BAD AT TACTICS? Do this! Chess Lesson # 146

In Chess, we often hear players say "I'm good at solving tactical puzzles, but in a real game there is nobody to tell me when there is a tactic". Tactics is the most important area we should master if we want to become a strong Chess player! However, it could be difficult for many of us to sharpen our tactical skills, and as a consequence, we continue to miss tactics in our games even though we seem to do well during our tactics training. That's why in this video you will learn a secret I use with my students. Hope you like it!

We finally have a strong and well organized opening course for White and one for Black. With these and the FREE beginner to master level playlist from this YouTube channel, it’s all about consistency over an extended period of time 😎💪 ⬇️

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Benefits of Playing Chess:
​- Promotes brain growth
- Increases problem-solving skills
- It exercises both sides of the brain
- Raises your IQ
- Sparks your creativity
- Teaches planning and foresight
- Teaches patience and concentration
- Optimizes memory improvement
- Improves recovery from stroke or disability
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Chess is an intellectual battle where players are exposed to numerous mental processes such as analysis, attention to detail, synthesis, concentration, planning and foresight. Psychological factors are also present on and off the board; playing Chess stimulates our imagination and creativity. Every single move a player makes is the result of a deep analysis based on the elements presented on the battlefield.

Chess in its essence teaches us psychological, sociological and even moral values. In a Chess game, both players start with the same amount of material and time. The fact that the white pieces move first is considered to be practically irrelevant —especially because a player typically plays one game as white and one game as black. Consequently, the final result of the battle solely depends on each player. It doesn’t matter if you win by taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes or by simply avoiding mistakes yourself. Truth is that Chess is an extremely individual sport and our defeats can only be blamed on ourselves and no one else. And this, in the end, only benefits us because we learn to be and feel responsible for our actions and never come up with excuses to justify ourselves.

We also learn that when it comes to our victories on the board, our opponent's mistakes play a more significant role than our own skills. Let’s not forget that a Chess game without any mistakes would be a draw. This way, Chess provides us with another valuable life lesson: be humble at all times.

About National Master Robert Ramirez:

With an outstanding background as a professional Chess player and over 8 years of teaching experience, Robert Ramirez brings both his passion and his expertise to the board, helping you believe & achieve!

Robert Ramirez was introduced to the fascinating world of Chess when he was 5 years old and has participated in prestigious tournaments such as the World Open Chess Tournament and the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Championships. Thanks to his performance, he has earned his National Master title from the United States Chess Federation.

Currently, NM Ramirez and his carefully selected team teach at several private schools in the counties of Miami-Dade and Broward and they also offer private lessons. He says the key to their success as Chess coaches is their ability to adapt to every student and to make lessons fun and interesting for students and even their family members.

[NMRobertRamirez]

We finally have a strong and well organized opening course for White and one for Black. With these and the FREE beginner to master level playlist from this YouTube channel, it’s all about consistency over an extended period of time 😎💪 ⬇

[jonaorsth]

Homework1:
Nxe5+ Kh8 Nf7+ Kg8 Nd8+ Kh8
Re8+ Rxe8 Nf7+ Kg8 Nh6+ Kh8 Qg8+ Rxg8 Nf7#

Homework2:
Qxa8 Qxa8 Rb8+ Qxb8(Nxb8 Bc3#) Bc3+ Qe5 Bxe5#

Idk if the line I saw in homework 2 is the best (what if Qxa8 black doesn't take back) but should be enough to win. Thanks for these beautiful tactics, they're quite tough for me as a 1500.

[ClarinetEnthusiast]

This video made me think of another video that I’d think would be really cool. One thing most beginners and even advanced players struggle with in the opening is refuting weird/dumb/non theoretical moves. The feeling that you know the move is not theory and probably really bad but you don’t know how to punish it is pretty devastating and could really bring one’s morale down (I’ve felt this a lot) it also sucks when you don’t punish the inaccuracies, they get a position they never should have gotten, and guess what, you’re losing. I think a video like that would be really cool if there isn’t one like that already. Again, great video, i think one thing that really helped with tactics is the “checklist” are there any checks? No. Are there any captures? No. Are there any attacks? No. Play a solid natural move, but before you do, can they check you? No. Can they capture anything? No. Can they create a strong attack/threat? No. Ok, play the move.

[NMRobertRamirez]

Okay guys! Here are the answers to the HW exercises. Please, let me know if you were at least close 😉 Also, hit the 👍 button as if it would add 300 point to your Chess strength 😅





# 1) 1. Nxe5+, Kh8 (1..., Kf8 2.Qf7#) 2. Nf7+, Kg8 3. Nd8+, Kh8 4. Re8+, Rxe8 5. Nf7, Kg8 6. Nh6+, Kh8 7. Qg8+, Rxg8 8. Nf7#

# 2) 1. Rb8+, Rxb8 (1..., Qb8 2.Bc3+) 2.Bc3+, Qg7 3.Qg8+, Rxg8 4. Nf7#

[IamMarc]

There's a great book; Tune Your Chess Tactics Antenna by FM Emmanuel Neiman, that is based around identifying these "signals" so your brain can spot tactics in games. Your video demonstrates this perfectly, thank you.

[rubberman]

Nice theme and puzzles. Today I saw you doing a livestream with puzzles and some chess games at the end. Good stuff. Thanks and wish you the best.

[firstlast-frle]

holy crap... im only 30 seconds in and paused the video but it seems as if it was made for me so far.... loving it and needing it so much.

[desmundreid]

This video was extremely useful. Some of your previous videos are helping me analyze deeper already and this is gonna help too. Definitely looking forward to applying the lessons live. Thank you Coach! 👊🏽

[budcat]

Take away is the stepping stone method for calculating moves. Also Knowing that a thing is possible and seeing the patterns as you work your students to the solution is key. Finding those patterns during a game under time pressure… well that is golden. Manipulation of the game to end up with the patterns on the board as you do is next level.

[whycantiremainanonymous]

8:55: No problem to look for tactics in this position. It's either this or you get checkmated in one move 😃

[fredbanon]

Definitely useful ! Looking forward to discovering the stepping-stone method 👍🇨🇵

[internet-gangsta]

I'm amazed at how well this worked after your explanations 💯 nice

[mirokokenov]

Great video again! The first homework position was fairly simple +- 1, 2 moves to get to checkmate but the I would have never found this #4

[BETYOUNEVERKNEW-xj]

I am bad at tactics but part of the problem is that I am playing 5/3 Blitz all the time. Just too busy with my family, not enough time to think and not able to keep it going for long periods. Cant seem to get to that 2000 rating.

[random-]

In fact, I like to verbalize internally what is going on the game, so I get a better understunding of the position and its less likely that I miss something.

[loc]

I sure showed you Coach! You said I wouldn't do it but I did! And I'm 37 yrs old!

The speaking through it is strange, feels right but might be annoying to my coworkers when I have a break. ;)

[TheMichiganFishHunter]

Thanks for the video Robert. Great information.

[lesegolukas]

Why every time when you say you are going to leave us with a homework you start laughing 😂 😂lmao

[jaypark]

Thanks for the video. Can you make a lazy catalan video in the future? I've been experimenting with openings and I want to learn the lazy catalan. :D

[astheticrose]

I needed this for tournament next Sunday