Answers.Body: <p>Chess puzzles (and to a large extent playing chess) are based around recognizing certain patterns or motifs which help you to quickly assess a position and to visualize potential lines without the need to calculate move by move in your head. </p>
  
  <p>Chesstempo has a good list of <a href="http://chesstempo.com/tactical-motifs.html">tactical motifs</a> and <a href="http://chesstempo.com/positional-motifs.html">positional motifs</a>. It is important that when you solve problems (or when analyzing your games) that you realize which motives (usually there is more than one) apply to this problem. If you cannot solve a problem on your own it is fine to look up the solution or to get help from a computer, but make sure you understand the solution (i.e. match them to motifs/patterns). Again chesstempo is very useful for this as it shows you the motifs of each problem as "tags" (after you solved it or after you failed to solve it).</p>
  
  <p>Once you have built a repertoire of patterns/motifs in your mind you should have a good basis to solve more complicated problems as well.</p>
  
  <p>Another factor could be visualization when calculating long lines, but there is not much you can do about it other than concentrating, playing games, analyzing games, solving puzzles.... basically everything you should be doing anyway.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2017-02-01T10:34:14.433Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.Body: <p>This is a decent question because it tries to delve into the thinking process of solving a tactical puzzle. Of course, Tactical motifs and Positional motifs are important but you gain those by experience or study time, and I believe what the asker is looking for is a methodology he can apply to a difficult puzzle in hopes of solving it. So, with that in mind:</p>
  
  <p>Note all captures, checks, and unprotected or insufficiently
  protected pieces. Visualize each separately, alone. When you do this, you begin to connect some dots in the position, like "if I take here and he takes, that leaves this piece undefended...", etc., etc.</p>
  
  <p>Note all potential double-attacks, probably the most common tactic in chess. </p>
  
  <p>Visualize all avenues of attack for every long-range piece - Bishops, Rooks, and Queens; this means mentally <em>ignore</em> any obstructing enemy or friendly pieces, i.e., Bd3 looks down the b1-h7 diagonal regardless if there are black or white pieces in the way. This paves the way for <em>clearance</em> sacrifice ideas, and discovered attacks.</p>
  
  <p>Visualize all potential knight-forks, and all knight-forks after the move of the knight. </p>
  
  <p>Honestly, I would start there and avoid using the computer. It will not teach you anything you cannot figure out yourself - you just need to be persistent. </p>
  
  <p>I would also <em>write it all down</em> so you can drop the puzzle and come back to it later. You are gaining good habits by doing this, and it gives you valuable references.</p>
  
  <p>Only then when you are completely spent on the puzzle do you pass it to Stockfish.</p>
  
  <p>2c.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: So basically what you are saying is: "Look for tactical and positional motives."!?
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
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Answers.Text: Looking for a tactical motif without a method is like looking for a unicorn in a herd of buffalo. You need a methodology.
  I guess some people need to actually hear it articulated to get it.
  Go figure.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Priyome
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Answers.Text: If for example you write "Note all potential double-attacks" that's just another way of saying: "look for the tactical motif of double-attack in that position", so I am not sure what method you propose. Also, while checking a position for all motifs one by one, can be useful when studying, IMO the aim should be to do this subconsciously and to recognize certain patterns, simply because in a real game you won't have time to go through all the motifs each move.
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
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Answers.Text: @MarkGoodwin Well, at least a unicorn has an upward-pointing horn and is white.  Then all you need is a ladder.
Answers.UserDisplayName: jaxter
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Priyome
Answers.Body: <p>Delivering instruction in how to solve tactical problems is much too complex a topic to address in a forum post, unfortunately. The main points are these:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>You need to learn to recognize 1st-level tactics when they appear. Most players can do this.  1st-level tactics include things like forks, skewers, pins, etc. You will only be able to exploit this skill (by itself) if your opponent blunders.</p></li>
  <li><p>You need to recognize situations that may lend themselves to a 1st-level tactic after a short sequence of 1 or more forcing moves. Forcing moves are mate threats, captures, checks, and threats to capture. I call these 2nd-level tactics, because they involve a setup before the 1st-level tactic appears. </p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Such situations include possibilities such as being able to force an alignment of the opponent's queen and king that may then become vulnerable to a pin or skewer.</p>
  
