Tactics vs Strategy?

So I'm new here.  In a short period of time, I'm discovering the same problem that plagued my chess games as a kid are still around as an adult.

I think hard about a great plan, and what I'm going to do 6, 7, 8, or more moves from now.  Move the Knight here, take this pawn here, then trap you here, etc.  Then in the midst of this overall plan, WHAM, I didn't even notice you attacked - and took - my queen. And then you mate me in 2-3 more moves.

Is this a common problem?  As a beginner, should I be more focused on  specific tactics along the way, and no worry too much about an overall plan?

If you can visualize up to 8 moves ahead you should be teaching chess for money.

lol, well that's part of the problem - I'm only planning what *I* will be doing 8 m oves from now, without realizing the board looks nothing like it does now at that point.

Not anticipating what the opponent may do seems to be a major problem.

Well, this is the hard part of chess, you must always consider what your opponent can do after you move. We often forget that our opponent may have a plan inside his head just as we do. But, no, we often play what is on our minds. Let me show you a example game, in this game, my plan was to do a kingside castling as soon as possible, but I was not paying enough attention to my opponent's play:

I should have thought this attack could come, I don't know what could I do but I learned I must always question myself, my motives to make a move in chess. If I could have the chance I would play like this:

Do you use the Tactic Trainer on chess.com often? I recommend spending at least a few minutes a day with it. Seems like you like to make plans and strategic aims but don't recognize the immediate or near immediate tactical shots and combinations as they come by. Practicing with the Tactics Trainer here can help you become more aware of them. :)

I do, but I will start using it more - thank you for all the great insight!

i think i have the opposite problem- i have difficulty visualizing strategy more thatn 2 or 3 moves ahead- instead after ever move by my opponent i ask myself what was his intention, what can he/she do w/ it? if it were his mvoe now, what would he take/threated. this works to a point, but it is frustrating not to be able to see a strategy once in the middle game, and i OFTEN miss obvious things that can sway the game- i guess this chess stuff is kinda complicated -who knew?

@johnnyrocco The good thing is that especially at your level, tactics win almost every game, so if your not a natural strategist, and find making plans difficult, you can still improve and be able to compete far above the rating area you are now. The key is learning the basic principles of pawn structures, opening development, and learn to make basic plans. You don't need to create a strategy to checkmate your opponent in 20 moves, simple plans like "I am going to attack X square, and trying to get as many of your pieces on it as possible, or even more general "I will attack on the king side" can give you a focus for your pieces and then let you hone in on every tactical shot you can get during the game (which until your playing masters will probably be multiple chances during a game). You can learn strategy and "positional" ideas as you play and improve, but tactical awareness will give you the most rapid and sure way to improve, and quite honestly is what most players at the low rating levels should focus on in my opinion.

So don't worry about not being a good stategist or planner, I am pretty bad at it myself, but if your seeing tactical chances and capitalizing on them while avoiding many tactical aims against you, you'll find yourself winning plenty of games. The key at your level right now is to develop your pieces quickly and keep them on squares that give them active roles, usually squares that aren't on the edge of the board, squares that make them trapped behind your pawns, or on your back rank. :)

IMO if you're experienced/knowledgeable in chess enough to be able to read a position and form a plan, then your tactics will have long since carried you out of beginner ranks.

If you're thinking only what you want to do for the next 8 moves, you're not planning at all, that's just solitaire chess or hope chess, whatever you want to call it.  Plans involve the entire position... your opponent's pieces included :)

Beginners should work on fundamentals, there's no reason to work on anything else.  That involves tactics, and visualizing if your intended move can be refuted or not.  Again this involves looking at all your opponent's moves.

Jordan- many thanks for your post- I appreciate the positive energy and advice! that certainly is an advantage of being a poor player is theres only one way to go (hopefully.. i would have to put a lot of effort into becoming worse! haha)

but i have almost played 1,000 games and i am starting to get to where i can kinda see the next step and i appreciate the thoughts you gave.