First method is preferred, but sometimes people try the second one on difficult puzzles they can't calculate to the end. The first is better for calculation as well.
Puzzles, how to solve them ?
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Puzzles101 :
1. Look at the pieces on the board, including pawn structures (islands/isolated/passed). This will tell you if an exchange of pieces will be advantageous or not.
2. Look at opponents direct threats, especially mate. Allow for these when considering your candidate moves.
3. Look at ALL possible checks you can make, including ones that seem on the face of it to be losing...eg Q sacrifice.
4 Only then think about candidate moves based on either aiming for checkmate or simply winning a piece. Look for opponent's pieces that are undefended/overworked.
The daily puzzles here are good but tend to centre around checkmate too much. Try chess tactics on chesstempo dot com
Hi.
I've always been skeptical of the usefulness of puzzles, and the disparity between my puzzle and game ratings would prove it. However, I read that almost all experts value puzzle-solving as a tool for improvement. So I asked myself, maybe I don't solve them in the most effective way, which is reflected positively in game skills.
There are two ways to solve the puzzles:
- The first is the one I most always follow, i.e. try to find the complete solution before moving. It's what I also do in the game ( I always try to calculate everything I can before risking a move ).
- The second is to identify what seems to be the best move, then play it, and move forward, from move to move. Easier, but this method relies heavily on first-move intuition, not on calculation.
What is the most effective way ?
Tahnk you
( P.S. : In any case, useful or not, I will continue to solve puzzles because as I have said on various occasions I really like it. )