  <ol start="3">
  <li>Finally, you need to recognize situations where no 1st-level tactic is available, and the opponent has replies that would frustrate a series of setup moves that would otherwise work.  It may still be possible to employ one or more other, supporting tactics to eliminate those replies, thus allowing the setup to work. Then, the 1st-level tactic will become possible.  </li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>I call these 3rd-level tactics, because of the additional preparatory moves that must be played to eliminate the opponent's defensive options prior to (or during) the setup to the final, 1st-level tactic.</p>
  
  <ol start="4">
  <li>Once you have mastered some degree of 3rd-level tactics, you will be able to move onto 4th-level tactics. These involve <em>multiple</em> 2nd- and 3rd-level tactics in a sequence.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>This is my personal approach to understanding combinations, and there is much more theory around it than I can relate here. I am writing a book to cover this gap in current teaching.</p>
  
  <p>Until you can find such a book, I strongly recommend George Renko's Intensive Chess Tactics Course, now in its 2nd edition, from ChessBase.  Renko has spent many years codifying this classification of tactical themes (of which he has enumerated 112).</p>
  
  <p>Please note he has made a <a href="http://www.avlerchess.com/chess-misc/Chess_plagiarism_289873.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">claim of plagiarism</a> against Convekta for their product Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations by NM Kalinichenko, which is an exact copy published several years after Renko's.  Snopes.com has confirmed this claim. For this reason I advise against purchasing the Convekta product.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: jaxter
Answers.Body: <p>I think the optimal method for you depends on the training goal (a future reader of the question may have a different goal from OP).</p>
  <p>My main recommendations are the following, assuming that your plan is a combination of challenging yourself and practicing patterns (some goal-specific recommendations are there at the end).</p>
  <ul>
  <li><p><strong>Write it all down</strong> (including variations) [already <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/16527/14678">pointed out</a> by Priyome]<br />
  This way, you can drop the puzzle and come back to it later. You are gaining good habits by doing this, and it gives you valuable references.
  More importantly, when the full solution is not written down, it is easier to deceive yourself that you have actually seen the intricacies of the variations.
  Only then when you are completely spent on the puzzle, consider getting help from some person (ideally your coach) or an engine.</p>
  </li>
  <li><p><strong>Balance between learning and the satisfaction.</strong><br />
  It is very important to have a satisfactory experience (the reward principle at play). Make sure there is a right balance between learning and the satisfaction of being able to solve the problem. If one spends a lot of time on each puzzle from a set and is still unable to most of them, then it will only give you frustration rather than satisfaction. On the other hand, if you spend time and you are able to solve most of them, then not only you are learning but also you feel satisfaction. If the puzzles you solve are too easy for you, then the satisfaction you get is less and the learning is also less (still, if the purpose is getting familiar with patterns without spending much time, this is good for you). For tactics training with focus on familiarizing the patterns, it is better to go for puzzles are slightly challenging for you, but not too hard.</p>
  </li>
  <li><p><strong>Choose your puzzle set carefully.</strong><br />
  It is better if each puzzles in the set are, or the set as whole is rated (sources include good chess books and platforms such as lichess.org, chesstempo.com and chess.com). This way, you can sample a few of them to decide whether the set is suitable for your purpose. If the puzzle rating is not available, check how much time it takes you to solve a few of randomly selected problems. If the time taken on them is reasonable to your training expectation, the puzzle set may fit your intended purpose. If not, look for another set or source.<br />
  If your purpose is to learn a theme which is somewhat new to you, then it makes sense to choose a set of puzzles on that theme (doable in lichess, chesstempo, chess.com, etc.). Of course, it is better to get to the harder puzzles gradually, but knowing the main theme makes even harder problems more approachable.  If your purpose is to challenge yourself especially for the game situation, then it is important that the puzzle set has varied themes (including tactical, strategic and positional themes, and ideally even false positives --that is, positions where a tactical/strategic idea backfires).</p>
  </li>
  <li><p><strong>When unable to solve, get themes (or hints)</strong> instead of solutions.<br />
  As mentioned, only when you are completely spent on the puzzle, consider getting help from some person (ideally your coach) or an engine.
  As for the help you receive, I suggest getting the themes of the puzzle (or hints in some other way) rather than the solutions. For instance, user1583209 <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/16514/14678">pointed out</a> that for puzzles in chesstempo, getting themes when you fail to solve is possible. Other than getting solution from a better player or an engine, there is also the option of discussing the puzzle in person or online with players with playing strength close to yours. This is an engaging activity for an offline chess club or an online chess group (there are many such groups online in various platforms including lichess and chess.com).
  If most puzzles that feature one particular theme are hard for you, consider practicing a set of puzzles on that theme. This is a great way to learn and this is usually very enjoyable. If it is not enjoyable for you, make sure the shift in hardness level is gradual and other similar or high-level themes do not come up in the puzzles. The latter happens very often because classifying puzzles properly by theme is very hard and is under-appreciated in the chess community unfortunately.</p>
  </li>
  <li><p><strong>Solve on a board.</strong><br />
  When the puzzle is harder for you, trying to solve on the board helps for most players. Also, if you plan to play over-the-board tournaments, this will you a good habit (similar to muscle memory). Even if you play mostly online and do not intend to play over-the-board tournaments, check if training puzzles this way make it easier for you to solve the puzzle (I think it does for most people, but some players who played mostly online find it easier to solve it when they see it on the screen).</p>
  </li>
  </ul>
  <p>If your goal is to challenge yourself and use puzzles for self-learning that way (such as training on endgame studies to improve your endgame techniques), then be ready to spend more time on puzzles. Sometimes, it could takes hours. Even here, how much time you could fruitfully spend on a puzzle varies from person to person. Here, it is absolutely necessary to write it all down.</p>
  <p>If the primary goal is pattern recognition, then it is better to avoid very hard problems.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Cyriac Antony
Body: <p>I have a collection of middle-game chess puzzles classified in levels. I can solve most puzzles in the first level after a few minutes, and some of the puzzles in level 2.</p>
  
