What are tactics?
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May 6, 2017
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#3
Well, that wasn't my point. I was just saying why tactics matter so much.
May 6, 2017
0
#4
Great analogy. I was thinking of an analogy myself and thought of writing. The more sayings, alliterations, rhymes, slang, etc. you know, the easier it is to put a powerful message together. The more chess tactics and combinations you know the easier it is to put a chess strategy into action.
I've provided a long answer to this in my one and only blog post.
However, a shorter answer would be that it's analogous to a person who wants to drive somewhere (let's say the hospital, because if he/she doesn't move, he/she will "lose", just like in chess if you just make totally random moves). That person needs to get to the hospital rather quickly.
In my opinion, tactics would be the engine, fuel, and all the intricate parts of the car that make it function like a car.
Strategy/Positional play would be the ability of the driver to drive the car properly, so he/she doesn't crash/go in the wrong direction.
If the car itself barely runs, or breaks down all the time, or is just completely hopeless, no matter how good the driver is, it's useless. Like in chess, someone who knows what ideas to implement, and has no clue on how to implement them without dropping a pawn in the process, is hopeless.
On the other hand, everyone, even beginners, know that it's good to grab your opponent's material, and to not hang/lose your own material. But this is already the major part of strategy - don't lose stuff. It's simple, like checkers.
Also, beginners know that they should "get their pieces out". Preferably e4+d4, Nc4+Nf3, Bc4+Bf4, because it looks good. Again, that's really simple, and it's more than fine for a beginner.
In the analogy, such a person would be an OK driver.
Tactics are much much more difficult at the beginner level, especially considering how necessary they are, compared to strategy, which essentially you can get away with "keep your pieces active" and "material is good".