Tactics Thought Process

Being one of many chess players who are absolutely atrocious at tactics (does anyone know of a good resource with a level difficulty setting?), I'm curious to know the thought process a higher level player has when a puzzle pops up. Would anyone care to comment their steps in solving a puzzle?

White to move and win.

Before I even saw the whole board, I'm calculating Qf7-h7 mate, so... my thought process isn't so useful.

But I can give you tips anyway, because I remember what used to help when I was new (and how I try to solve puzzles that are hard for me).

1) Count the material for both sides.
This can give you clues. For example if you're down a few pawns, then you know you're looking for winning big material, like a rook or queen. If you're starting out down a lot of material, then you know you're looking for checkmate.

2) Look at each of your pieces (in chess lingo "piece" means bishop, knight, rook, queen) and trace their lines of movement with your eyes across the whole board. Trace it all the way to the edge, it doesn't matter how many pieces you go through.

First of all this makes sure you're not missing any pieces hiding in a corner somewhere. Secondly it makes you realize things like, hey, my queen or rook is really threatening if only ____ weren't in the way, then that's a big clue, now you'll look for ways to move it.

Try solving the puzzle. It may look like a big mess, but after you notice the bishop is blocked by only the rook it becomes much easier.

3) Calculate forcing lines, no matter how suicidal they may look.

This means checks. ALL the legal checks you can make. Find them all no matter how crazy.
But also captures and moves that threaten undefended pieces. Almost all puzzles, no matter how difficult, involve forcing moves (forcing moves are checks, captures, and threats).

This is how most players will solve your puzzle in less than 5 seconds. They instantly and instinctively look for checks first. They're going to calculate Qxf7 before even seeing the whole board.

4) When one move order of captures and checks isn't winning you anything, try switching the move order and see if that makes a difference.

I mean steps in solving puzzles in general, not just that one specifically.

You don't agree to look for checks when solving puzzles?

That's... in my mind that's extremely basic and universally useful advice.

Frankly, to me this is saying you can't explain how you solve things to a beginner. You've done it so easily for so long you're not aware of it anymore.

Of course I don't consciously look for checks either... that's how I solved it in less than 5 seconds. As far as I knew I didn't even have time to think anything at all, the solution just jumps out at me... but to a beginner this is totally useless. In the beginning you have to consciously give more weight to certain types of moves. Over time it becomes automatic and moves to the unconscious.

I can appreciate that i.e. answering the literal question without reading into it.

While my answer isn't going to instantly give him an ability to do it, I think it's pretty self evident that, in any skill, when experienced people and beginners chat it's beneficial for the beginner. Even if the OP thinks to himself "his advice was BS" it still involves him being given new ideas and contemplating his own actions.