Description: Examples of pages/docs/Chess/Tactics Notes/_Calculation system strategies from real games When calculating forcing lines like checkmate, there tend to be cases where we need to make a seemingly calm preperatory move to get our piece to a better attacking square, or move a pawn to remove the king's escape squares.

In such cases, I tend to assume that the opposite side will have a response, so it cant be the answer. (and instead i'll choose a worse, but more forcing line.) To aid with calculation, it helps to pretend i actually have two moves in a row, see whether it leads to anything meaningful. THEN check

"okay, given that this is my best series of moves, what can my opponent do to stop me?"

fen: r1bq1rk1/pp1pb1p1/2n1p3/4P1P1/3P4/2P5/P4PP1/R1BQK2R w KQ - 1 2
id: fz3Eaddk

great example. I know some combination of Rh8+, Qh5, and g7 are good, but what's the best move order?

If 1. g6, then B has one move to respond. After which I have Rh8+ Kxh8 Qh5+ Kg8 Qh7+ Kf8 Qh8#

If 1. Rh8+ Kxh8 Qh5+ Kg8, THEN g6, again b has one turn to respond, and then i'll have that same mate.

So which is better? To figure it out, i need to see which one will give B an ability to respond. Knowing that my plan is going to be Qh7+ after g6, what can B do to stop it?

if 1. g6, then B will want to close the h file. so they can play Bg5! Rh8+ Kxh8 Qh5+ Bh6

if 1. Rh8+ Kxh8 Qh5+ Kg8 g6, then Bg5 Qh7+! B doesnt have time in this scenario because our queen is already there!

Understanding the position

fen: 6r1/1p1Q1pk1/p2p4/3NbB2/2rnp2p/2R3P1/PP2qPKP/7R w - - 0 1
orientation: black
id: 0hNR9C4e

when solving puzzles, don't just look for the tactic. Try to notice facets of the position. In this puzzle, we see - the light squares around B's king are weak. - our knight is quite advanced, providing us domination of the light squares. this suggests an attack on the light squares may be appropriate. - our rook has complete control over the c file, making it very mobile. likewise if our h pawn disappears, we can play Rh1 to seize the h file - we notice we can check the king with h3 Kxh3 Rh8+ and Qf3 Rxf3 exf3+ - If the king reaches the backrank, we can checkmate with Rc8# or Qd8# because the knight guards the escape square. Taken together, we see positionally that our control over f3 and the weak light squares due to our knight gives us control over some great squares near the enemy king. indeed, the play centers around these light squares.