  <p>But for higher levels there is no hope I can solve any of them, even if I tried for a thousand years. Nevertheless, those are supposed to be interesting positions with hidden treasures, and I wonder if I can still learn something from them. What should I do? Play against a computer from those positions until finding the solutions? Look at the solutions and memorizing them?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-01T08:57:52.187Z
Comments.Text: Objectively, what is your level, and what is the level of the puzzles? Could we see a few? A beginner trying to solve intermediate-level puzzles probably doesn't have the mastery to productively study a single position for hours on end the way a more advanced player can, for example.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Feryll
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Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-01T12:35:10.247Z
Comments.Text: @Feryll I am talking about the free collection of puzzles by Uwe Auerswald (see http://dejascacchi.altervista.org/exercises.htm, the first rectangle under "Tactical Combinations") divided in 5 levels. I solve level 1 and some of level 2. No way I reach higher levels, but perhaps I can learn something from those higher level puzzles.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Mephisto
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-01T13:52:50.610Z
Comments.Text: @Mephisto: nice resource, is there any way to see if it's white or black to move?
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-01T15:15:29.593Z
Comments.Text: @RemcoGerlich: Quote from the linked website: "It is White to move unless the game name is underlined, then it is Black to move"
Comments.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Tags: <learning><tactics><puzzles><study>
Title: Method to study chess puzzles way above your level
ThreadText: # Method to study chess puzzles way above your level
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-01)
  
  I have a collection of middle-game chess puzzles classified in levels. I can solve most puzzles in the first level after a few minutes, and some of the puzzles in level 2.
  
  But for higher levels there is no hope I can solve any of them, even if I tried for a thousand years. Nevertheless, those are supposed to be interesting positions with hidden treasures, and I wonder if I can still learn something from them. What should I do? Play against a computer from those positions until finding the solutions? Look at the solutions and memorizing them?
  
  **Tags:** learning, tactics, puzzles, study
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Objectively, what is your level, and what is the level of the puzzles? Could we see a few? A beginner trying to solve intermediate-level puzzles probably doesn't have the mastery to productively study a single position for hours on end the way a more advanced player can, for example.  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 I am talking about the free collection of puzzles by Uwe Auerswald (see http://dejascacchi.altervista.org/exercises.htm, the first rectangle under "Tactical Combinations") divided in 5 levels. I solve level 1 and some of level 2. No way I reach higher levels, but perhaps I can learn something from those higher level puzzles.  
  > **username_2**: @username_0: nice resource, is there any way to see if it's white or black to move?  
  > **username_3**: @username_2: Quote from the linked website: "It is White to move unless the game name is underlined, then it is Black to move"  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2017-02-01. Score: 5
  
  Chess puzzles (and to a large extent playing chess) are based around recognizing certain patterns or motifs which help you to quickly assess a position and to visualize potential lines without the need to calculate move by move in your head.
  
