About two months ago, I started regular chess tactics training on the Chess Tactics Server (CTS) and it is time to ask how effective this is. My original goal was to do a set of 50 chess problems every day. As usual, I skipped the training a few days every now and then. In average, I did about 40 problems per day over the last two months. My CTS rating increased from around 1050 at the start to around 1150, a significant increase. But the ultimate goal is not to become better at solving chess tactics puzzles, but to play better chess: Does regular training on CTS help to become a better chess player?

The short answer is: Yes, I do think so, but just doing problems is not enough! In the two months since I started training on CTS, I noticed that I see more tactical pattern when I analyze chess positions. What do I mean with "tactical pattern"? In almost all problems at CTS, the solution results in gaining material. But to win a piece, your opponent has to give you an opportunity by making a mistake. Even in the beginner ranks I am frequenting, most positions don't present opportunities to win material. Therefore, I won't win a piece on every move even if I suddenly reach grandmaster level. However, basic tactical pattern can still be spotted on the board. For instance, it may be your move, and you realize that your opponent can fork your king and rook with her/his knight. There may be an obvious defense, but the threat has to be spotted first. In consequence, I am now committing less blunders and once my opponents make a mistake, I am more likely to notice it.

A couple of days ago I thought going through some chess tactics puzzles on a regular basics would be enough to reduce my bluder rate. However, two days ago I left a knight en prise. Even worse: today, I checked on one of my correspondence chess games and thought "why did my queen change color?". I managed to leave my queen en prise and my opponent happily captured it with his first lady. There is simply no excuse for hanging your queen in an ultra-slow chess game and I do not believe that pattern recognition skills gained on CTS will help me to avoid this. I am afraid that I have to work on playing much more disciplined, something that is often referred to as the "thought process". I tried this before, but totally neglected it for months.

DISCLAIMER: although I am pretty sure of the positive impacts of the CTS training regime, I am playing too few games to quantify it within a time period as short as two months. Furthermore, I am a beginner-level player. Therefore, doing almost anything remotely connected to chess may also improve my chess games.

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written by Ben, October 04, 2006

Sciurus, I found your blog on Google, and I think it's a pretty cool idea.

I'm trying to get into chess myself - beyond entry-level - and I too make those kind of mistakes. Chess puzzles definitely seem like a good idea, as I too make far too many simple, simple mistakes. In playing a lot of games lately, I have noticed a marked decrease in my en prise mistakes, but I'm still making tactical mistakes where I get forked or otherwise put in a bad position.

If you would like to play a game - Yahoo, email correspondence, whatever - email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and I'd be glad to play.

-Ben

Games
written by Sciurus, October 05, 2006

Hi Ben,
thanks for the comment! I am always happy to meet people an play chess with them. I already send you an email.

If anybody else is interested in a game, just leave me a message!

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written by Ricardo Sant'Ana, August 03, 2007

Hello

I ve tried CTS for w while but not as regular as I want too (it's just a question of time). Anyway, I got about 1700 rating and to tell you the truth: I think I can do lot of better.

But what I want to share is an experience I presented: two amateurs were complaining about an strategical line of declined queen gambit: both players were not able to find a forced win because the position was kind of tactics free.

A situation which remembers me your your comment: "But to win a piece, your opponent has to give you an opportunity by making a mistake. Even in the beginner ranks I am frequenting, most positions don't present opportunities to win material."

I have to disagree: just try out some open line openings or some tactical opening and you will have the pleasure to win a game but tactical means.

for instance, I am playing a6-b5 as black in Kurnik site - so, no strategical opening ( I avoid most close positions or so)...just a crazy choice. and tactics are all around

anyway, nice site
See you
Ricardo
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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written by Sciurus, August 03, 2007

Hi Ricardo,

I agree with you there - if you play highly tactical openings, possibilities for tactical will arise sooner or later. However, I believe it still requires 'cooperation' from your opponent. If he/she makes no mistake, there will be always a defensive combination. Whoever has the best tactical skills will win.

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