The OG Puzzle Solving Strategy

Hello! Welcome to a runinja post ( mistakemaster2024 now! ), and today we will be talking about the OG way to solve puzzles! As you know there are many different ways however we will be talking about a versatile method.

 Checks, Captures, Threats!

Oh ya! The OG method for any puzzle solving! The nice thing about this method is that it will work for most puzzles! The way this simple method works is based on a hierarchy canidate moves method. Canidate moves are whenever in a position you think of some moves (canidates). These moves are usually logical or intuitive and are the main moves you consider. Usually if you're just taking canidate moves you start calculating each one. However this method will help you prioritize your moves. 

To start this method you start by looking at all the checks in the position. If there are mutliple checks in the position try to eliminate some unusual or too crazy moves. When you find a check this is one of your canidate moves! You start by looking at checks first because they are the most forcing move in the game. However if there are no checks you move to captures (the next most forcing move)! If they're no captures you can move to the final level. Threats. Threats are moves where you move a piece to maybe just attack something or threaten. Not the most forcing, but you're already running out of moves! Once you get two or three good canidates you can start calculating! 

Let's start simple:

Here we can start with: 

Checks: Bg6+, Qh5+ 

Captures: Bxh7 

Threats: Qg4 ( threatening Bg6 ) 

We start by calculating the most forcing moves (checks)! Bg6+ will not work as there is just hxg6 and we just lose a piece. However Qh5+ so far seems it is working, because nothing can capture it! Continuing with Qh5+ Black can play g6. Here we can start our strategy again by looking at checks. Again we have Bxg6+ and Qxg6+. Actually both of them work as Qxg6+ hxg6 Bxg6#! and if Bxg6+ hxg6 Qxg6#! 

This method is very efficient and you use it almost always in your games and throughout your chess career! Practicing your canidate moves will also help in general in every part of the game. In general canidate moves will shape your whole thinking of chess! Thx for taking time in reading my blog and make sure to remember canidate moves!