Go back
Tactics Only!

Tactics Only!

Only Chess

R

Edmonton, Alberta

Joined
25 Nov 04
Moves
2101
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

If there was a brand new beginner and you taught him how the pieces moved, and the rules so he knows how to play chess.

After that, you drill him with tactics, he has to puzzles everyday say 20 at least but more is better and then he can play some slow chess, 20min each or more, slow is better.

How strong do you think he would be?

You do not teach him endings, middlegame, openings, strategy nothing, no books, no sample games.


All you do is teach him how chess is played, and tactics then he can play and learn that way.

What rating do you think he would have?

g

Kalamazoo, MI

Joined
30 Dec 06
Moves
9215
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

He would be good at tactical puzzles. That is all. BTW, all of the puzzles would have to be pure compositions or he might gain opening knowledge through the positions he sees.

LordofADown
King of all Hills

Connecticut

Joined
02 Mar 05
Moves
38228
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

1600, he would whoop my rear

R

Edmonton, Alberta

Joined
25 Nov 04
Moves
2101
Clock
15 Jan 07
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by giantrobot
He would be good at tactical puzzles. That is all. BTW, all of the puzzles would have to be pure compositions or he might gain opening knowledge through the positions he sees.
Tactical puzzles as in the ones from books. If they are opening tactic puzzles in the book, to bad. They are still tactic puzzles.

You can learn how to checkmate through tactical puzzles.

I learnt a lot of different checkmates and better ways to mate by doing puzzles.


I think he would be pretty strong, 1600-1700.
I can't remember the last time I really went into a serious endgame. If you are up a piece or 2, trade down and eventually you will mate them.

It's all about that tactics I say. To bad we can't try this experiment 🙁

MR

Joined
19 Jun 06
Moves
847
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Hard to say, I guess it would depend on his natural tactical ability. For a no-talent beginner, I'd guess 600 to 800. An average to talented beginner, maybe 800 to 1200. And a beginner with world class talent, maybe 1200 to 1400 to begin with.

I'd also guess that he'd win more games in the middlegame, and lose more in the opening and ending.

Keep in mind this is just a wild guess, nothing to back it up with. So take it with a grain of salt.

z

127.0.0.1

Joined
27 Oct 05
Moves
158564
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Does tactics include basic mates or does he have to figure those out on his own?

g

Kalamazoo, MI

Joined
30 Dec 06
Moves
9215
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by RahimK
Tactical puzzles as in the ones from books. If they are opening tactic puzzles in the book, to bad. They are still tactic puzzles.

You can learn how to checkmate through tactical puzzles.

I learnt a lot of different checkmates and better ways to mate by doing puzzles.


I think he would be pretty strong, 1600-1700.
I can't remember the last time I r ...[text shortened]... will mate them.

It's all about that tactics I say. To bad we can't try this experiment 🙁
Are you talking about fake internet ratings or USCF/CFC/FIDE ratings? If you're talking about internet ratings then he would be anywhere from 27-24566 on yahoo. If you're talking about in real tournament competition I would say he might make 1000 USCF playing kids.

R

Edmonton, Alberta

Joined
25 Nov 04
Moves
2101
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by zebano
Does tactics include basic mates or does he have to figure those out on his own?
On his own.

Say you have a kid, and you teach him how all the pieces move and then the rules, castling, check etc...

So know he know how to play chess.

You don't tell him to put rooks on open files, basic checkmates nothing.

Pretend you lock him up in a room with only a tactics book and if he needs help with the tactics you can show him.

Then everyday you play a game vs him with a slow timer or you let him play someone else. You do not discuss the game after.

So all he know is how the game is played, and tactics. If he learn middlegames and strategy from the tactics then fine.

I think in a year or so, he would be at least 1500 but probably more. It doesn't take a genuis to figure out that rooks belong on open files, how to mate etc...

R

Edmonton, Alberta

Joined
25 Nov 04
Moves
2101
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by giantrobot
Are you talking about fake internet ratings or USCF/CFC/FIDE ratings? If you're talking about internet ratings then he would be anywhere from 27-24566 on yahoo. If you're talking about in real tournament competition I would say he might make 1000 USCF playing kids.
1000 only? No way!

There are little kids who barely know how to play and they are at 1200 already, 4-5 year olds.

g

Kalamazoo, MI

Joined
30 Dec 06
Moves
9215
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by RahimK
1000 only? No way!

There are little kids who barely know how to play and they are at 1200 already, 4-5 year olds.
Where? Are you talking CFC or what?

R

Edmonton, Alberta

Joined
25 Nov 04
Moves
2101
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by giantrobot
Where? Are you talking CFC or what?
Uscf, CFC, Fide whatever...

Anyone playing chess for 1 year, just playing should be able to get to 1200 but if you study tactics on top of that, well WOW!

g

Kalamazoo, MI

Joined
30 Dec 06
Moves
9215
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by RahimK
Uscf, CFC, Fide whatever...

Anyone playing chess for 1 year, just playing should be able to get to 1200 but if you study tactics on top of that, well WOW!
So now it's a year?? You're an engineering student. Figure out the parameters of your experiment then get back to us. First it's tactics in a vacuum. Then it's 'whatever he happens to pick up'. Then it's after playing for a year.

I was talking about starting out, tactics in a vacuum.

R

Edmonton, Alberta

Joined
25 Nov 04
Moves
2101
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by giantrobot
So now it's a year?? You're an engineering student. Figure out the parameters of your experiment then get back to us. First it's tactics in a vacuum. Then it's 'whatever he happens to pick up'. Then it's after playing for a year.

I was talking about starting out, tactics in a vacuum.
Haha, Well several months to a year. Of course if you just start you can't be at 1000 already.

Tactics and vacuum yes, but some tactics are about mates also. So you can learn checkmates from tactics. You can learn a bit about openings and middlegames from tactics also.


Anyone got a new born who wants to learn chess? 🙂

g

Kalamazoo, MI

Joined
30 Dec 06
Moves
9215
Clock
15 Jan 07
Vote Up
Vote Down

Eventually they will pick up other things. When they lose, they will lose badly, however. You're also assuming that the person in question will have abilities at calculation.

No plans. No endgames. Sorry, sounds boring IMO.

Y

Joined
29 Jul 06
Moves
2414
Clock
15 Jan 07
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

with just tactics he will fail miserably...

if you can't play positional chess and utilize imbalances, then you'll lose to anyone short of a monkey.

and of course, he'll lose every endgame

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.