Chess Online

A few weeks ago, someone tried to explain how they solved puzzles. I disagreed with them.

I use several methods to solve a puzzle. The first one is AAFMF, borrowed from John Nunn. I always analyse forcing moves first. I look for checks and ways to sac material first.

That took a few seconds.

When that doesn't work, as in here, I then look to see what legal moves the Black king has. Here, Black's king has only one legal move. So, I just needed a way to eliminate that and deliver check.

I found the correct move almost instantly, but I didn't make the move until I verified there was no way for Black to interfere with my planned move.

There are other techniques I use if those two aren't enough, but those first two rules help me to solve the vast majority of puzzles here very quickly.

I didn't time myself, but I estimate the entire process took ~30 seconds.

I gave the puzzle three stars because it required a second level of analysis to solve it. But it has a 64% solve rate, so it wasn't too difficult.

Regarding forcing moves... It's amazing how often forcing tactics are available in real games if only we look for them. GM Alexander Yermolinsky recently said that people rarely believe that the tactics they see in puzzles could occur in their own games. If you look for them, you'll find them!

I must say, fezzik, that while impressive and colorful, your analysis is not sound! Though one can easily see how thorough it is, a closer look will reveal holes in the plot, so to speak.

You mentioned that the first step of analysis is looking for forcing moves, checks and ways to sacrifice material to an advantage. You also mentioned that in the case of this puzzle, this first step would not work.

It does work, my dear friend fezzik!

Clearly, I would not challenge your person and the ability you possess to solve chess problems since I know you slay puzzles with ease. I only wish to argue that the above outlined definition of your thought is almost complete, after only a few modest adjustments be made.

There is one move you may have overlooked that is definitely a forcing move and also sacrifices material, h4+. That much is apparent. Before I thought about making any moves, however, I also noticed (as you also mentioned elsewhere) that the Black King's only available move is to h4. Then, I did exactly as you did; used Nunn's methodology. The truth was that no other White piece could check the king, forcing him to move, other than the h-pawn. In my mind I made the move, knowing the Black King's only choice was to capture. All of this being a logical, one-step-at-a-time process, I mentally played this move out not yet knowing how feeble an attempt this would be to win the puzzle. With only one move left, the next move would have to be a check. Two checks were available, one with Knight on e7 and other with Black-square Bishop. Unfortunately, knowledge of these available checks proved to be useless, as the conscientious player would see that Black King now had two open squares free to occupy. Thus, an early check and sacrifice with the h-pawn becomes fruitless and to no advantage in White's second move, yet does fulfill the requirements of AAFMB.

It then became a matter of reverse engineering, as my uncle would have called it. This is also where fezzik's analysis is flawless for the rest of it. Find a way to block the escape first and THEN use that pesky h-pawn to finish it.

Well done by all, I thank you.

I just look at the position, and that was all.

Well, it's just the truth,   Cheers.

I don't care how i solve a puzzle. I just solve it.

hjacg77, thank you for your input. i found it quite valuable! if you have more to say, please do.

Sorry, but I don't know what else to say