🧩 How to Solve Puzzles on Chess.com Like a Pro

 Hey chess friends!

If you've ever gotten stuck staring at a puzzle on Chess.com wondering, “What am I missing?”—you’re not alone. Solving puzzles is one of the best ways to improve at chess, but it’s not just about finding flashy moves. It’s about training your brain to think like a chess player.

Here’s how to get better at solving puzzles—and how to use Chess.com’s tools to boost your tactics.

 
🧠 Step 1: Think Before You Move
When you open a puzzle, don’t rush. Ask yourself:

What changed? Look at the position carefully. Was there a recent capture or a weakness that appeared?
What is the opponent threatening? Solving puzzles often involves stopping your opponent’s plan and launching your own.
What are the forcing moves? Consider checks, captures, and threats first. These usually lead to the solution.
 
🔍 Step 2: Look for Patterns
Most puzzles are based on tactical patterns. Here are a few to always keep in mind:

Pins
Forks
Skewers
Discovered attacks
Back rank mates
Sacrifices to break defense
Seeing these patterns repeatedly in puzzles will help you recognize them faster in real games.

 
💡 Step 3: Calculate, Don’t Guess
Before making a move, calculate a few moves ahead. Ask:

What happens after I make this move?
Can my opponent defend or counter?
Is it just a trade, or do I win material or checkmate?
Guessing might work in low-rated puzzles, but calculation is what really builds skill.

 
🧪 Step 4: Learn From Mistakes
One of the best features of Chess.com puzzles is the feedback. If you get a puzzle wrong:

Use the “Show Solution” button.
Click “Retry” to try again without hints.
Read the computer’s move explanations if available.
Try to understand why your move didn’t work. Did you miss a defensive resource or a better move?

 
🔁 Step 5: Practice Regularly
Set a daily puzzle goal:

3–5 puzzles per day for casual improvement.
10+ puzzles per day if you’re grinding for rating or serious improvement.
Use Puzzle Rush or Puzzle Battle for fun, fast-paced training—but follow it up with slower, deeper analysis too.

 
🏁 Final Thoughts
Solving puzzles is like lifting weights for your chess brain. The more you practice correctly, the sharper your calculation, pattern recognition, and tactical vision become.

If you have favorite tactics or puzzle tips, drop them in the comments—I’d love to learn from you too.

Now get solving. Your next brilliant move is just one puzzle away. ♟️

Reading this blog only won't make you a great puzzle solver, tactical player or what not. 

The Main Key is to PRACTICE.

 If you want to practice then you can try to test your skills and solve this puzzle: