Usefulness of practicing tactics

Everybody seems to agree that practicing tactics improves your play, but to what degree?

I've been doing a lot of tactics here and elsewhere and I don't see much improvement in my games. Is there a bias in relation to tactics improvement, ie, everybody says that is good but no one knows exactly how efficient it is?

What else should one do to improve his game?

Is there a method to doing tactics?

Hey, zizgz!

I'm a relatively new player to chess, but like most games, practicing anything can make you better at it. Of course, nobody can accurately measure how much you improve, because skill is an unmeasurable, relative term.

Tactic training isn't the only way to get better at this game. Just on this website, there are other tools to improve, such as lessons, drills, vision, learning from master games, studying openings, analysis, and so much more.

Lastly, there isn't really, in my opinion, a method to tactics. Just, take it slowly and eventually you will find yourself solving those riddles faster, being able to use your refined intuition to win more games. And, as they always say, practice makes perfect!

I'm hardly an expert on the subject, but everyone is unique .  Your mileage may vary with tactics.  I think tactics training helps people to recognize common pitfalls or errors.

If you think you are strong with tactics, perhaps it's time to focus on strategy/planning and positional play?

I also find the idea of chess metrics to measure performance and progress to be interesting.  It appears your rapid and blitz ratings have both climbed over the past year.  What do you attribute that to?

It is because Tactical only trains you for the mid and endgames. Opening lines are the hardest part of learning chess and certainly the least fun, except for traps. It is all memorization and takes a long time to master. I just got my tactical over 2000, but I have played nothing but speed chess for 20 years. One reason, is because being impatient is part of my nature and the other was being paranoid of cheaters using chess programs. Joining this site has given me insight on how much better I could play, if I simply do the work on openings.

Practicing basic tactics I think is very helpful. Just a nice repeat of basic themes, and it's relaxing too, doesn't take up much brain power, yet keeps you sharp.