Gaws - studying tactics makes me WORSE!

hhnngg1 wrote:

"None of my wins from 1350-1478 in my last good stretch were due to superior tactical shots. Literally zero of them. Sure, opponents blunder, but they at this level, they almost always blunder because you've put good positional pressure on them, making it very easy to blunder."

You can't say that tactics weren't the source of your wins just because you didn't win them tactically.  The most common and important use of tactical skill is in preventing blunders of your own that would allow forks, skewers, etc. that win material from you.  And it's impossible to say what particular tactical oversights you didn't make thanks to your tactical training.  You are making a good point about positional pressure leading to more blunders, but to be blunt, a much better way to avoid blunders is to catch them before you make them, in whatever kind of position.

I think your problem is spending too much time calculating variations in positions that aren't tactically critical -- and I can relate.  You need to train two things: 1) awareness of loose pieces, king safety, and other things which signal that there may be a tactical win; and 2) reflexive mastery of basic common tactical patterns, so you don't have to spend so much time to recognize the most common ways you could win/lose material tactically.

@ Vandarringa

I see your point, but I'm sure that is not the case.

I am definitely NOT avoiding 3-move or more combos from the opponent by seeing them before they do and avoiding it. If I was doing that, I would definitely credit my superior tactical acumen as the source of the wins. 

The positional knowledge (limited as mine is) is taking steps to limit his counterplay and maximize mine, even before there are any tactics to speak of. 

Contrary to what you suggest, when I'm playing more correctly now (no tactics brain!), I'm calculating very little, but finding the most solid, best moves, and saving calculation for the really sharp positions.

In my tactics low, I wasn't losing on time either - it's just that when you train your brain to think tactics,tactics,tactics by studying nothing but tactics for weeks on end, it becomes really hard to break out of that mindset and start playing 'correct' chess that doesn't have outright tactics in at least 85% of the moves (or more.)

I think your problem is that you are too stubborn with your own original thought. In time you will realise.

Just get a good coach. Keep it simple.

I see huge gaps. But you have 10k+ games. It should not be like that. Are you playing only for a quick wins and thats why droping a lot, usually i was like that in bullet. I dont remember when u have said you started tactics but you have gaps from more than year. If you like i can provide more stats for your profile.

My advice is play 5/5. 3/0 or 5/0 is usually close to bullet. And almost always endings are determinated by premoves and fast mouse clicks. Thats why people dont know and are bad at endings. Your bullet rating is lower than blitz so avoid time controls with no inc.

If you continue with 3/0 my advice is attack his king at all cost. Make sacs even unsound. People get scared and lose on time or blunder. Make unso7nd oopenings. Usuallg h/g pawns up or sacs. Or avoid sharp positions and just make waiting improving pieces moves. Opp dont know what to do and they blunder again.

Exacly. Here is 25 times better than lichess.

Oh please. In that section of your archive, it shows you only made it through  2 and 3 moves in 6 games out of 7.  

If you want to screw with people, there's nothing we can do to stop you. But please don't pretend to make a serious discussion out of it.

I'd worry more about working on the weaker aspects of your game more than I'd think about the number.

Again, I work to get comfortable with more positions more than I worry about the rating. Maybe that's just me. 

notmtwain's post says it all.

It helps

Just looked over those games, you're right.

It looks like someone was sandbagging... Probably to play in certain tournaments.

Yeah the disadvantage of tactics only study is you will be one dimensional in your thinking. What if you can't find a tactic? You will be clueless on your thinking. Even on tactical thinking, there can be a one dimensional thing. If you only solve mate problems, it can lead too a thinking of looking only for mate attacks and not a chance to win material. When studying tactics you need to study mate problems and problems that wins material.

Now there is this error of calculating to many and stopping calculating prematurely. I guess it's the experience and study that will help you to determine/feel if at what point you should stop calculating. It's also the strategic and pattern knowlegde that helps you what moves you need to calculate.

hhnngg1 just dropped in my eyes : ( low ball.

I think that you are being a rough on hhnngg.  He made clear that all his brain wanted to do was calculate tactics even when there were none.  It seems that in doing so he got so deep into thought looking for tactics on move two that he lost on time over and over again.

You gotta study strategy also.  Then, you need to understand positional stuff.  You are probably actually well versed in 'certain' strategies, and positions.  You just gotta 'put it all together' to create 'your game'(and what to study). 
Studying tactics will make you sharper and stronger, but in a real game of chess your strategical approach, and positional understanding are just as important as tactics(and combos).

I think I've seen the quote about studying the Whole game to master a whole game.. several times recently- so I'm not going to dig up...

but this is just another thread that proves the wisdom of that bit of advice... Tactics training is NO "magic bullet".  I DO think its an important part of being a strong player, because I think you HAVE to recognize when tactics allow one player to outplay another.  

on the other hand, I feel that improvement for most of us is Really difficult and kind of unlikely.  I think your effort must be personal and you must be completely invested in it.  if you feel like tactics training is a waste of time; your attitude about it would make it very uninstructive.

Most people I think genuinely Underestimate the task of bringing their chess game to beyond club player- and If you don't belong to an OTB chess club -you probably don't know how hard even that is.

IN short, welcome to the game that is chess improvement, its harder than you think, Never do any activity that you don't have 1000% confidence in!

Indeed. Amazingly your story sounds soo familiar I didn't have to read all that you've written. Your complaints, whining etc etc. It sounds abit harsh, but in my estimation your whole improvement curve is out of whack. Not your tactics study. Tactics & combos are crucial for your middlegame. Mating patterns. Man, positional themes are fundamental, but to be truly successful you have to sharp in recognizing tactical opportunities when they present themselves. Especially when you have the initiative.

Granted, exclusive study of tactics is superfluous but I can tell it's not what's holding you back. Study master games, opening theory, basic endgames. Play to improve your understanding. If you like the game, winning will come.

Tactics are not your problem.