Tactics Question

Usually a forcible win of material or forced mate, but sometimes a tactic simply makes your opponent's position untenable

At your level, you'll be looking for hanging pieces and pawns, forks with any of your pieces which is where you threaten two opponent pieces at once such as your knight threatening your opponent's queen and rook simultaneously, things like that

Okay. I think I got it, now.

So basically, the most efficient play is the right play?

MavThePilot, yup that is basically it. When you get to higher rated tactics though there may be multiple, equally winning, moves - in this case pick the one you believe is better. In this situation, if your answer is equally winning then you can try again until you find the "answer" but you won't lose points by the first move. When a tactic is incorrect, you know that circle-ish arrow in red? The icon is in yellow for the situation I am describing, but this is a rare scenario - usually the "correct" answer is clearly better once seen. If you still do not understand it, the analysis button will show the extended lines after the tactic (just make sure to check it before proceeding to the next tactic). Forks, pins, skewers and the like are probably what to look for when starting out; as the tactics get harder, the answers will more often be combinations, or winning positions/patterns. Hope this helps

Most tactics problems result in your being at least 3 Pawn equivalents better than your opponent in material, compared to before, or result in mate or a position where mate is unavoidable.

If you find a solution that brings you from, say, a bishop down to equality, that's NOT going to be the right answer.

The goal of each tactic is to result in a combination that wins material or mate.  Two good interactive tactics pages are here:

https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-tactics--definitions-and-examples

https://chesstempo.com/tactical-motifs.html

Thanks a lot Mickin! I appreciate it, a lot.