Chess Tactics

Meaning of Chess Tactics

In chess the word tactics refers to what I consider the most fun part of the game: combinations, sacrifices, and other such "fireworks." Most spectators love good displays of chess tactics because they are truly entertaining. As a player, the rewards for successful tactics are very high - very often the whole chess game will turn on a combination.

Becoming Better at Chess Tactics

The question I hear most often from players aspiring to become masters is how to become better at chess tactics. Just like any other sport or game, practice is of course the key word. But practicing doesn't help unless you are practicing the right things! When it comes to tactics I feel that there are two particularly important aspects you need to practice: solving combinations and understanding the thought process.

Solving Combinations

In order to become good at chess tactics, it is imperative that you know when to even look for them! Yes, everybody says you should always keep your eyes open for combinations, but in reality it is only on certain moves that you have to spend the most time checking tactical ideas. Recognizing these moments comes from solving hundreds of combinations.

Understanding the Thought Process

Finding resources for chess tactics is relatively easy. There books out there with thousands of combinations. The problem with many of these resources is that all you get is a position and a solution. While this allows you to see if you were right or not, it does not provide enough detail to learn. Which is why I would like you to focus on those resources that also give you explanations, especially those pertaining to the correct thought process for solving the combination. You need to see what questions should be asked to lead to the right answer. One such resource is this very site, so I invite you to take the tour and see what it has to offer!