Building combinations by threats

 The tempo battle is the most overlooked part of the chess literature. A combination exists of standard scenarios that are stitched together by threats. A threat provides you the time to do whatever you want while keeping the opponent busy.

Since May 5th I'm working on my problem set of 1430 puzzles. I use the Trick in order to get the job done. I noticed that my opponents start to blunder more.

I noticed that back in 2004 too, when I had my first rating boost of 250 points. My opponents began to play worse. I had not the feeling that I was playing better.

Nowadays, opponents rated 100 to 400 points higher are blundering pieces against me. That doesn't mean that my rating will boost immediately again, but it feels like a beginning.

There are two serious holes in my bucket that I'm not working on currently, endgames and positional play. Since I manage to screw up games where I'm a piece ahead or two pawns, there is still work to do in that area. But I'm not worried about that. I know exactly now how to plug these holes. It is only a matter of time. But for now I just focus on tactics and perfectioning the Trick. At least until my next tournament in december I will be focusing on the 1430 database only. On tactics and mates. After the tournament I will evaluate how to continue.

About 2% of the problem set is too complex to learn anything from. So I put them on halt for the moment. Currently, that is a waste of time.

At the same time, I notice certain problems of which I have the feeling "these should be simple". But for my mind, they are not. And I don't know why. When I have problems with these problems, maybe my opponents have too. It is worth trying to fix this.

Take for instance the following position. I have the feeling that I have presented this position before, but that will happen on a regular basis, I suppose. Until I solve my problems with it.

White to move

1r2r3/p5pp/2nk4/1R1pp3/P2P4/2P3B1/3K2PP/4R3 w - - 0 1

#258. Warmerdam, Max vs. Elgersma, Simon

Chessable course 1001 Chess Exercises For Club Players

I can calculate this position, but I have trouble to see what is happening

GM Warmerdam played 27.Rxb8? in the game so at least I'm in good company.

•  27.Rxe5! it sacrifices the exchange, but it adds a discovered attack to the combination. All of a sudden, Rb8 has become a defender of Re8. Furthermore, since the diagonal g3-b8 is now cleared, there is a skewer added to the position.

Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh on myself. If  Warmerdam doesn't see it, why must I be able to see it?

The problem is, that even after a few days I don't SEE it. On the other hand, if I could learn to see it, it would be a mighty weapon. I will repeat and fiddle until I do see it.