The Best Vitamin Supplements for Tactical Players

Before diving in, I want to point out tactics come from good positional play. I heavily emphasized in my last blog post that all players are positional; there are always chess players who love to split it between the two. I have not met one chess player above 1800 Elo who does not understand the game strongly. 

With that said, there are tendencies that chess players have that are more prominent than the others. And yes, you could say that a chess player has a more tactical tendency than a positional one. For example, Hikaru Nakamura has a more tactical chess style. He loves finding cheap shots when he is losing badly. He muddies the waters in the losing position to create an imbalance and, hopefully, a comeback. I have seen him do this many times in blitz games on chess.com. 

If you take a more tactical approach to chess and want to improve your game slightly, this post is for you. I will discuss the best vitamins to aid your playing style, some tips, and books I recommend. 

What Constitutes a Tactical Playing Style?

Chess Tactics vs. strategy can be challenging to assess at times. While one may have similar strengths in both areas of the game, tactics training in chess is a good benchmark to see whether a player has a strong knack for it. 

Also, the primary opening choice should be accounted for when assessing your player type. Do you play the Italian Opening, Spanish, or even Scotch Opening? Maybe you play the Dutch opening for black as one of your main lines. 

Another indicator of this aggressive style could be the middle gameplay. Are you a more reserved, maneuvering type of player in the Reti Opening? Or do you want to pawn storm the opponent and deliver checkmate to the Sicilian Hyperaccelterated Dragon? I'm not too fond of these types of players, to be honest. 

The last and final indication, I would say, would probably be a favorite player at the Super GM level. If you are a chess fan, you probably hear about the top 30 players in the world often and follow them weekly. Tactical players such as Maxime Vachier Lagrave, Nakamura, So, Neponmiatchi, Gukesh, and Aronian are probably your favorite players. Or you just like watching big chess names on the screen and don't care who's playing as long as it's a household name. 

Why Tactical Players Should Take Supplements

I want to point out that all chess players should take supplements, not just those with a greater tactical tendency. That said, there are many reasons why chess players should take vitamins. 

My first reason, though, is universal. Regardless of playing style, most players, especially those who take the game seriously, tend to gain weight. Long chess hours and studying can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which may be the reason for the added pounds. And this is not an insult; it's just a fact. I forget to exercise sometimes after a good round of chess, but hey, if you are active and have a good routine, then the best supplements for weight loss might not be for you. 

Secondly, as a tactician, chess may be somewhat stressful. In crucial game moments, cortisol levels may rise, and heart rates shoot up. I know this personally and on the web. Armagaeddeon-style games with both GMs under heavy time pressure usually have a heart rate monitor next to them. I had witnessed with my own eyes that all of the players in the tournament spiked when they got low on time, up to 200 beats a minute.

Lastly, they can increase focus and self-control. I speculate that people who score well in tactics always try to find the "hidden move" every time. I usually cannot see tactics that often, and on a 100-point scale, I probably would rate my tactics at an 83. But besides the point, tacticians love trying to find the killer blow, and supplements for concentration can improve ELO by around 50-100 points. 

The Best Supplements to Lower Cortisol

The best supplements to reduce cortisol will probably be magnesium or Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is an herb naturally occurring in Asia and Africa. It is well known to reduce inflammation, improve feelings of stress, and help manage mood. Magnesium helps regulate brain function, lowers blood pressure, and helps concentration.

Rhodiola is also a good option. It is considered an adaptogen and has effects similar to those of Ashwagandha. I have never taken it, just the first two listed above, but it should do the same trick in reducing fatigue. 

The long-term effects of stress are real when playing chess, so I recommend controlling those feelings. Some people will decline that they have moments of anxiety- but the heart rate says otherwise. Try and see for yourself and play with a monitor beside you. 

And there shouldn't be any significant side effects when taking these supplements. Unless you overdose or have any underlying medical conditions, always consult a physician before taking any supplement. Always follow the label instructions and take as recommended. 

Improving Memory and Concentration

The best gummy vitamins, B and E, can help improve concentration and recall. Make sure to find good-tasting vitamins, so they don't chew like rubber.

Vitamin E combats free radicals in the brain, protecting the cells needed to fire neurons at an optimal rate. These vitamins can help master long theory lines, such as the Botvinnik semi-slav.

Caffeine from coffee or energy drinks can help boost your chess in the short term. However, it is good to take it sparingly since they have harmful side effects in the long term.

Can it Improve my Elo Rating?

Taking supplements has boosted my Elo rating by 25 to 75 points. Sure, it may seem insignificant, but I have seen slight improvement. I feel peace playing and never tilt after a row of losses. I find myself focused and ready for cheap shots whenever I play. 

Chess improvement can be challenging at times. The best supplements might help you escape the rating barrier, as mid-ladder players love to call it. 

Check out my profile, chesscats82, on chess.com. I haven't played in a while since I'm always working on our blogs, but my passion for chess is still the same, and I would be happy to add you back as a friend!

Recommended Books for Tactical Chess

I loved Alexander Kotov's Think Like a Grandmaster and Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics. Also, Lazlo Polgar's 5334 Puzzles helped Judit Polgar during her grandmaster stint, beating 11 world champions. I have never consumed the material, but I have heard from other chess players that it tremendously boosted their ratings. It takes time to read these materials, but you should have the fundamentals down by then.

A significant difference exists between using tactic trainers and working on them out of a book. You get a specific feel when working on the game. However, a free tactic trainer should do right if you are an online player. 

Chess for Zebras by Jonathan Rowson is more of an optional book that can help improve positional play, but it can help your chess overall. 

Chess Tips and Tricks

Over the years, I have milked out tons of excellent ideas from the books I've read and some tactical ideas to use in your games. 

Knight on F5

I love the knight piece. The great Garry Kasparov used it in devastating combinations in most games. There was something specific, however, that he mentioned about a knight on f5, f4 for black. 

A knight on f5 is worth four pawns in many chess books. Almost always, old masters use this trick for devastating combinations. However, you must bring all the pieces to the party to make this trick work. You cannot just send it alone; it will not maximize its potential. Consider getting an army with you as well. 

That is why in the blitz games of Hikaru Nakamura, you can almost see a weird knight on h4 that is on the rim. Beginners are taught that the "knight on the rim is dim" and that the scope of the knight is less. However, the sole purpose of that move was to the knight on f5, or, as Ben Finegold would say, "knife f5."

Displaced Defenders

When you see that the opponents' pieces are all on the queen's side and there are no defenders on the king's side, consider subtly bringing the whole army to the right. If the king is weak and has holes in the form of weak squares and just pawns as defenders, you must attack!

In Steinitz's theory, a temporary advantage occurs when the opponent's pieces are not in play. The one with the advantage must press forward, or the advantage will disappear.

Just to close, we don't use AI in any of our blogs. I am a firm believer in human-written content and originality. 

That's all for today! Subscribe for Updates!