How To Solve Chess Tactics/Puzzles/Problems (with 48 examples)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
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Following a methodology like you're doing helped me reach the 2000+ rated puzzles and helped me find general tactics.
-Checks
-Obvious captures
-Revealed attacks
-Forks
-Sacrifices
-Anything else/positional improvement
It sounds kinda dumb, but going through the list when I get stuck helps me find tactics I might have missed.
At 5:17 there was actually four options, not three. The king could've taken pawn on f4, but that leads to queen g3 checkmate which is faster checkmate than king f3.
34:20❤ Its called Dovetail mate. I guess it has something to do with the "fan" like shape of the mate. Dove tail is like splitt in 2 parts.. (with a woid in the middle. And in this type mate, there is 2 of their own pawns or pieces blocking the escape squares of the king. And the attacking queen covers "the woid" and the outside squares.
Love your videos, you are very good in breaking down everything to explainable concepts and great understanding.
This is the very great lesson! We must look for checks first and then capturing and attacking. This really help me solving them because I usually miss tactics in the position and even some simple tactics. Thank you and I love your content ❤️
Thanks for your effort to explain positions well, it helped me a lot 👍
Glad to hear that! Thank you!
I love the 2504-rated puzzle that you got wrong first. It has parts to it, and every idea is a foundation to a more advanced concept.
That second ‘wrong answer’ puzzle is weird to me. It’s a puzzle that has you end up down a rook with the upside being “you should be able to promote here eventually.” It’s in this weird place where if this were a real game with enough time on the clock to think about it, I probably would have played the “correct” move because it does seem like your king is mostly safe and promotion is inevitable, but as a puzzle I discard the answer as being too non-decisive.
The computer system that determines which positions are chosen to be puzzles can't understand the human concept of if winning positions are "decisive" or not
This was a really good lesson. It's interesting how tired your brain gets after puzzle rush, but solving 50 puzzles in a row is very impressive, I'm still trying to get past 36, but I think I learned a few things from your video that will help.
I can't get past 16 😅
My best is 46, but at 3 minutes, 52 at 5 minutes. Impressive is 63 what my friend did at 3 min.
Would love for this kind of content to become a regular series, just like the Bobby Fischerman stories. This is by far the most instructional chess content I've seen.
At 57:16 Rd7 wouldve been met by Qg4 forking the king and rook.
Solved the 2504 one after you suggested Rf6 block, it wasn't something I was considering at first but then it made me look at the Qh3 idea more. Was rooting that you'd find the finish.
Edit: Came back after running errands and just finished the video. The 2nd to last puzzle was really rough, like I think it is fair that part of the puzzle is being able to evaluate a complex position or an endgame but I don't think most people who are 2600 on puzzles would have any idea that black is better in the resulting position. The last one I started to think oh know as soon as you said the rook check was impossible.
I thought the same. After black Qh3 white play Rg1 (otherwise checkmate in 1), which blocks checkmate threat on Qg2. However, this blocks white king in the corner, so then sacrifice Qh2 and black plays Rh8, which finishes the game
21:48 That was the first one that I was unsure about (I'm probably rated around 1500-1550); I saw the knight check was the only good move, and that Black can take the bishop, and there it got hazy.
24:35 I see how to win a piece, but is there something better?
25:46 Evidently not.
25:47 I can see how to win a rook.
27:09 Even better for Black (if ... Rxg3+; gh Rxg3+; Kh2) is ... Qh4 mate! (And Nelson sees it a minute later.)
28:33 This looks like another one where White wins a piece (and stops a back-rank mate) with Qd4+. (And Nelson sees it a minute later.)
31:04 ... Rd1+; then if Ne1, Bf5; Re2, Bd3 wins the exchange, or a free knight and mate. White bringing out the Bishop makes him lose the exchange, but what if Re1 after ... Rd1+? NOW White bringing out the bishop is not a bad move. (at 31:56) Ah, I missed ... Bxf3 after Re1; Black wins a piece.
34:27 This is the first one I did not get. I could see how to win a piece (... Qf4+ and ... Qxh4) but didn't think that was it. BTW, this is called a dovetail.
39:40 Another stumper. 42:13 A case of an unclear objective (to me, anyway).
42:14 This looks like a situation where White needs to draw, and I think he can with Nd4+. 44:24: After Nd4+, Ke7; Qxg7+, Kd6; Nf7+, etc. The only way White seems to be able to win the game is if Black walks into a king-queen knight fork, and I think that can be avoided. 46:18 Nope, I blew that one big time.
47:09 (The 2504 puzzle) This seems almost too easy ... Qh3. White can't play Rg1, because of ... Qxh2 and Rh8 mate. The only other stalling move is Qxe5, Kh6, and White is out of checks. But now Rg1, and Black's king is in the way. So maybe ... Rh8 after that, and Black sneaks the king away? Hmmm. Maybe not so easy.
50:52 Actually, my basic plan was what Stockfish says to do, except that Kh6 isn't correct. So I was closer than Nelson, on this one.
