Establishing the Method

Before considering variations and moves, some things should be considered at every position.

What are the targets? Targets are:

• Unprotected pieces
• Immobile pieces
• Overloaded pieces

Enumerate potential mating positions!

Internal dialogue should proceed "which pieces are unprotected? which pieces are immobilised? what threats are latent for each side?" then run through the list of tactical motifs. Proactive. Not "omg, what should I try next?", followed by "what was I thinking in that game?".

Some definitions are in order. Basic checkmate patterns are assumed. From them grow tactics, from tactics comes strategy.

What are strategy and tactics? I like GM Yuri Averbakh's definition for conciseness and simplicity.

Strategy is what to do.
Tactics are how to do it.

I'm leaving the 'what' to one side for the time being... learning 'how', and hoping to be promoted to management later. As to definitions, I'm working on clearly defining and illustrating the different motifs.