a diamond member; take advantage of it. When you can rip through these Lessons, and you may have to review them many times, then you're ready to test. A few examples of what to study follow:
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Forks
This course is designed to explore the fork motif in the game of chess. The fork occurs when one of your pieces can attack two or more of the opponent's pieces. It can be executed with any piece other than the King and it is a very powerful strategy which can quickly turn the tables and lead to a decisive position. -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Pins and Skewers
Pins and skewers are two ways that the "long-range" pieces (the bishop, the rook, and the queen) can attack two or more pieces simultaneously along the same rank, file, or diagonal. This is another basic tactical tool that is easy to understand and critical to master. When you can clearly see in your mind's eye all the potential for using pins and skewers, you will discover that your "long-range" pieces are much more powerful than you realized. You will also protect yourself from potential disaster! With... -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Double Attacks
A "double attack" occurs when two pieces make two attacks at the same time. The difference between a fork and a double attack is that a fork is one piece attacking two things at the same time, while a double attack is two pieces making two attacks at the same time. The trick to seeing this possibility in any chess position is to look for any situation where one piece is "covered" by another piece, where if the piece where to become "uncovered", it would create a threat. -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Discovered Check & Double Check
These are a specific kind of Double Attack or Discovered Attack. A "Discovered Check" happens when one piece moves away and "uncovers" check against the king by the piece behind it. "Double Check" is the same thing, except that the piece moving away also puts the king into check, so the king is attacked by two pieces at once. Discovered check sometimes is used in an attack against the king, sometimes is used to win material, and sometimes is used to do both. Double check is usually focused on attacking... -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Deflecting the Defender
Deflecting or removing the defender is all about getting a defensive piece out of the way. Often you'll have a situation where if you could just get one of your opponent's pieces away from a key square, you could execute a powerful attack. Sometimes you can't get the piece out of the way. But sometimes you can. Sometimes it's not obvious that you can, but if you look hard enough and you're creative enough, you'll see the way through. And the best way to get better at finding those opportunities is... -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Clearance Sacrifice
In a clearance sacrifice the sacrificing player aims to vacate the square the sacrificed piece stood on, either to open up for his own pieces, or to put another, more useful piece on the same square. In this course you will learn how to use this tactical idea successfully so that you will be able to use this idea in your own games. -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - In Between Moves
An in-between move or Zwischenzug is one that is made unexpectedly in the midst of a sequence of moves. But not just any series of moves, one in which the player falling for the Zwischenzug feels the sequence is forced, while his opponent demonstrates to him that it certainly isn't! Most commonly these fall in between trades where a recapture seems to be the only proper means of play. Such in-between moves often have a surprising and pleasing effect of increasing the potency of a combination beyond... -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Interference
Interference occurs when the line between an attacked piece and its defender is interrupted by sacrificially interposing a piece. It is a chess tactic which seldom arises, and is therefore often overlooked. Opportunities for interference are rare because the defended object must be more valuable than the sacrificed piece, and the interposition must itself represent a threat. But when this opportunity does arise it can reap huge rewards! -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Misplaced Pieces
Sometimes in chess the pieces can step on each others toes and get in the way of one another. This allows for the opportunity of trapping pieces and exploiting the opponent's misplaced pieces. Here you will see many examples of misplaced pieces and how to take immediate advantage. -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Back Rank
Often times there is a critical weakness in the opponent's position known as the back rank weakness. This is when the opponent's King is placed on the back rank and there are other pieces in front of the King or covering the squares in front of the King which in turn traps the King on the back rank which can often lead to a decisive mating attack. -
images.chesscomfiles.com/chess-themes/boards/green/24.png";);">
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Smother Tactics
This course will bring many examples of the smother tactic in chess and how it can be used to put a quick finish to the enemy's king.
baddogno wrote:
With all due respect I think you're going about learning tactics all wrong. The Tactics Trainer is for testing your knowledge of tactics. Learning tactics is best done through the Lessons.
