New DM. How should I go about fights / encounters?

[Garretmander]

It depends on your group, but at level one I would probably use 3-4 low CR enemies, then give them a chance at a 10 min rest, then 1-2 enemies, followed by a equal CR enemy without a rest between those two or something along those lines.

Figuring out an encounter's CR is relatively easy, figuring out the pacing between encounters is more difficult to figure out what works and what doesn't.

[Metaphysician]

So, silly question: what CR of enemies *were* you using? Because, for example, against a party of level 1 characters, a group of four CR 1 opponents is a deadly encounter that stands a very high chance of inflicting a total party wipe and/or killing PCs.