I am just trying to rebuild some confidence in myself, after having tried the exercises from “the gym”!

The introduction says that the levels are as follows:

Beginner: you know the moves;
Intermediate: you are between 1200 and 1500;
Advanced: you are graded up to 2000.

Now, I would consider myself an advanced beginner; I have been doing tactics for quite some time now, and on tactics site like chesstempo.com I am rated about 1600 (which, of course, has nothing to do with an ELO rating, but it is still relatively good)

Here, after one session done at beginner level, I managed nothing more than a mere 55% success rate, which I consider really a poor result. I believe, though, that the positions are very tough, and I seriously doubt that somebody who “just knows the moves” can solve them! Just the fact that, this month, they are all coming from Petriosian’s games, gives an hint about the fact that they can’t be sooooo basic!

What is your experience?

Thanks in advance for any reply!

Andrea

Rather than start with this month's, why don't you have a go at the previous months' ones in the Tactical Archive? Also, have you tried the Novice ones yet? You will probably find them too easy, but they are all good practice.

? Rather than start with this month's, why don't you have a go at the
? previous months' ones in the Tactical Archive? Also, have you tried the
? Novice ones yet? You will probably find them too easy, but they are all
? good practice.

Thanks for your reply, Tony!
I did try the Novice ones indeed, thanks God I mastered them Will try the ones from the archives, though, hoping that this month was just a "special tough" month...

In my opinion the terms don't truly reflect the reality of the players: unless I'm utterly useless and I don't think that I am!

I am using Beginner in the Tactical archive and I defy any 'Beginner' to see a 5-6 move combination (sacrifice) of their Q to mate with only a B and a R when the opponent has 2 Qs on the board! Surely, that belongs in Intermediate at least? And, if so, what must Advanced be like?!!

I love the challenge though: I don't care if it's Beginner since that gives me a lot of practice opportunities!!

-----------------
? I am just trying to rebuild some confidence in myself, after having tried
? the exercises from “the gym”!
?
? The introduction says that the levels are as follows:
?
? >Beginner: you know the moves;
? >Intermediate: you are between 1200 and 1500;
? >Advanced: you are graded up to 2000.
?
? Now, I would consider myself an advanced beginner; I have been doing
? tactics for quite some time now, and on tactics site like chesstempo.com I
? am rated about 1600 (which, of course, has nothing to do with an ELO
? rating, but it is still relatively good)
?
? Here, after one session done at beginner level, I managed nothing more
? than a mere 55% success rate, which I consider really a poor result. I
? believe, though, that the positions are very tough, and I seriously doubt
? that somebody who “just knows the moves” can solve them! Just the fact
? that, this month, they are all coming from Petriosian’s games, gives an
? hint about the fact that they can’t be sooooo basic!
?
? What is your experience?
?
? Thanks in advance for any reply!
?
? Andrea

?
? I am using Beginner in the Tactical archive and I defy any 'Beginner' to
? see a 5-6 move combination (sacrifice) of their Q to mate with only a B
? and a R when the opponent has 2 Qs on the board! Surely, that belongs in
? Intermediate at least? And, if so, what must Advanced be like?!!
?
Which puzzle was that? I always have a quick flick through them, but the trouble is I tend to see the moves immediately anyway.
It is possible that the Beginners tactics have been more difficult recently, in which case I can ask that they be made easier next time?
Incidentally, to flip the board for Black tactics press the / key on the Numeric keyboard.