How to Improve Your Tactical Sense

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Wow, good stuff! 👍

[@benyeomans5848]

You guys should collaborate!!

[@ChessDojo]

Great idea!

[@ritterforce3570]

@@benyeomans5848 lol

[@vikramrandhawa-ou1of]

Nice upload, the point is subtle but sharp at the same time, "every move", because no one is gonna tell you mate in 5. Subscribed.

[@_v2.0]

Great video, Kostya! I think you really captured the process of trying to find tactics in-game here.

[@ChessDojo]

Thanks!

[@jcwar6753]

I know one thing, the Masters and GM's in this world busted their ass to get there. I've been more of a casual chess player all my life but I've grown to be a solid player. When I was much lower rated I can say that I "knew" the tactics and could solve them in problems. However, I would still miss them in timed games. Over years I've played and studied a ton of chess. I spot tactics faster and more often but I believe it's because of the volume of study. It really lets you know just how much chess the IM's in this world have studied. We know it's hard to be a GM but we don't hold up masters the same. Even avid chess fans underestimate the amount of time and effort it takes to become a FM NM even.

[@Robertl-xz6yl]

I’d rather have no title than be an IM Kappa

[@et5555yang]

I need the arbiter to approve my music loop of different GMs saying the phrase "White to move".

[@Kounteron]

and this is why you play longer time controls - as you are new, you need a lot more time to consider all the tactical implications of the moves played

[@madhavsanap6690]

Such a great lecture. Thanks for the lesson.

[@Zenitself]

So basically ABC Always Be Checking 😅

[@kdas7590]

Where I struggle is when time is a factor. I am really good at wasting my time looking for tactics that do not jump out immediately for me. If I am playing a 15-10 game, I find that it is very easy to miss tactics that I would find in longer time controls and then I get frustrated because I could find the tactic in situation where time is not a factor

[@ChessDojo]

Of course in blitz in rapid it's quite difficult to see tactics quickly. Solving lots of simpler tactics

[@MathAdam]

Thanks for this video. I followed your advice just now. Stopped, said "Black to move," and pinned White's Queen to the King. White couldn't avoid the loss of a Queen for little compensation and resigned.

[@ChessDojo]

Amazing! You *triggered* yourself to look for tactics. This can be a powerful tool as if there is a tactic in the position, you'll be much more likely to find it.

[@TheDortam888]

Me After the video: "I'll never miss a tactic ever again" Also me... Hanging my queen.

[@exuviumisopods]

The past couple months I dropped 150 points. When I see the analysis after the game/s I go to myself "how did you miss that checkmate in two?!" or "how did you not see that threat coming?!".

[@buddythompson5284]

Anyone who really wants to explore this system 1/system 2 thinking should read "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. It's one of the most insightful and powerful books about how human think and make decisions ever written. But I'll warn you ahead of time, it's also scary as hell. You'll be astounded to find out just how irrational many of our decisions are. Edit: Let me add, that if you want an excellent grounding in how humans learn and master any skill, I suggest you start with "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell, then read "Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Covin, and *then* read Kahneman's book. Read those three books in that order and I assure you're whole outlook on human behavior and success will change. Especially if you have kids.

[@jumpingship3001]

Thanks

[@zklakay8509]

after watching this video, i just remember all the very good tactic after my tactical blunder that my opponent have and just pray that they didn't see that LMAO 😂😂

[@ChessDojo]

Hahaha

[@beskeptic]

When I have time, I check every possible forcing move... checks, captures and threats

[@jjr6929]

A piece defended twice is defended, defended once is semi-loose, not defended is loose

[@kylen6430]

The way I like to see it, tactics are created out of components. And you take mental notes of these components as they compound. So for example with dropping the queen that Kostya gave, i would consider Bxc3+ as a “component”. Was it a tactic? No, not until queen lands on a4.

[@kylen6430]

Lol, and just as I finished, Kostya mentioned “elements”….so basically that

[@ATHFShakeZulah]

I'm much better at chess puzzles than play because I know there is a solution to every puzzle whereas not always midway through a game.

[@kdub1242]

I can't visualize more than zero moves ahead.

[@SheaMurtagh]

Great video, thank you. I only started playing timed chess (10mins) very recently. I thought that was a challenge until I saw guys playing one minute games! 🤯🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@ChessDojo]

Nice! Don't be afraid to take your time chess is not just about speed

[@Ninterd2]

If you do the whole look at every check, capture and threat every move, then B×c3 is an obvious win.

[@Ninterd2]

Ah, of course you said that in the video too haha

[@ChessDojo]

Yep! Many players eventually train themselves to do a "tactics check" every move

[@Ninterd2]

Question about tactics. Scenario: You're down a piece and you see a tactic where after a piece trade you win a pawn. Is that trade then worth it or is it just irrelevant as you're losing anyway?

[@ChessDojo]

Super dependent! If it trades off an active piece, might not be worth it. If you're in an endgame though, could get you closer to a draw

[@mrtbhdr]

i am not saying i am good with strategic play but my tactical vision is definitely below my strategic play. and if i start to look for tactics, i end up with a blunder 😬

[@AdmatHakodesh]

1... Bg4 2. h3 Bxf3 3. Nxf3 b3 4. Qb1 bxa2 5. Rxa2 Nb4 6. dxe5 is equal

[@elroyjacobs8126]

I bought that book on Chessable.

[@ChessDojo]

Haha the video's not really about the book but how do you like it?

[@elroyjacobs8126]

@@ChessDojo Great video. The book is awesome. My personal problem is that when I learn something new in chess I don't exactly know how to include it in my thinking process... Should I make a mind map and memorize the thought process??? I have a few books, a wealth of knowledge but putting it in my thought process is another story...

[@ChessDojo]

Takes time for it all to sink in! Sometimes even 3-6 months of work before one sees progress.

[@sami-h5y]

Which book

[@Khan_2025]

Thanks

[@joeshmo546]

*Cough* *Cough * woodpecker method

[@ChessDojo]

Ha ha, what about it?

[@joeshmo546]

It's the best way to improve tactical vision (in my opinion )

[@ChessDojo]

@@joeshmo546 It is good (not sure if you know but Kostya completed/streamed the whole thing) but the question was specifically about how to get better at spotting tactics *during* games :)

[@Jjhvh860]

Strategy requires thought, tactics require observation -Max Euwe. Ratings here kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ-9mqVtrt2soNU