  Chesstempo has a good list of [tactical motifs](http://chesstempo.com/tactical-motifs.html) and [positional motifs](http://chesstempo.com/positional-motifs.html). It is important that when you solve problems (or when analyzing your games) that you realize which motives (usually there is more than one) apply to this problem. If you cannot solve a problem on your own it is fine to look up the solution or to get help from a computer, but make sure you understand the solution (i.e. match them to motifs/patterns). Again chesstempo is very useful for this as it shows you the motifs of each problem as "tags" (after you solved it or after you failed to solve it).
  
  Once you have built a repertoire of patterns/motifs in your mind you should have a good basis to solve more complicated problems as well.
  
  Another factor could be visualization when calculating long lines, but there is not much you can do about it other than concentrating, playing games, analyzing games, solving puzzles.... basically everything you should be doing anyway.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2017-02-02. Score: 3
  
  This is a decent question because it tries to delve into the thinking process of solving a tactical puzzle. Of course, Tactical motifs and Positional motifs are important but you gain those by experience or study time, and I believe what the asker is looking for is a methodology he can apply to a difficult puzzle in hopes of solving it. So, with that in mind:
  
  Note all captures, checks, and unprotected or insufficiently
  protected pieces. Visualize each separately, alone. When you do this, you begin to connect some dots in the position, like "if I take here and he takes, that leaves this piece undefended...", etc., etc.
  
  Note all potential double-attacks, probably the most common tactic in chess.
  
  Visualize all avenues of attack for every long-range piece - Bishops, Rooks, and Queens; this means mentally *ignore* any obstructing enemy or friendly pieces, i.e., Bd3 looks down the b1-h7 diagonal regardless if there are black or white pieces in the way. This paves the way for *clearance* sacrifice ideas, and discovered attacks.
  
  Visualize all potential knight-forks, and all knight-forks after the move of the knight.
  
  Honestly, I would start there and avoid using the computer. It will not teach you anything you cannot figure out yourself - you just need to be persistent.
  
  I would also *write it all down* so you can drop the puzzle and come back to it later. You are gaining good habits by doing this, and it gives you valuable references.
  
  Only then when you are completely spent on the puzzle do you pass it to Stockfish.
  
  2c.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: So basically what you are saying is: "Look for tactical and positional motives."!?  
  > **username_4**: Looking for a tactical motif without a method is like looking for a unicorn in a herd of buffalo. You need a methodology. I guess some people need to actually hear it articulated to get it. Go figure.  
  > **username_3**: If for example you write "Note all potential double-attacks" that's just another way of saying: "look for the tactical motif of double-attack in that position", so I am not sure what method you propose. Also, while checking a position for all motifs one by one, can be useful when studying, IMO the aim should be to do this subconsciously and to recognize certain patterns, simply because in a real game you won't have time to go through all the motifs each move.  
  > **username_5**: @MarkGoodwin Well, at least a unicorn has an upward-pointing horn and is white.  Then all you need is a ladder.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2017-02-03. Score: 1
  
  Delivering instruction in how to solve tactical problems is much too complex a topic to address in a forum post, unfortunately. The main points are these:
  
  1. You need to learn to recognize 1st-level tactics when they appear. Most players can do this. 1st-level tactics include things like forks, skewers, pins, etc. You will only be able to exploit this skill (by itself) if your opponent blunders.
  2. You need to recognize situations that may lend themselves to a 1st-level tactic after a short sequence of 1 or more forcing moves. Forcing moves are mate threats, captures, checks, and threats to capture. I call these 2nd-level tactics, because they involve a setup before the 1st-level tactic appears.
  
  Such situations include possibilities such as being able to force an alignment of the opponent's queen and king that may then become vulnerable to a pin or skewer.
  
  3. Finally, you need to recognize situations where no 1st-level tactic is available, and the opponent has replies that would frustrate a series of setup moves that would otherwise work. It may still be possible to employ one or more other, supporting tactics to eliminate those replies, thus allowing the setup to work. Then, the 1st-level tactic will become possible.
  
  I call these 3rd-level tactics, because of the additional preparatory moves that must be played to eliminate the opponent's defensive options prior to (or during) the setup to the final, 1st-level tactic.
  
  4. Once you have mastered some degree of 3rd-level tactics, you will be able to move onto 4th-level tactics. These involve *multiple* 2nd- and 3rd-level tactics in a sequence.
  
  This is my personal approach to understanding combinations, and there is much more theory around it than I can relate here. I am writing a book to cover this gap in current teaching.
  
  Until you can find such a book, I strongly recommend George Renko's Intensive Chess Tactics Course, now in its 2nd edition, from ChessBase. Renko has spent many years codifying this classification of tactical themes (of which he has enumerated 112).
  
