Puzzles - How are we supposed to know what is wanted

Hello,

I get frustrated with the daily puzzles as I just am given a situation without ANY context. Am I supposed to get mate or just make a good move. Sometimes the solution is over several moves other times the solution is one move that gains you an advantage but does not gain any ground.

Am I missing something?

Clayton

Puzzle solutions involve gaining winning material advantage (e.g. a piece, an exchange, a rook, a queen, or promoting to winning material) or involve a direct checkmate. Note that there are some rare puzzles on the site where the solution is finding the only defending move(s) to avoid a losing position.

When a puzzle position is given, there is always exactly one move which is the solution, and it is up to you to find it.

The Daily Puzzles are generally named in a way to give a hint. For example, today's puzzle "Point of No Return" is a hint that there is a trapped piece, and that queen looks very close to being trapped!

The Daily Puzzle title often gives a clue but in any puzzle, it's looking for the best move and line. That's can be one that sets up winning material, a mate, or a winning endgame. It's possible that it stops before that point, as puzzles need only one good continuation, and from the stopping point there may be multiple.

If you look at the analysis, for ones that aren't clear, it may give you an idea on what's going on.