Chess is 100 percent tactics

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minor7b5

Does anyone disagree with this? I mean, what part of chess isn't basically tactics?

kleelof

Tactics are the tool you use to carry-out your plans. It's like saying painting is 100% paint and brush.

you_look_divorced

Spot on.

disisadam

nah I disagree, it's positioning and tactics because without the right position you can't use that certain tactic

iMacChess

"Chess is 99% tactics." ~ Rudolph Teichmann

NomadicKnight

I haven't seen "strategy" mentioned...

kleelof
NomadicKnight wrote:

I haven't seen "strategy" mentioned...

I believe I alluded to it in my ever so clever quote. Cool

minor7b5

I'm confused about this "positional chess" thing. I mean, you can either checkmate the other King or not, right? So basically, every position is either "mate in N moves" or it's a draw. Maybe I'm missing something...

FireAndLightz

Its actually: "chess is 99,5 metres tactics"

kleelof
minor7b5 wrote:

I'm confused about this "positional chess" thing. I mean, you can either checkmate the other King or not, right? So basically, every position is either "mate in N moves" or it's a draw. Maybe I'm missing something...

You need to think bigger.

Technically, once each side has moved, you have a position. Some people might argue you actually have a position before anyone moves, but, in either case, you do not have a 'mate in N moves' or a draw at that point.

So 'position' only means how the pieces are arranged on the board.

Sometimes they do work themselves into 'mate in N moves' or draws with the help of you and your skill.

MCFan
minor7b5 wrote:

I'm confused about this "positional chess" thing. I mean, you can either checkmate the other King or not, right? So basically, every position is either "mate in N moves" or it's a draw. Maybe I'm missing something...

If all drawn positions were equal then Black would score as well as White. I would say that you are looking at this through a trolls POV...

MCFan
Some people might argue you actually have a position before anyone moves, but, in either case, you do not have a 'mate in N moves' or a draw at that point.

You do have a position before anybody moves and in these ultimate tablebase terms it is a draw. Your post couldn't be more wrong.

KRAPARSOV

i don't see how it can be 100% tactics.

Sossitch

Its all luck, I'm just unlucky.

kleelof
pfren wrote:

Efim Geller used to tell us that concrete calculation is needed most of the times just once in every game, and usually the depth of the calculation need not be large.

I've often suspected as much.

It seems, from my experience, that games usually require only 1 or 2 deep calculations. No matter how much I improve, this remains constant.

Any other calculation it seems to just be recalculation after the position has changed.

Xsync99

I agree with the IM but to MAsters ( me inclusive): The whole game is strategy while tactics are just a means by which we implement strategy. Tactics arent the only means though.

For instance, phsycology and mental maturity are also necessary, together with patience and a willingness to win.

Hope this helps!

hamstergang
minor7b5 wrote:

I'm confused about this "positional chess" thing. I mean, you can either checkmate the other King or not, right? So basically, every position is either "mate in N moves" or it's a draw. Maybe I'm missing something...

Yes, but in most positions it's too hard to work that all out to the end, so you need something else to help guide you in picking the right move.

samtoyousir

Tatics is an overused word. If I win with scholars mate in 4 moves, did I use tactics?

minor7b5
tkbunny wrote:

if chess is 100% tactics, then chess is tactics & vice versa.  moving on to tictacs.

Just because chess is 100% tactics, the reverse is NOT nessessaruly true. People like you are the reason you should have to take an IQ test before you start posting on these forums.

minor7b5
harryz wrote:

If I forfeit a game on the first move, were tactics used? Therefore, chess is 99.9% tactics

Well, if the first position is a draw, isn't forfeiting on the first move a tactical mistake?