Strategic play means you are focused on your overall position, it tends to be more passive, long term and positional.
Tactical play is focused on combinations that win material or space, it is about effective attacks that gain you a quick, tangible advantage.
That makes sense, Symph0ny.
I appreciate it.
And, finally, out of curiosity, do you happen to know if these terms and definitions are part of the official lexicon and parlance of the professional chess community? Or are they more the terminology of like the unofficial/online/amateur..etc. community?
Just curious, because I wonder if people will automatically know what I mean if I use those terms. Thanks again!!
Strategic and tactical are actually military terms that have been adopted in chess (both professional and amateur):
Strategic means a long-term approach meant to yield an advantage.
Tactical means a short-term approach taken when a temporary situation arises which will yield an advantage. Military tactics can change rapidly and often, while still being part of a larger strategic objective.
Yep, both of the above are dead on the money. Tactics are specifically things like pins, skewers, forks, discovered attacks, or discovered check. Strategy is a big picture look at what you are trying to accomplish with your setup, or where you want to be in 15 moves maybe, as an example. It can encompass the idea of whether you want to attack kingside or queenside, more of a broad, sweeping look at your plans.
There's a famous quote:
Tactics is what you do when there's something to do, Srategy is what you do when there's nothing to do.
Hi everyone,
Brand new to the game of chess. Have been watching Youtube videos to help learn the basic of the game.
Two terms that keep coming up in videos are: "tactical" play and "strategic" play. There were specifically differentiated in the commentary and I'm curious what these two terms refer to?
I would have thought they were the same. But, the way the videos use the terms they'll say stuff like:
"Fischer was more focused on tactical play rather than strategic." ....etc.
So, I know they are not the same. What do they mean in the context of the game? How do they differ? How are they similar? ...Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks very much for your time & help!