help with puzzles (<1000 rated puzzles)

So in this blog I'll go over some key things to know when trying to get to 1000 in puzzles, common mating patterns, and some example problems. Now, most people reading this are already above 1000, but for the people who aren't, I hope this blog helps you. So let's go over some key things to help you reach 1000.

• Analyze the position. Take a good look at where all the pieces are and what role they play in the game. 
  
  • • Look at the king's safety. How well is it protected? Is it out in the open with no pieces near it, or is it on the back rank, protected by three pawns.
    • Look at all the pieces. Even the pawns. See if you can start an attack with a piece. Usually with puzzles rated under 1000, the main attacking piece is the queen or the rook. 
• Remember the checklist. Checks, Captures, and Attacks.
  
  • Find all of your checks. Are any of them good? If so, then try to find a continuation (the move or moves after). Try to predict one move ahead. For example: If I play Nf6+, after Kh8, I can play (insert winning move here).
  • If you have no checks, find all of the captures. Evaluate each capture and how it affects the position. Does it improve your position or does it worsen it? If the answer is worsening your position, then simply don't play the move. If it does, try to find a continuation.
  • If you have no checks nor captures(which is pretty unlikely at puzzles below 1000), find all the attacks. Try to attack a piece of great value, like the queen or the rook. If it's just a one move attack where the piece you're attacking can simply slide away to safety, t's not the move. 

Ok now that you're following these tips while solving puzzles (hopefully), here are some common mating patterns from puzzles below 1000.

Back Rank Checkmate

v2.

v3.

v3 2.0

Battery Mate

v2

v3

The Fork

Smothered Mate

**VERY RARE MODE***

You'll see this puzzle above (not the exact one) in the 1200~1600 range. Pretty unlikely that it'd be under 1000.

Now let's go over some puzzles together shall we?

Look at the position above. Black is down a knight, so I think this involves either checkmate or winning a piece. Let's go over all the checks. 

1. Nf3+. This move just loses on the spot because white can just simply take the free knight. After gxf3, Qxf3, White's king is pretty safe, while Black's king hasn't castled yet, is pretty underdeveloped, and is just down two knights instead of one.
2. Qxf2+. ... This just loses a queen for nothing. There is no good continuation after this horrendous move.
3. Ne2+. You're wondering why this isn't mate. It's because the queen defends it. After Ne2+, Qxe2, black is down 2 knights for nothing and has very little conunterplay.

Now, let's look at all the captures.

The only three captures that black has is Qxc4, Nxc2, and Qxf2+. We already know that Qxf2+ doesn't work, so let's move on to the other two captures

Qxc4 removes the defender of the e2 square, which the knight wants to go because then it'll be mate. Seems good.

Nxc2 just loses a knight for nothing. Simple as that. No counterplay whatsoever after that move nor any good continuations..

So let's play Qxc4.

Awesome! Now we can deliver the finishing blow with Ne2#!

Now we'll go over one more

Now it's your turn to think. I'll list all the checks that white has. Decide what should be white's first move.

Checks

1. Rg8+
2. Bxe5+
3. Ng6+

If you said Bxe5+, good job! Although the rook is under attack, white can play a check before moving the rook.

Now what? Black just played f6 and now the attack is stopped. Or is it..? There is still a check that white can play that wins the game. I'll list the checks again here.

1. Rg8+
2. Ng6+
3. Bxf6+
4. there aren't any good checks you're tricking me : |

If you picked the fourth answer, no i'm not tricking you :l. 

If you picked Bxf6+, very nice!! It's the only move that wins! After Rxf6, the rook removes the defender of the g8 square, which the white rook and knight both team up on. Rg8 is checkmate!

Now if you're wondering why Rg8+ doesn't work i'll show it here

and that's the end of this blog

For the people reading this who are under 1000, I hope this blog helped. I'm kinda reluctant about offering help in puzzles through messages because I worry that I might post the wrong/incorrect answer. But I'm just gonna give it a shot in this blog. If there's anything that you think I should improve in this blog please tell me because this took like 3 hours to type. If you have any success in puzzles after reading this blog feel free to tell me because then I'd know that writing this actually helped someone, which is SO COOL!!

And if you're over 1000, I'll try to make blogs directing at your rating soon (hopefully) :]

see ya