Realising my tactical ability is rather poor,I decided to start working on it.Dug up CT-art,installed it,and gave myself a handsome 1850 rating 🙂
IEK!It's worse than I thought!After 50 exercises,annihilation of defense,I did manage to score 72%.Not bad,considering there were some really tough ones.BUT,had I not known the theme,and had I not been given the ensurance that a tactic was really,really,truely there,I don't think I would have managed 25%.Even now,I needed the tips in most of the exercises 😕😳😞
Any of you use this program,and care to share your experiences?
EDIT: Have now completed the first theme,annihilaiton of defense.Score: 64% Not very good 😞
I've used it and it is useful but not as great as one would have you believe.
1. You assume the tactic is there. In a normal game it usually isn't.
2. In CT arts, 90% of the tactics lead to mate. In a normal game, it usually doesn't.
3. there are very few tactics included that lead to, say, winning a pawn. And that usually happens.
Other than that, I like the design, the hints, the timer, etc.
Originally posted by johnnybikehttp://www.chesscentral.com/software/ct-arts-chess-tactics.htm
What is CT-art? - sounds interesting
Chess Tactics - Learn and Improve
This program is the 3rd revised and expanded edition of the ever popular Chess Tactics Art by the Russian GM of Correspondence chess, Maxim Blokh. The material was chosen for a wide variety of player strengths from 1600 ELO to 2300 ELO. The level of difficulty of the examples is for beginner and intermediate strength chess players, but even masters will find themselves challenged by the hardest ones.
Originally posted by buddy2The goal of the program is to practise tactical themes.It odes that.And you can do a test on all themes at once,with new exercises,so you don't know what to look for.That pretty much represents a real game situation.
I've used it and it is useful but not as great as one would have you believe.
1. You assume the tactic is there. In a normal game it usually isn't.
2. In CT arts, 90% of the tactics lead to mate. In a normal game, it usually does ...[text shortened]...
Other than that, I like the design, the hints, the timer, etc.
I do agree that it should have focussed less on checkmates.I think they did that,thinking most people don't want to search for 7 move,and more,combinations just to win a pawn,regardless of the fact that it is how most real games are won and lost.
All in all,I think it's a good piece of software.I certainly haven't seen a better one.