my confusing problem with tactics

this has probably been covered before but ill post cause i dont wanna spend hours trying to find post similar. i have a problem useing tactics in my games, im familiar with tactical themes and i spend alot of time on chesstempo so im good at solving tactical puzzles when i know theres something there. but i have no idea how to use or set them up in games, im sure others have had the same problem. so if anyone has any advice on how they solved this problem or advice on any literature that would help it would be much appreciated.

hmm

i am in the middle of winning chess tactics by silman and yasser so im not sure if back to basics is along the same lines it sounds like it is a basic tactics book if it is im not sure if it well help me and i have a grasp on the tactical themes. im looking for something that will help me understand how to use them. i am fairly new to chess and i have spent more time studying than playing(by far im 1 of those people that likes to learn and be well prepared) so it my be just an experience thing. but i was looking into how to calculate chess tactics by biem would that help me out? or is there something else someone has read that focused more on using tactics as opposed to just explaining them

What is your rating on ChessTempo? You need to develop a consistent thought process during problem solving. You should not just solve it then go to the next puzzle. Go back to the beginning and see what makes the tactics are there and visualize the solution.

Basically there should be weaknesses in order a combination to exist. Dan Heisman calls it "The Seeds of Tactical Destruction" (go to his column here to find out these seeds: http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#NoviceNook).

You need to have a procedural thought process, where one of the step is to seek these weaknesses.

i wasnt saying your suggestion was bad i was just asking if the book was like a basic tactics books that just goes through themes or if it was more about how to use them. my rating on chesstempo is a little above 1500 but thats cause i was horrible at them at first and failed alot. to give you a feel i would get about 9 out of 10 problems rated around 1400

I hate to break it to you but given the way you are currently thinking (evidenced by everything highlighted in bold above), you seem to be far from being open-minded to good advice and have already formed your own conclusions and are only waiting for answers that you want to hear. In my opinion, this attitude is going to hold you back far more than just weaknesses in using tactics.  Please approach chess with a bit more openness to ideas! :)

With that being said, here is some advice you're probably not going to listen to:

- Get Dan Heisman's Book, as recommended above. It is good ... and worth far more than the  knee-jerk assessment you gave it. Other great books at learning to construct tactical themes on the board are Chess Tactics for Students by John Bain....he presents back-to-back positions which increasing tactical complexity so you can actually build on the foundation you have.

- Follow a good thought process. Once again, Google up Heisman's Seeds of Tactical Destruction as suggested in the post above ... it may be exactly what you are looking for. 

- A lot of players in your boat can find tactical themes when they are "told" a position contains them. In actual games, you need to train yourself to "assume" there's a tactic in every position until you prove yourself wrong.  Looking for patterns is one thing, but after each of your opponent's moves, look at all checks, captures and threats (forcing moves) and CALCULATE them till quiescence (no more forcing moves left to calculate).  Start making a habit out of this and you'll see tactical shots jump out of the board in front of your eyes.   

Tactics is just one part of the game, and you cant do only with tactics. Its not like you 'use' them or set them up, you just se them when they are there.

Instead you should work on your endgame and maby positional chess.

thank you shivsky that is very helpful advice i guess i have to start looking for them every move before i can see them(i feel kinda stupid for haveing to be told that) i guess in alot of games im worried about taking to much time so i dont think about the position as much as i should. i will look up the book suggested, and that list of things to look for(checks threats and captures) sounds like it could help me alot in spotting tactics.

another question on the subject i have is. i know tactics can come from mistakes made by your opponent, but is there a method for setting up tactic? is that pretty much the reason for sacrifices(beside gaining intitative) to set up the tactics?

i remember 1 instance from a game awhile ago i was playing where i put my bishop en prise checking him to set up a fork between his rook and king. i remember it so clear it felt amazing and im trying to work on being able to set up tactics like that more as oppose to just waiting for my opponent to slip up(yes i realized him taking the bait was him slipping up but i kinda provoked it im wondering how to get better at this)

yesi know to work on other parts of the game im actually pretty strong when it comes to positional knowledge and i love endgame and am pretty good there in fact when im playing i tend to love simplifing down to endgame when i get even a 1 pawn advantage cause i can pretty much always convert it. my problem is getting the advantage, im actually focusing mostly on tactics right now cause it is by far my weakest area. endgame then positional knowledge was what i started with, was drawn to and am strongest with this is why im trying to get better with tactics because your only as good as your weakest area and for me thats tactis

Taking too much time?  

Here's a  tip : Strong chess players only spend significant time on analytical positions (positions where there are viable threats/captures or checks) that NEED patient + accurate calculation, including some endgames that can be calculated cleanly.

