tactics training.... what am I looking at?!
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I recently decided to get better at chess and after some self reflection and analysis of my games against a computer I know that my big roadblock to improvement is my ability to see the board tactically. So I want to spend some significant time on a tactics trainer solving puzzles and improve.
Sorry, I accidentally hit enter and it automatically posted! So to continue, I downloaded several tactics trainers on Android and have tried to use them all including the chess.com one. What I'm running into is mass confusion. These puzzles are way above my level, no explanations on why moves are made and all of the tactics of the grandmaster games make no sense to me. Is the intention for me to keep pressing on with things I don't understand and one day it will all just click? Or is there a program or trainer that actually comes with annotation so I can walk through it and figure out why a move was made vs. Something else? Any help will be appreciated
Have you done the tactics lessons?Chess com provides good insight and these lessons really helped me.It explains the moves too.Check them out.
Im still completing them. I'll make that a priority until they are complete. Any other suggestions? I'm open to about anything
When I had the same problem,i checked YouTube(i can't not afford lessons:( so YouTube helped me a lot) there are many explanations and it ll help you a lot.Just be sure that the instructor has a tittle
Dec 7, 2016
0
#7
If you are having problems understanding the generic tactics problems, perhaps you would get more out of a sequence of positions that were composed as examples to highlight specific tactics, with a bit of explanation added.
Example:
Decoying and diverting. These two tactical themes are almost always found together. Diverting refers to the tactic of driving or luring an enemy piece off of its "proper" square, so that it can no longer do its assigned job. Decoying refers to the tactic of luring an enemy piece onto a vulnerable square, where it will be ambushed.
In the following position (from one of my games) with White to move, Black has guarded his vulnerable f7 square with Knight, Queen and King. Can you see a tactical combination that uses decoying and diverting to set up a killer Knight fork on f7?
Dec 7, 2016
0
#9
Is there any interest in me writing up a few tactics puzzles of this sort, each with a few sentences of explanation?
BPOhio wrote:
Sorry, I accidentally hit enter and it automatically posted! So to continue, I downloaded several tactics trainers on Android and have tried to use them all including the chess.com one. What I'm running into is mass confusion. These puzzles are way above my level, no explanations on why moves are made and all of the tactics of the grandmaster games make no sense to me. Is the intention for me to keep pressing on with things I don't understand and one day it will all just click? Or is there a program or trainer that actually comes with annotation so I can walk through it and figure out why a move was made vs. Something else? Any help will be appreciated
Always look for Forcing Moves first:
Checks
Captures
Threats
Calculate Forcing Lines out as far as you can no matter how bad they look.
Dec 7, 2016
0
#11
ironmaidenb wrote:
it would be nice of you to mention the myriad of tactical motives, for translation purposes only, not kidding
Do you mean... to give exact chess translations of different tactical themes, like Overload, Windmill, Pin, Skewer, Line Opening, Line Cutting, Sealing and Sweeping, und so weiter?
Dec 7, 2016
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#12
blueemu wrote:
ironmaidenb wrote:
it would be nice of you to mention the myriad of tactical motives, for translation purposes only, not kidding
Do you mean... to give exact chess translations of different tactical themes, like Overload, Windmill, Pin, Skewer, Line Opening, Line Cutting, Sealing and Sweeping, und so weiter?
I think this would not be a wise use of anybody's time. This is available through a search. Your practical applications of said tactics are interesting and entertaining however. Thanks for the contribution!
Dec 7, 2016
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#13
Overload: This tactic is used when a single enemy piece has been given too many jobs to do... for instance, if the enemy Queen is responsible for guarding against three different threats. By forcing it to commit to covering one of the threats, you can leave the others defenseless.
Again, an example from one of my games: Black's Queen must guard against mates on d8, e7 and f7. Can it guard them all at once, or can the Black Queen be overloaded?
White to move and mate in three:
You should start out with a focused study of the most common tactical themes. Here is a good (and free) place to start: [Do not advertise other chess sites - Mod.]
You should spend the next year or so digesting that website and using the tactical trainer here on chess.com to focus on specific themes (go to Training Mode/Custom, and select the theme from the chapter of the website you're currently reading).
Do this, and you'll significantly improve your ability to detect/calculate those (very) common themes. Then you can move on to more advanced things, like the "7 circles" with CT-Art. That has combinations, which require you to know simple tactics, and also covers more advanced themes like deflection, clearance, overload, etc.
If you do those two things you will be much stronger at tactics. I guarantee, or your money back.
Dec 7, 2016
0
#15
blueemu wrote:
Overload: This tactic is used when a single enemy piece has been given too many jobs to do... for instance, if the enemy Queen is responsible for guarding against three different threats. By forcing it to commit to covering one of the threats, you can leave the others defenseless.
Again, an example from one of my games: Black's Queen must guard against mates on d8, e7 and f7. Can it guard them all at once, or can the Black Queen be overloaded?
White to move and mate in three:
GM Finegold prefers the term "overworked" 
Wow thanks everyone for the replies and blueemu for the examples. I guess I kinda just expected most tactics puzzles to be a little clearer and got really frustrated, and my own goals of completing X number of puzzles a day increased that frustration. I'm going to slow down and not have such high expectations for myself and see if that helps