  Please note he has made a [claim of plagiarism](http://www.avlerchess.com/chess-misc/Chess_plagiarism_289873.html) against Convekta for their product Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations by NM Kalinichenko, which is an exact copy published several years after Renko's. Snopes.com has confirmed this claim. For this reason I advise against purchasing the Convekta product.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2024-11-03. Score: 0
  
  I think the optimal method for you depends on the training goal (a future reader of the question may have a different goal from OP).
  
  My main recommendations are the following, assuming that your plan is a combination of challenging yourself and practicing patterns (some goal-specific recommendations are there at the end).
  
  * **Write it all down** (including variations) [already [pointed out](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/16527/14678) by username_4]  
    This way, you can drop the puzzle and come back to it later. You are gaining good habits by doing this, and it gives you valuable references.
    More importantly, when the full solution is not written down, it is easier to deceive yourself that you have actually seen the intricacies of the variations.
    Only then when you are completely spent on the puzzle, consider getting help from some person (ideally your coach) or an engine.
  * **Balance between learning and the satisfaction.**  
    It is very important to have a satisfactory experience (the reward principle at play). Make sure there is a right balance between learning and the satisfaction of being able to solve the problem. If one spends a lot of time on each puzzle from a set and is still unable to most of them, then it will only give you frustration rather than satisfaction. On the other hand, if you spend time and you are able to solve most of them, then not only you are learning but also you feel satisfaction. If the puzzles you solve are too easy for you, then the satisfaction you get is less and the learning is also less (still, if the purpose is getting familiar with patterns without spending much time, this is good for you). For tactics training with focus on familiarizing the patterns, it is better to go for puzzles are slightly challenging for you, but not too hard.
  * **Choose your puzzle set carefully.**  
    It is better if each puzzles in the set are, or the set as whole is rated (sources include good chess books and platforms such as lichess.org, chesstempo.com and chess.com). This way, you can sample a few of them to decide whether the set is suitable for your purpose. If the puzzle rating is not available, check how much time it takes you to solve a few of randomly selected problems. If the time taken on them is reasonable to your training expectation, the puzzle set may fit your intended purpose. If not, look for another set or source.  
    If your purpose is to learn a theme which is somewhat new to you, then it makes sense to choose a set of puzzles on that theme (doable in lichess, chesstempo, chess.com, etc.). Of course, it is better to get to the harder puzzles gradually, but knowing the main theme makes even harder problems more approachable. If your purpose is to challenge yourself especially for the game situation, then it is important that the puzzle set has varied themes (including tactical, strategic and positional themes, and ideally even false positives --that is, positions where a tactical/strategic idea backfires).
  * **When unable to solve, get themes (or hints)** instead of solutions.  
    As mentioned, only when you are completely spent on the puzzle, consider getting help from some person (ideally your coach) or an engine.
    As for the help you receive, I suggest getting the themes of the puzzle (or hints in some other way) rather than the solutions. For instance, username_3 [pointed out](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/16514/14678) that for puzzles in chesstempo, getting themes when you fail to solve is possible. Other than getting solution from a better player or an engine, there is also the option of discussing the puzzle in person or online with players with playing strength close to yours. This is an engaging activity for an offline chess club or an online chess group (there are many such groups online in various platforms including lichess and chess.com).
    If most puzzles that feature one particular theme are hard for you, consider practicing a set of puzzles on that theme. This is a great way to learn and this is usually very enjoyable. If it is not enjoyable for you, make sure the shift in hardness level is gradual and other similar or high-level themes do not come up in the puzzles. The latter happens very often because classifying puzzles properly by theme is very hard and is under-appreciated in the chess community unfortunately.
  * **Solve on a board.**  
    When the puzzle is harder for you, trying to solve on the board helps for most players. Also, if you plan to play over-the-board tournaments, this will you a good habit (similar to muscle memory). Even if you play mostly online and do not intend to play over-the-board tournaments, check if training puzzles this way make it easier for you to solve the puzzle (I think it does for most people, but some players who played mostly online find it easier to solve it when they see it on the screen).
  
  If your goal is to challenge yourself and use puzzles for self-learning that way (such as training on endgame studies to improve your endgame techniques), then be ready to spend more time on puzzles. Sometimes, it could takes hours. Even here, how much time you could fruitfully spend on a puzzle varies from person to person. Here, it is absolutely necessary to write it all down.
  
  If the primary goal is pattern recognition, then it is better to avoid very hard problems.
  
  
  ---
  
  