A Guide to Tactics and Strategy: Elevate Your Chess to a 2000+ ELO | Chess for Kids

How to Sharpen Your Chess Tactics and Strategy: Steps to Elevate to 2000+ ELO

1. A Strategic Plan to Study Chess: Your Roadmap from 1500 to 2000+ ELO
2. A Strategic Plan to Study Chess: Expanded Edition with PGNs, Tools, and Resources
3. Deep Dive into the Opening Phase: A Specialized Roadmap to 2000+ ELO
4. Mastering the Middlegame: Your Guide to a 2000+ ELO
5. Conquering the Endgame: A Comprehensive Guide
6. A Guide to Tactics and Strategy: Elevate Your Game
7. Other Aspects of the Game

 Introduction

Tactics and strategy are the two main driving forces in a chess game. While tactics focus on short-term actions, strategy looks at the broader plan. This guide will help you develop both these skills, a crucial advancement for those aiming to achieve a 2000+ ELO rating.

Tactics: The Short-Term Battle

Step 1: Master the Basics

Before diving into advanced tactics, familiarize yourself with basic motifs like forks, skewers, pins, and discoveries.

Book Reference

• "Winning Chess Tactics" by Yasser Seirawan

Tools

• Chess.com's Tactics Trainer
• Chess Tempo for custom tactical sets

Step 2: Pattern Recognition

Train your mind to identify tactical opportunities as they arise during games.

Book Reference

• "Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games" by László Polgár

Tools

• Lichess' Puzzle Rush
• Anki flashcards with tactical positions

Step 3: Tactical Calculation

Sharpen your calculation skills to better visualize sequences.

Book Reference

• "Perfect Your Chess" by Andrei Volokitin and Vladimir Grabinsky

Tools

• Calculation exercises in ChessBase
• Lichess' Puzzle Storm

Step 4: Application in Games

Regularly play games with the intention to apply your tactical skills, and analyze them afterward.

Tools

• Online platforms like Chess.com or Lichess.org
• Stockfish or other engines for post-game analysis

Strategy: The Long-Term War

Step 1: Understand Strategic Elements

Master the basics of pawn structures, open files, weak squares, and good/bad bishops.

Book Reference

• "My System" by Aaron Nimzowitsch

Tools

• ChessBase annotated games with a focus on strategy

Step 2: Positional Evaluation

Learn how to evaluate positions and identify strategic goals.

Book Reference

• "Chess Strategy for Club Players" by Herman Grooten

Tools

• Interactive lessons on Chess.com
• Chess Position Trainer for specific positional drills

Step 3: Master the Art of Planning

Understand how to create effective game plans based on the strategic demands of the position.

Book Reference

• "How to Reassess Your Chess" by Jeremy Silman

Tools

• The Lucas Chess program with strategic exercises
• Annotated grandmaster games focusing on planning

Step 4: Implement Strategy in Games

Apply strategic principles in your games and analyze the effectiveness of your plans afterward.

Tools

• Chess.com's or Lichess.org's game analysis features
• Consulting with higher-rated players or coaches

Bridging Tactics and Strategy

Step 1: Integrate Tactical and Strategic Thinking

Learn how to make your tactics serve strategic goals and vice versa.

Book Reference

• "Judgment and Planning in Chess" by Max Euwe

Step 2: Review and Refinement

Continually review both your tactical and strategic play to identify areas for improvement.

Tools

• Keeping a chess journal
• Online databases to track your performance

Conclusion

Understanding the interplay between tactics and strategy is crucial for ascending the ranks of the chess world. This guide offers a roadmap to elevate both your tactical flair and strategic depth. Follow these steps diligently, supplement them with your personal experiences, and a 2000+ ELO rating will be within your grasp.