Carld wrote on 08/17/09 at 00:51:38:

In the CT-Art program, a lot of the positions have a combination for either side, depending whose move it is. After a while you get used to looking at the opponent's possibilities as well as your own. This is a bit simplistic because it tends to mean that only a sac-with-check will do, but it helps if (like me) you tend to forget that you have an opponent.

Prior to Training You Need Goals

Stages in the Process of Making Chess Goals

Stage One
Your goals should be driven by a systematic review and analysis of your games.

1.      Review your games. 
(The assumption here is that you are able to do this or have a strong player or computer do it for you.)
2.      Identify your needs.
3.      Identify your strengths.
4.      Establish priorities for your chess improvement goals.
(Some goals may have to be “shelved” for another year. You can’t expect to do everything at once. Be sure to keep your prioritized list of goals in a secure place as you will return to it in the future.)
5.      Categorize your chosen list of goals as short, medium, or long term. (Generally, you should have one long term goal, two or three medium term goals, and several short term goals. Short term goals can be attained in one month or a few months. Medium term goals can be attained in a within a year or two. Long term goals take several years to accomplish. After categorizing your goals as short, medium, or long term, establish the objectives for each goal to guide your progress towards attaining them. Your objectives should be sequential. Generally, you should have one long term goal that subsumes two or three medium term goals. Your short term goals should all lead you toward your medium term goals.) 

Stage Two
Goals must have a certain structure to be effective. That is:

i)      Be specific when writing down goals/objectives.
ii)      Make the goals/objectives measurable.
iii)      Make them realistic or attainable.
iv)      Make them result oriented.
v)      Commit yourself to finish the goal by the date established.
vi)      Establish an approach (Tables) that always enables you to monitor your progress.
vii)      Goals and objectives should always have clear indicators of whether or not you are making progress.
viii)      Establish what supporting materials or strategies you will need for each goal and objective. 

Stage Three
You need to have a record (Tables) of the components you’ve created for your goals so you can monitor and review your progress.
 
6.      Do not overburden yourself with too many short and medium term goals in one year. It is better to start with two or three medium term goals that you can be reasonably sure of completing in one to two years. 
7.      Before you start any goal make sure you have all the objectives for that goal written down and placed in a proper Table. This process enables you to easily review your objectives for each goal to keep you on track. See my Tables for examples of short, medium, and long term goals. 
8.      Before you start any goal make sure your strategy to carry out the objectives is clear to you and realistic.
9.      Double check to see that your short term goals lead to your medium term goals and that these all lead to your long term goal.
10.      Short term goals should get your immediate attention. They should always lead to completion of your medium term goals. 

Brief Examples of Chess Goals

Long Term Goal: To obtain a chess rating of ?, by competing in _? type_ chess events, by Month, Date, Year. 
Medium Term Goal: Starting Month, Date, Year, I will begin to build a complete Black repertoire that will give me one response to each reasonable White move to openings beginning with 1.d4 and 1.e4. This Black repertoire will be completed by Month, Date, Year. 
Short Term Goal : I will create an organized ?-day study schedule by Month, Date, Year. (In this schedule ?% of my time allotment will be dedicated to the construction of a defensive repertoire vs. 1.d4 and 1.e4)
     
Chess Diary

If you have a computer with a word processor record what you are doing on your road to chess improvement. Use it to talk to yourself and reflect on what you are doing – successes, failures, hopes, and worries. If you don’t have a computer and word processor; use paper.

Carld wrote on 08/16/09 at 23:40:42:


What you're doing now is good. A variation on your method is to take a "White to Play and Win" puzzle, set up the board, sit in Black's seat and then solve for White. This is a good way to get yourself thinking about your opponent's possibilities.