54:10 Ke1?? loses. If Kf3, Qg1+; Rf2 is threatening to capture on f7, and the only defense is ... Rc7; Qg4+ with a fork. 56:37 QG4, Nelson! QG4!!!! (And interesting that the puzzle was over after Qxf7+; maybe being two pawns up is a decisive endgame here?
58:05 Qb6 lines up a discovered check. If White checks Black with a rook, then White gets two rooks for the queen and is still up the exchange. 1:01:48 No, because the Bishop check would prevent Black from trading off the rooks.
You still can solve 3000+ rated puzzles with the approach of looking for any checks, captures, and attacks as well. There will be certain moves however that don't quite fit the checks, captures, and attacks category and may require looking for quiet moves (harder to spot). Make sure no move gets dismissed until you have fully analyzed that the move you considered doesn't work. I've been able to get to 3400+ on puzzles with that method of thinking.
Yeah that queen sac, I actually saw that one 15 secs into it 😅 i don’t understand why some high rated puzzles are easy, like the queen sac puzzle 🤷♂️
I really dk man……..we’ll, it is stockfish or the engine that produces the types of puzzles. Stockfish/engine is pretty crazy lol
Describing number 14 by saying the knight and bishop work as the pawns for the back rank check made me recognize that pattern so much faster, never thought about it that way.
5:49 they’re 4 options, Kxf4 is also an option even tho it’ll lead to checkmate
My personal best was 39. I spent ages on that round, and haven't come close since (more like 29). Straight after your video I got 36 and that's after midnight in bed 😂
This video is a good help, and should help me finding tactics in my daily games. Thanks Nelson.
probably a good thing to know that you can jut click on the puzzle you have passed/failed, and it will open up in a new tab
I was able to solve most of the puzzles due to your great explanations. You are an excellent teacher. I will be looking for queen checkmates with that staggered pawn pattern that you showed. The missed skewer was an unfortunate error (I didn't see it either) but that very last one seemed way too complicated for a puzzle. Like its just a theoretical win or something...
Great way to explain the calculation and steps! Also you proved your human when you goofed up 😊. Please keep the educational videos coming 🙂
Hi Nelson. I don't know if you know this or not. If you click on the red x after missing a puzzle you can replay it with or with out hints also you can click on the ones you win and review them to see what the follow up is at anytme during the game.
1:01:46 I think the correct move was queen to e7
Thank you for the awesome video! My thought process goes along very same lines as yours but my problem is clearly that I lack the patience to actually do those calculations in the start position and use intuition a lot more. Not sure if that's because I almost only play 3 and 1 min games.
This logo and TH-cam channel name would make great shirts. Doesn't scream corny and looks amazing. Not sure how much money this idea brings in but I'd actually buy merchandise ( a shirt or hat) with the logo on it. Name wouldn't even make it seem corny because the word vibes makes it seem chill. Food for thought
Check the description
1) checks
2) captures
3) threates
thank you sir great video, helped me a lot
I think with that 2600 puzzle, Black is able to have a couple pawns that are passers which are close to promoting (so perhaps worth more than just a pawn), and white somehow will have to give up the material, and the fact that White's King is exposed. It's still a bit tricky though, and I don't think I would have thought that was winning for Black either. Not a great puzzle, but it is quite confusing.
good video! it helped me a lot to get better. keep going ❤
As a 1200 I'm happy i spotted the 2500 he missed, including the idea of sacing after the rook defence
what is your puzzle rating?
what is your puzzle rating?
50:55 Hey chess vibes, the move here is queen h3 and if white queen checks you block with rook (f8 rook) and keep blocking. If white rook defends g2 mate with pawn and queen, you can sacrifice the queen on h2 and rook on f7 to h7 will be checkmate (obviously after you block all checks).
he went over the solution after missing it if you had actually watched the entire video you would know this.
34:48 That pattern is worm something
57:55 Maybe the thought was that Rd7 would have given a fork with Qd4+ that black didn't really have any response to.
34:39 it's Dovetail mate
52:38 Now there's no more queen sacrifice because we couldn't follow with Rh8. So white can defend with Rg1.
Many times puzzles around 15 to 20 are very underrated in my opinion. Like puzzle 15 here, rated 900 but more difficult than other higher rated puzzles
53:08 I actually instantly found the solution. First we threaten mate. The queen checks. We shield our king. It is essential that we must be able to create a battery afterwards. Rook defends mate and then we make the battery and checkmate is unstoppable
Same I think he was overthinking and only set on one idea that's why he overlooked this somewhat obvious move
For the 2600 puzzle start with Quenn B6
I am a 1200 in rapid and 3200 puzzels lol, top 70 in my country
One of the best!
the same mate puzzle 39 that you missed my 1660 rated opponent mated me in an tournament. I watched this puzzle laughing seeing your calculation because i knew the answer immediately it appeared on the board. (the situation arose after grand prix attack.)
