When I read the title of the post, my 1st thought was to suggest intuition as the main option. But then, maybe that's why I cant break 1700
What is the proper way to solve tactical problems?
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Jan 15, 2010
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Kempelen wrote:
Hi,
I have bought tactical problems books in the past and I like to solve them from time to time. I have always done without paying attention the way I calculate, the way I solve them and the time it takes me. I usually look at the diagram and try to guest the main theme and the move, but I has never solved them in detail, with all variants in my head (well, not true, if the exercise is easy I can get all in my mind). What I mean is I have always solved them by intuition.
Do you think this is appropiate? What is in your opinion the proper way to train and solve tactical problems?
Greeting,
Cut down on the intuition and calculate every line (including sub variations) like you can write them down on paper and they would make sense to everyone. Try to be systematic, do not waste too much time wandering off from branch to branch and make sure that when you solve the problem, you absolutely know it's the right answer, do not guess. If you have to make a choice between a quick guess and an accurate but exhausting solving session where you have worked out all the lines, pick the latter.
To make the training much more enjoyable, instead of books, either check out the tactics trainer on this site or join another tactics server on the net.
My 50 cents. 
@ philidor_position: +1.
What you're doing when using "intuition" is basically guessing what the answer is likely to be, based on the problems you've seen before.
That's not something that's going to help you improve your chess (past a certain point). For that, you need to get better at accurate, complete calculation.
So yeah, what philidor_position said.
If I can't figure it out quickly I identify all the undefended and weakly defended pieces / exposed king. Even if the pieces seem very far away you should have it in your mind if they are undefended. Of course be sure to notice each of your pieces range of movement -- sometimes you forget a rook can slide across your clear 3rd rank to help for an attack on the h file for example.
After that you pretty much know the theme / sometimes the first move even and it's a matter of hashing out the move order. This is the hard part :) I calculate slowly, hold each new move in my head as a new position and again try to find the best move, etc till the end. This way I don't waste time going back and forth or over and over the same line.
That's how I do 'em anyway.
Hi,
I have bought tactical problems books in the past and I like to solve them from time to time. I have always done without paying attention the way I calculate, the way I solve them and the time it takes me. I usually look at the diagram and try to guest the main theme and the move, but I has never solved them in detail, with all variants in my head (well, not true, if the exercise is easy I can get all in my mind). What I mean is I have always solved them by intuition.
Do you think this is appropiate? What is in your opinion the proper way to train and solve tactical problems?
Greeting,