- Good point!
baddogno wrote:
With all due respect I think you're going about learning tactics all wrong. The Tactics Trainer is for testing your knowledge of tactics. Learning tactics is best done through the Lessons. You're a diamond member; take advantage of it. When you can rip through these Lessons, and you may have to review them many times, then you're ready to test. A few examples of what to study follow:
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - ForksThis course is designed to explore the fork motif in the game of chess. The fork occurs when one of your pieces can attack two or more of the opponent's pieces. It can be executed with any piece other than the King and it is a very powerful strategy which can quickly turn the tables and lead to a decisive position.
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Pins and SkewersPins and skewers are two ways that the "long-range" pieces (the bishop, the rook, and the queen) can attack two or more pieces simultaneously along the same rank, file, or diagonal. This is another basic tactical tool that is easy to understand and critical to master. When you can clearly see in your mind's eye all the potential for using pins and skewers, you will discover that your "long-range" pieces are much more powerful than you realized. You will also protect yourself from potential disaster! With...
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Double AttacksA "double attack" occurs when two pieces make two attacks at the same time. The difference between a fork and a double attack is that a fork is one piece attacking two things at the same time, while a double attack is two pieces making two attacks at the same time. The trick to seeing this possibility in any chess position is to look for any situation where one piece is "covered" by another piece, where if the piece where to become "uncovered", it would create a threat.
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Discovered Check & Double CheckThese are a specific kind of Double Attack or Discovered Attack. A "Discovered Check" happens when one piece moves away and "uncovers" check against the king by the piece behind it. "Double Check" is the same thing, except that the piece moving away also puts the king into check, so the king is attacked by two pieces at once. Discovered check sometimes is used in an attack against the king, sometimes is used to win material, and sometimes is used to do both. Double check is usually focused on attacking...
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Deflecting the DefenderDeflecting or removing the defender is all about getting a defensive piece out of the way. Often you'll have a situation where if you could just get one of your opponent's pieces away from a key square, you could execute a powerful attack. Sometimes you can't get the piece out of the way. But sometimes you can. Sometimes it's not obvious that you can, but if you look hard enough and you're creative enough, you'll see the way through. And the best way to get better at finding those opportunities is...
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Clearance SacrificeIn a clearance sacrifice the sacrificing player aims to vacate the square the sacrificed piece stood on, either to open up for his own pieces, or to put another, more useful piece on the same square. In this course you will learn how to use this tactical idea successfully so that you will be able to use this idea in your own games.
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - In Between MovesAn in-between move or Zwischenzug is one that is made unexpectedly in the midst of a sequence of moves. But not just any series of moves, one in which the player falling for the Zwischenzug feels the sequence is forced, while his opponent demonstrates to him that it certainly isn't! Most commonly these fall in between trades where a recapture seems to be the only proper means of play. Such in-between moves often have a surprising and pleasing effect of increasing the potency of a combination beyond...
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - InterferenceInterference occurs when the line between an attacked piece and its defender is interrupted by sacrificially interposing a piece. It is a chess tactic which seldom arises, and is therefore often overlooked. Opportunities for interference are rare because the defended object must be more valuable than the sacrificed piece, and the interposition must itself represent a threat. But when this opportunity does arise it can reap huge rewards!
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Misplaced PiecesSometimes in chess the pieces can step on each others toes and get in the way of one another. This allows for the opportunity of trapping pieces and exploiting the opponent's misplaced pieces. Here you will see many examples of misplaced pieces and how to take immediate advantage.
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Back RankOften times there is a critical weakness in the opponent's position known as the back rank weakness. This is when the opponent's King is placed on the back rank and there are other pieces in front of the King or covering the squares in front of the King which in turn traps the King on the back rank which can often lead to a decisive mating attack.
-
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Smother TacticsThis course will bring many examples of the smother tactic in chess and how it can be used to put a quick finish to the enemy's king.
I didn't read any tactics traing books or videos, except about 12 -20 chess books in my whole life. I think my tactics strength come from playing about 500 rapid games against computer in my teenage life. (chessmaster and deep junior).
Computer teach me tactics.
Whenever I miss a tactics. computer punish me. Whenever I play a weak move. computer punish me. I got angry, I try again.
In this way, I was self taught! My current tactics rating 2350 + in both chess.com and lichess.com
