After switching to OTB chess months ago I committed to spending at least 45 min. per day on tactics exercises. The first few months were pretty boring:
1. Set up the position
2. Write down the answer
3. Get it right - move on. Get it wrong, play over the correct sequence of moves 4 times.
4. Go on to the next exercise.
5. 6 days a week
The first 2 months yielded little in the way of improvement, and then - - It did! Repetition of the previously incorrect answers allowed my mediocre brain to remember tactical lessons that I would normally have forgotten. My rating has improved 175+ points in the last 6 months and am now defeating opponents at my chess club and OTB events that have routinely defeated me.
The tactics grind can be pretty boring at times, but it gets a lot more interesting when see your progress and start winning! 🙂
@mchill
it has been proven solving tactical positions work and you are correct there
is no quick fix. You must persevere and 'suddenly' things fall into place.
You start to spot faces in the crowd. (pattern recognition)
I do a few a day (true) I have two puzzles books by my bed and I make an
effort to do every one in CHESS magazine. The first 12 are pretty easy but
after that comes the toughies. And I'm always on the look out for a blog puzzle.
Every puzzle I have ever posted I have solved.
The best book of puzzles? All of them. They all do a job and worthwhile.
But if I must give an answer - I'll go for two.
I cut my teeth on 1001 Winning Chess Combinations by Reinfeld and can
honestly say I've gone through it twice.. My copy is battered, scribbled on
under the diagrams and falling to bits.
The other 'Chess Combinations' by Kurt Richter edited by Golz and Keres.
Excellent and a number of the games you get the opening moves and play into
the critical position whichI find better than setting up the position from a diagram.
@greenpawn34 saidThe best book of puzzles? All of them.
@mchill
it has been proven solving tactical positions work and you are correct there
is no quick fix. You must persevere and 'suddenly' things fall into place.
You start to spot faces in the crowd. (pattern recognition)
I do a few a day (true) I have two puzzles books by my bed and I make an
effort to do every one in CHESS magazine. The first 12 are pretty easy ...[text shortened]... nd play into
the critical position whichI find better than setting up the position from a diagram.
Agreed. I started on Chess Tactics for Champions by Susan Polgar and am now about 80% through The Woodpecker Method by Smith and Tikkanen. Being consistent with one's efforts is more important than the book title.
@greenpawn34 saidI used to try the puzzles in the study section on here.
@mchill
it has been proven solving tactical positions work and you are correct there
is no quick fix. You must persevere and 'suddenly' things fall into place.
You start to spot faces in the crowd. (pattern recognition)
I do a few a day (true) I have two puzzles books by my bed and I make an
effort to do every one in CHESS magazine. The first 12 are pretty easy ...[text shortened]... nd play into
the critical position whichI find better than setting up the position from a diagram.
I can't do that anymore because I have the same problem as with your blogs,The board is too big to fit my chromebook screen
@RooksandHooks saidYou can'r I'm afraid.
@venda
you can reduce the size buddy ?
On the games you can by using the slider,but on the blogs and puzzles it doesn't have any effect.
Russ knows about it.
@RooksandHooks saidWe have a desktop thanks.If I was desperate I could use it.As I have said to Russ,it's not that important.I believe it's the same for phone users.I'm surprised others haven't mentioned it.
@venda
you dont have a desktop for the mean time ?? get cheap ones off fbook market place ;-)