37:00 it's funny that some high rated puzzles are that easy
great channel will defo sub and check more of your content as a 1600s i deffo can learn a lot from those
For the Qh3 puzzle I did think that was the move but couldnt fully see that we need to block with rook and Kh6 was terrible. The next wrong one I agree isnt a great puzzle as even though engine says black is better hard for a human to see that and not really a satisfying end position to it. The last one I was the skewer :)
58:13 takes and takes and takes and takes takes takes Qe2
As you say the puzzle at 58:00 is bad. After Bd5 Black must lose the e8 rook. It should not have been Strike Three.
I'm glad that I founf Qh3 move in a failed puzzle 48. So proud.
bro was frustrated 🤣🤣
26:40 How about, Qxe5...Then either...Kh7, Rg7...(Kh6, Qg6#) or (Kh8, Qxh5...Qh7, Qxh7#), or ...Rf7, Qxf7...Kh7, Rxg7...Kh8, Qh7#.
*EDIT:* Oh, crap! I just realized there's a Rook on e1!
Never mind. 🙄🙄🙄
1:03:20 How about Re3+? If ...QxR, then Qe8 skewers Black's Queen.
I'm 1700 rated on blitz and my best survival record is 53 (Got to 2900 puzzles and failed), I didn't really think it was that impressive until I saw this video.
At 50:52 you had to sac your queen and rook for mate
You could have checked the king with your rook, the queen cannot take your rook because it's skewer.. * last puzzle
48 is actually my puzzle record lol
Def bad end puzzle there! My record is 43, and sometimes the puzzle solutions make me so frustrated. I've had it once where it was like no decisive material advantage for 20+ moves with optimal play from both sides, with so many degrees of freedom for each move. Who can calculate that?? And with the three strike rule, as you get up there, you're more and more likely to get one of those dogwater puzzles. Thanks for the video :)
I got till 41 on my puzzle rush
Do you ever live steam puzzles like this?
the 2600 puzzle really was bas imo
Stanford gambit
Nice video, hope that I win my chess tournament!
At 10:30, I like Qc7 followed by Rxd8.
Why? Black can easily stop your threat by trading rooks.
Would appreciate sbs for my chess traps shorts👍🏽. Great for blitz and bullet 100% solid traps
Botttttt
@@come.inside.me.join.now. I'm no bot bro😂
I mean you lose a king, down alot of material, but still winning
Not a fan of checking with the engine the ones you miss I think you learn more if you think about them for days and suddely get the idea like Josh Waitzkin said.
"Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value." ---Albert Einstein
I think you didn't really cover all the bases at 14:42 even though it was forced mate in one it's easy to tunnel vision in a real game and not look for checks the opponent might have leading to perpetual or even sometimes mate. Granted in that position the king was completely safe but it's important to atleast mention the possibility..
What is a kaptjush
I suck at this it seems. But in puzzle 14, why did white sacrifice the queen, when he could just protect the position with rook to F2?
The opponent may not necessarily play the best moves. Black still needs to be better after Rf2, but it might not be part of the actual puzzle.
27:44: me yelling at the screen saying move queen h4 checkmate
what is the survival record, i think its around 150 ? i only got 61 and trying to get 70
I saw Nakamura solved about 108 or someting like that. 80+ is a GM level, I think
I was YELLING Qg4 at 56:30
searching up tactics found this video just posted
I got to 24 on puzzle rush
Cca
57:20 qg4 forks the rook
bro just ignore black queen💀
@@Jirayu_Boonman there's a pawn on g3 and it comes with check no way the black queen can stop that
@@Jirayu_Boonman talking about the follow up to rd7 obviously otherwise you go for the checkmate
Why do i still suck at puzzles
Sharp 6 th minute why can't the king take the pawn
57:24 qg4 wins rook
I am losing interest in chess what to do my Chess compition is coming I have registered for it
If you wish try a puzzle challenging you vs Hikaru. May was really intresting. OK I bet that was better than you, but again you are very good in puzzle.
In puzzle 2504, why not
1. Qh3
❓❓❓❓❓❓
Wdym why not? It's the correct answer.
You better get to 51 or I'll unsubscribe! Jk. I love this series and all your content. Keep it up!
6:05 at puzzle #12 there's Kxf4 after Qg7+, no? unless there's something that my dumbass 800 elo brain is missing...
That’s right but that would lead to an instant mate Qg3#
Then Qg3 is mate. Nelson missed that move… it’s called a “dovetail” mate, I think.
ohhhh right i see it now... thanks a lot guys
49 was a stupid puzzle.
Wow
3rd or smth
Tnx
Nelson is covering too much in a short amount of time here. I can't think that fast.
👍❤
I was gonna watch the whole video, but 15 minutes in I realised it’s a one hour long video… and I’m already 2747 rated in puzzles…
Ez
69th
Bro you need to touch grass💀
First
Pin me for no reason.
If you want to get pinned, just place your Queen in line with your King, where it can be attacked by one of your opponent's pieces.
You're welcome.
@@b005t3r did that very blunder today, lol 😂
@@thabeatboi69 it's not a blunder, it's a desire.
@@b005t3r Oh my Allah I fell for this
can u make a draw in that last one, checking all the time?
Hi