Tactics Drainer

Been playing for a month now and see no benefit to the trainer. I decided to slow down and respond carefully with an 87% rate but I am losing points to time. In fact the few mistakes I make are made from impulse not recognition. I have also noted that the problems are not much easier. I've sampled much higher rated problems with similar results.

Which is better 1100 level with 90% or 1900 with 50%? I am positive most players would choose the latter but I am not so sure. Most chess games are lost on mistakes and I think the best way to improve is by not making them, or just letting your opponent make them first.

Losing points for correctly solving a puzzle is about to go away.  It doesn't happen over at V3.  You can also choose what kind of problems you want in a vastly improved unrated version.  I mostly choose problems I've already missed.  Bit humbling to see how often I miss them again.  

Yes, you may want to try ChessTempo, which is probably the best tactics trainer available at the moment.

Thanks, I love solving problems but not with frustration. Practice does not help unless you can gauge your level of competence. Even though I can get >85%, my "level" is stagnant because I am solving through the tactics and using too much time.

No credit is given for accuracy.

ChessTempo has a standard mode, where only accuracy is rewarded (there's no time limit), and a very interesting mixed mode, where you don't lose anything up to 5min thinking time. Besides, mixed mode mixes attacking and defensive problems, which is a good simulation of a real game.

Just what I wanted from a trainer. Thanks again.

ChessTempo is better, but there is no reason to treat tactics training resources as either/or. Use CT. Use chess.com. Use Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations. Use Nunn's puzzle book, and Reinfeld's, and Alburt's, ...

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