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Why your tactics aren’t improving

#2

Q. 1. Do you think you have more positions with tactics, in 10 bullet games, or 1 rapid game?

Q. 1. Do you think you have more positions with tactics, in 10 bullet games, or 1 rapid game?
#3

I found Kotov's 'Think Like a Grandmaster' most helpful.

I found Kotov's 'Think Like a Grandmaster' most helpful.
#4

@AJQ64 said in #2:

Q. 1. Do you think you have more positions with tactics, in 10 bullet games, or 1 rapid game?

There are more positions with tactics in the higher number of bullet games, but if you want to improve at calculation or finding tactics that take more than a few seconds to spot, the one rapid game might help you more!

@AJQ64 said in #2: > Q. 1. Do you think you have more positions with tactics, in 10 bullet games, or 1 rapid game? There are more positions with tactics in the higher number of bullet games, but if you want to improve at calculation or finding tactics that take more than a few seconds to spot, the one rapid game might help you more!
#5

@tpr said in #3:

I found Kotov's 'Think Like a Grandmaster' most helpful.

Yep, it gets bashed in some circles but it's a good classic that talks about many important things in chess - just don't rely on that book only for how to think and calculate as it's just one way to look at it, and a little older.

@tpr said in #3: > I found Kotov's 'Think Like a Grandmaster' most helpful. Yep, it gets bashed in some circles but it's a good classic that talks about many important things in chess - just don't rely on that book only for how to think and calculate as it's just one way to look at it, and a little older.
#6

Wow I love this topic. Much needed. Thank you!

Wow I love this topic. Much needed. Thank you!
#7

@datajunkie

I was playing a classical game against a big guy, probably 3 times my weight and I managed to do the classic smothered mate in the middlegame by sacrificing my queen. He got so flustered that his hand shook and he spilled his cup of coffee all over the board.

Fun anecdote!

@datajunkie >I was playing a classical game against a big guy, probably 3 times my weight and I managed to do the classic smothered mate in the middlegame by sacrificing my queen. He got so flustered that his hand shook and he spilled his cup of coffee all over the board. Fun anecdote!
#8

Good article. Yeah a lot of people I coach or have coached who are stuck at very low rating levels, their main weakness is anticipating opponents threats (something you also mentioned) and having a decent sense of danger and so on. And once you miss a tactic for your opponent the result is out of your hands, at least if you fail to spot a winning tactic there’s a chance you can create another one later...

I also feel like puzzles can be overdone, it’s good to stay sharp regularly but you soon hit diminishing returns, especially if all other areas of study are being neglected.

Good article. Yeah a lot of people I coach or have coached who are stuck at very low rating levels, their main weakness is anticipating opponents threats (something you also mentioned) and having a decent sense of danger and so on. And once you miss a tactic for your opponent the result is out of your hands, at least if you fail to spot a winning tactic there’s a chance you can create another one later... I also feel like puzzles can be overdone, it’s good to stay sharp regularly but you soon hit diminishing returns, especially if all other areas of study are being neglected.
#9

Thanks for this article. I'm so-so at tactical puzzles (the harder ones on chesstempo) but I often miss my own opportunities or miss my opponent's tactics. So I've invested in the first book you mention "How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician". I read the sample, and it seems to address having the proper mindset, which hopefully will improve my tactics in actual games.

Thanks for this article. I'm so-so at tactical puzzles (the harder ones on chesstempo) but I often miss my own opportunities or miss my opponent's tactics. So I've invested in the first book you mention "How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician". I read the sample, and it seems to address having the proper mindset, which hopefully will improve my tactics in actual games.
#10

Off-topic: Where can one buy the board and pieces, and the clock in the cover photo?

Off-topic: Where can one buy the board and pieces, and the clock in the cover photo?