Problem Solving

Steps and Vocabulary

Martha Rice
Problems are all around!
You can use the
same problem
solving methods to
solve just about
any problem,
from word problems
to logic problems to
real-world problems
in your own life.
Step 1: Evaluate the evidence
Look at all the parts of the problem that you
can experience.
 What do you see?
 What do you know?
 What does the problem

tell you?
 What do you already know

about this situation?

Use the evidence to figure out what to do next!

Step 2: Hypothesize
You may have heard the word “hypothesis” in
science class. Hypothesis basically means an
idea that you think can explain or answer a
problem.
When you have evaluated
your evidence, you will
be able to make a
hypothesis about how
to solve the problem.
Step 3: Experiment
A scientist experiments to test a hypothesis about
a problem or situation. People also call
experimenting testing a hypothesis.

Once you’ve figured out your

best hypothesis about your
problem, you need to test it.

Unfortunately, your hypothesis

won’t always work out to
solve the problem.
Step 4: Re-evaluation
If your hypothesis fails,
you’ll need to go back
to other hypotheses and
test them.

If you get really stuck,

maybe it would help to
discuss the situation
with other people who
can help you figure out
pieces of the puzzle that
you’ve overlooked.
How does this relate to chess?
 Chess is a big bunch of problems.
 Every time you look at a chessboard, you’re

facing a big problem. Which piece should

you move? Why? Will good things happen as a
result of your move or will you start losing?
 Every move tests your best hypothesis.
Problem in ChessKid.com
In ChessKid,
you can see
how to use
problem solving
steps
to successfully
solve individual
chess problems.
Evaluate the evidence
The computer has
moved its white
knight to c3.

What is your best

move?

Notice all the

details or “clues”
or “evidence.”
Evaluate the evidence
Details for black…
•Both rooks are basically
blocked in.
•Knight at g8 is
probably too far away.
•Bishop at c8 is basically
blocked in.
•Pawns are all too far
away.
•Queen at b2 could take
the white knight at c3,
but then the white
bishop at d2 would take
her on the next turn.
•Bishop at b4 can take
the white knight at c3,
but it might get
captured on the next
turn, too.
Evaluate the evidence
This is actually what
computers are
programmed to do
when they play chess.
The computer will
evaluate all the possible
situations on the
chessboard.

We do this, too, just

much, much slower.

With more chess

experience, our brains
can be trained to do
this more effectively.
Make hypotheses
Based on the evidence,
you might make two
hypotheses…

1. Take the white

knight at c3 with the
b4 bishop, or

2. Take the white

knight at c3 with the
queen.
Test the best hypothesis
Based on the evidence,
you might make two
hypotheses…

1. Take the white knight

at c3 with the b4
bishop, or

2. Take the white knight

at c3 with the queen.

Test the best hypothesis.

In this case, the best
answer is using the
bishop to take the
knight.
If the hypothesis doesn’t work…
…try out another one!
Hypothesis: Maybe
advancing the pawn on
c5 to c6 will threaten the
king…?
Test that hypothesis…

That didn’t work.

Let’s try again.
Test another hypothesis…

Maybe the answer is the moving that

e1 rook up to take the e7 knight…

…but that
hypothesis
isn’t the
best
answer,
either.

Let’s try again. Again...

Yea! This hypothesis works!

This hypothesis works!

I thought maybe moving the
e1 bishop to c4 would be a
good move, because I
thought it would put the king
in check. It worked! 