Chess: tactic, tactics, tactics (no, really)

My previous post outlined the new all pervading philosophy in our house: tactics as the bedrock of chess improvement and I've been following it arduously in the last few months. Well, as arduously as I do anything. The upside is that I've won or drawn my last seven games (four wins and three draws), which is my equivalent of the Invincibles, while playing a selection of players stronger than me (and a few lower graded ones too). As well as playing above my grade, which is the general idea, I've noticed that in a couple games where I've been decidedly worse from the opening, and in two cases material down, my improved ability to spot tactical combinations has enabled me to get back in the game. Much more than the execution of a combination (which rarely happens), what is important is the threat of a tactical motif such as a knight fork which prevents your opponent from a straightforward capture. In my last game the fact that his e pawn was pinned against his queen at the end of a series of exchanges, meant that he was unable to capture my rook on d4 and I emerged slightly better.