How to improve puzzle rating? • page 1/1 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

So, I am really bad at lichess puzzles. If you look at my account you will see that I failed 20 puzzles and only solved one. My rating is not much greater than 1000. So if anyone who is good at solving chess puzzles can help me, I'd be glad.

drmrboss

#2

Try with puzzle themes . Start with checkmate, then go Xray attack, discover attack etc.

Angrith

#3

The way I improve my puzzles (~2150 rating) is to do my best to solve it first. If that means I spend 15 minutes on one puzzle, so be it. If I get the puzzle wrong, I check the solution and turn on engine analysis. With the analysis on, I follow the solution and even go a couple moves past the end (since some puzzles end a move before the payoff) and make sure I understand why the engine plays the moves they do. This means that I might try two or three lines after each move. Then I go back and try my line to see where it goes wrong.

When approaching a puzzle for the first time, I usually look for the following:

Any checks? Calculate a few moves for each check opportunity. Even if it looks stupid at first, it might pay off a move or two later.
Does my opponent have any threats that I must respond to. If you only have one move to avoid mate-in-one, then you know what the puzzle solution is.
Can I deliver a threat that my opponent must respond too? How could they respond and what opportunities does that create?

The way I improve my puzzles (~2150 rating) is to do my best to solve it first. If that means I spend 15 minutes on one puzzle, so be it. If I get the puzzle wrong, I check the solution and turn on engine analysis. With the analysis on, I follow the solution and even go a couple moves past the end (since some puzzles end a move before the payoff) and make sure I understand why the engine plays the moves they do. This means that I might try two or three lines after each move. Then I go back and try my line to see where it goes wrong. When approaching a puzzle for the first time, I usually look for the following: 1) Any checks? Calculate a few moves for each check opportunity. Even if it looks stupid at first, it might pay off a move or two later. 2) Does my opponent have any threats that *I* must respond to. If you only have one move to avoid mate-in-one, then you know what the puzzle solution is. 3) Can I deliver a threat that my opponent must respond too? How could they respond and what opportunities does that create?

PrimalPotatoMine

#4

Checked this post today, thanks for the responses!

PrimalPotatoMine

#5

I tried out your strategies, and I brought my rating from 1055 to 1317! Thanks @drmrboss and @Angrith

Angrith

#6

Glad to help! Good luck in your continued puzzling.

jumbone

#7

I'll add my 2 cents
Take your time even if it means compliting just two or three of them; I noticed most people don't have the patience to hard-resoning on a single puzzle. As #3 said, be sure to understand the puzzle (don't pay too much attenction to the rating, it is just a system to make you learn in the most efficient way, presenting you the right puzzles) and if the engine isn't enough, just post it on the forum, Lichess has a great community and help will come!

I'll add my 2 cents Take your time even if it means compliting just two or three of them; I noticed most people don't have the patience to hard-resoning on a single puzzle. As #3 said, be sure to understand the puzzle (don't pay too much attenction to the rating, it is just a system to make you learn in the most efficient way, presenting you the right puzzles) and if the engine isn't enough, just post it on the forum, Lichess has a great community and help will come!