Tactics Training

I know, do tactics puzzles.  I have been, it's helping, but there's got to be a better way to do it than what I'm doing.

I did a lot of study on thought process, I've posted the results of that study on my blog.

Now I'm wondering, is there a systematic thought process for discovering tactics?

Here's what I do now.  I look at all the moves I can make that might win a piece (or pawn).  That's all.  Is there a better way, and is there a book or video someone would reccomend that might teach me this better way?

Thanks for any advice.

ChessTempo.

/thread

Look for sacrifice oppurtunitys as well. (make sure you calculate it out and have a big enough attack to suffice for the 2 point loss)

I just posted a chesstempo link on another tactic thread with some solid tips on using any tactic trainer. One weakness I had was not calculating moves that lost material. I started to think "what will the position look like after I sac?" And then begin my analysis at that point.

Plus on the c.c trainer, any time you can sac your queen, it is probably the right move lol.

And, check out Heisman's seeds of tactical destruction. Write them out on a sheet until you have them memorized and check off each one as you work the problems until it is a habit.

Hey, recommending a book I already have but haven't gotten around to reading yet is no fair and it makes me feel stupid!

I've got several of Coach Heisman's books including the one you mentioned, I just haven't gotten to it yet.  Guess I better crap or get off the pot.

Thanks for the advice, all.  I've also signed up for chesstempo.com. 

Funny related story. We had a kid coming to our chess club each week for about 6 months. His skill level was probably just below me, I usually beat him but he never made it easy.

Anyway, he asked me one day for suggestions on improving his game.  He had just lost two games by missing tactics, so I told him about chesstempo.com and that I thought it would help if he did a lot of tactics puzzles.  My chess club meets at a local library, when I made the suggestion, he left the meeting room and said he was going to the computers to start studying tactics. He seemed genunily excited for something else to try.

We haven't seen him since.  I figure he's still studying tactics and he's going to come back the next Capablanca.

Consider all checks, threats and captures. Regardless how crazy the firsrt appear. Go through all your legal moves (just scan through the rays of your queen, bishops, rooks etc).

The promising looking moves, calculate them further. After you find something you think works -- go through it once more and look for alternative moves for your opponent. To make sure you are not overlooking anything. Do even a threat scan for your opponent.

And real game advice, also consider the position at the end of the tactic. I've lost many games by pulling off a tactical shot winning a piece or an exchange -- just to get killed by a counter-tactic at the end of the line.

I am not sure if this will help you, or if it can. What I normally did/do, is always check your opponents pieces, and especially their King. Notice how many squares they have available to them, where can they move.

Then check over your pieces to see if you may be able to trap them, or mate their King. While you may not have to do this every move, you should definitely check their King's move options every move. It will also help you plan certain moves, basically work backwards.

If you notice his King does not have any move options, if you take a piece, or pawn that protects him, or if the squares he might be able to move to after that capture will be covered, either by the capturing piece, or by another piece of yours. Mates are much easier to calculate that way, that goes for any piece in your opponents forces as well.

Thats why learning skeleton/basic positions on tactics, and mates are very important. Good luck.