VERY Bad at chess tactics...need advice
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I’ve been really struggling with tactics. My rating in it is around 550. I was doing pretty well for a while, but then I just tanked. Often times I see the proper move just after I make the wrong one. I sometimes have to use the hint button. Any advice on how to improve?
That also helped me
The trick is to keep practicing every day and keep learning typical patterns for tactical ideas
This video I watched from Anna Rudolf is pretty good at covering a number of tactics that might be helpful to you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUd_wBqapHY
This video I watched from Anna Rudolf is pretty good at covering a number of tactics that might be helpful to you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUd_wBqapHY
Oct 27, 2018
0
#5
JCowboy123 wrote:
I’ve been really struggling with tactics. My rating in it is around 550. I was doing pretty well for a while, but then I just tanked. Often times I see the proper move just after I make the wrong one. I sometimes have to use the hint button. Any advice on how to improve?
It takes time . take it easy.Watch this video :https://www.chess.com/video/player/everything-you-need-to-know-3-tactics-strategy.Also search for masterclass by Garry kasparov look for it on the internet its very helpful.
Thanks everyone! Much appreciated! @mappy56 I have taken the masterclass, and really enjoyed it!
Oct 27, 2018
0
#7
JCowboy123 wrote:
I’ve been really struggling with tactics. My rating in it is around 550. I was doing pretty well for a while, but then I just tanked. Often times I see the proper move just after I make the wrong one. I sometimes have to use the hint button. Any advice on how to improve?
Studying tactics is pointless...if you do not calculate well. Practice calculating first. Simple...and pawn ending are good for that.
Oct 27, 2018
0
#8
Try playing solo chess, it's fun and helped me look at all possible moves and calculate
A couple of books that I think will help with very basic tactics skills:
Winning Chess, How to See Three Moves Ahead, by Reinfeld.
Chess Tactics for Kids & How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Murray Chandler.
You should try chesstempo instead
JCowboy123 wrote:
I’ve been really struggling with tactics. My rating in it is around 550. I was doing pretty well for a while, but then I just tanked. Often times I see the proper move just after I make the wrong one. I sometimes have to use the hint button. Any advice on how to improve?
1. Take more time before you move to think out the position , that would be key. Slower time controls.
2. I would suggest looking at some basic opening lines, stuff like The London System, Ruy Lopez, Queen's Gambit. Not so much memorizing, but just getting ideas how to develop pieces correctly and placing them on good squares. Sometimes you might find you missed a threat but luckily your pieces were already on good squares so they are working together and protecting each other.
3. Watch some beginner breakdown videos with International Arbiter Mike Kummer
Simple tactics first, 1 move or 2 moves problems. once you master that you can move to a difficult problems.
I do both chess temp and here. At one time I would have strongly recommended one over the other, but with the new scoring here, the difference is much less important.
That said, one advantage of chesstempo is that the comments are often excellent, give alternate important lines, etc.
Personally, I think the key is to really think it through and take your time. Don't be artificially rushed by a clock. Look at it until you really think you understand it. Don't just guess because you think a move might look strong. Right now what you want to learn is being able to "see" the board several moves ahead. Once you get that down, then you can try to speed up the process.
I just looked at your tactics stats and while you are far from the worst at rushing through them, you are spending less than 1 minute a tactic. Try to totally ignore the target time they give you.
Second, recently you have been doing many many a day. Cut back to some reasonable limit and then spend more time on the ones you do.
Right now your solve rate is way under 50%. Do fewer, slow down, and go for a solve rate above 50%. You'll learn more, your rating will go up. As it stands, you are just reinforcing bad habits into your game.
Oct 27, 2018
0
#15
JCowboy123 wrote:
I’ve been really struggling with tactics. My rating in it is around 550. I was doing pretty well for a while, but then I just tanked. Often times I see the proper move just after I make the wrong one. I sometimes have to use the hint button. Any advice on how to improve?
You need to know what tactics to look for! Are you missing X-Ray Attacks, Dovetail Mates, and Skewers? If you don't know what they are you may not know to look for them! Take some time and memorize the Tactical and Positional Motifs on these pages:
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-tactics--definitions-and-examples
https://chesstempo.com/tactical-motifs.html
https://chesstempo.com/positional-motifs.html
Do not worry about the time it takes to solve the problems - take your time for at least several minutes. After you solve a problem, ask yourself which of those tactics were involved and why it took you so long in some cases to see that tactic. Check the "Tags" other players list for the problem and see if you agree.
Oct 27, 2018
0
#16
JCowboy123 wrote:
My first big jump came from "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess". Even though I understood back rank, this kind of was a light bulb moment. It took me about 2 hours to finish the book. The second big tactics moment was Sierwan's "Winning Chess Tactics".
I’ve been really struggling with tactics. My rating in it is around 550. I was doing pretty well for a while, but then I just tanked. Often times I see the proper move just after I make the wrong one. I sometimes have to use the hint button. Any advice on how to improve?
HotspurJr wrote:
… Winning Chess, How to See Three Moves Ahead, by Reinfeld.
Chess Tactics for Kids & How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Murray Chandler.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233318/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review394.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Tactics_for_Kids.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093813/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/beatdad.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/How_to_Beat_Your_Dad_at_Chess.pdf
CavalryFC wrote:
... Sierwan's "Winning Chess Tactics".
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