In all other positions (opening,  general principles or strategic ideas), you either KNOW what to do OR you don't.  Just staring at the position for 10 minutes is not going to magically get you closer to a better move.  So play using principles + knowledge in non-analytical positions QUICKER and allot yourself more time for positions where you need to calculate.

A method in setting up a tactic? 

No there isn't. Based on the tenets of Game Theory (much work done by William Steinitz on this)

1- You gain tactical advantages ONLY by exploiting your opponent's tactical mistake. They don't magically drop into your hands. Your opponent HAS to make a tactical  mistake. 
2- If you don't spot your opponent's mistakes, you gain nothing.
3 - Even after spotting the mistake, if you don't exploit it correctly, you still gain nothing.

Based on 1,2,3 it should be clear that you practice tactics NOT to "set them up" but to perform #2 and #3 ACCURATELY when event #1 occurs. Does this make sense?

On occasion + based on your assessment of risks,  you can play trappy + sharp lines that make it VERY easy for your opponent to make mistakes if he's not careful.  THIS is as close as I think you can get to "setting up tactics" but not a practical way to play against stronger players.

To your final point, playing clean + tactically accurate chess and  improving your pieces and pawns bit-by-bit (PATIENTLY) and not striking UNTIL your opponent gives you a chance to exploit a mistake  is THE only real way to play chess. Of course, the burden is on you to ALSO not be the first one to make an exploitable mistake that has your opponent punishing you for it.

You can't base your chess ability on being able to trick people or by setting up traps that they walk into so that you can play your favorite tactic.   Once you start playing stronger players, they will see through these cheapos and punish you for wasting time like this.

Serious chess is all about trying to play moves that are so good that  EVEN if your opponent sees through it all, he is still unable to stop you from gaining an advantage....i.e. making threats that are UNSTOPPABLE.

ok i think im getting a good grasp of what your talkin about when your opponent doesnt give you any tactics you play more strategic moves to strengthin your postion and use your tactical ability to capitilize when available. sharp openings lead to postitions where its easier for your opponent to give you something to work with and lead to positions with more possiblities for mistakes therefore tactics, and thats why ppl with diffrent styles of play pick openings based off what type of situations there strongest in. i realize its more complex than that but does that seem basicly like what your trying to push across?

i think im seeing the problem i was kinda thinking of tactics as something you can use instead of something that comes from mistakes. so tactical players like tal or rashid gibotvich nizmetindov dont have a tactical style because they use tactics more they are just better at spotting when they can use tactics than a positional player like capablanca of karprov

so its looks like most of my problem is in my thought process are there any books along with back to basics by heisman(i have heard he's great with teaching beginners) that you would suggest?

Bingo! You've got the idea ... this is just like a boxer in a ring. He works out for hours in the gym and trains his muscles not to expect to start hitting from the beginning with a K.O. blow but to really be ready to take blows as well as deliver them WHEN the moment is ripe.

Other great books that deal with thought process (and a good introduction to strategy)

1. All of Dan Heisman's Free Novice Nook articles (easily googled)

2. Silman's Amateur's Mind

3. Euwe's Chess Master vs. Chess Amateur

4. One of my favorites : Weeramantry's Best Lessons of a Chess Coach.

When you are a bit stronger,  some really in-depth books on how chess players think across different rating levels (from 1000 till Master!) would be Heisman's "The Improving Chess Thinker" and Adrian De Groot's Thought and Choice in Chess.

thank you very much for your advice it has helped me correct my understanding of what tactics are which obviously is a nessecity to be able to use the correctly. i feel a little weird cause im a pretty decent player i can beat players rated around 1400(which i feel is good for only have been playing for almost 3 months) and i still had an incorrect view of what tactics are and how to use them 

And knowing more tactics makes more "strategic" moves available -- moves that don't seem to work at first sight, except everything your opponent could do to prevent the strategic point fails because you would have a tactic then.

Once both players see most tactics, they often don't actually happen in the game (because they're prevented before they can happen), but that means that the options available to both players change.

so thats why some say amature games are decided on tactics while master games on decided on correct evaluation of the positions?

 is it legal to use tactics trainer during live match,i think that would be cheating,why bother playing we will all just,use tactics trainer or some kind of search engine,to make all best possible moves,is that how you play?

paulified22: he never said he did anything of the sort, and besides using tactics trainer during a match isn't even possible. You can't search for positions or anything.

He's talking about getting better at tactics by doing puzzles, not doing them during a game.

who said that lol. i dont know how you got that from this post knowone else did that doesnt even makes since the tactics on chess tempo give you positions from diffrent games how would i use that in my own game lol. i solve tactical puzzles to build my chess vision thats what there for i dont see how you would think i meant i uses them in my games somehow have you ever even used tactical trainers you dont seem you understand what they are lol