If im studying chess, lets say tactic positions, should i concentrate as hard as i can until i sipher the best move even should it take me 2 hours, or set up a time limit and if i cant solve it move on?

Thanks for your answers :D

In my personal opinion - don't set limits for yourself. I've screwed up games I know I could have won, but I rushed and then blundered. Take your time.

Whats up peace maker, thanks for the advice always appreciate it :D, wish you luck on our game, although i know u dont need it.

Anytime - just remember, we have 14 days per move on that game. So take your time with it, think it through completely, then think it through again, and have some fun with it :)

Spending 2 hours until you figure out one tactical sequence is not a good use of your time, not to mention it would be so fustrating you wouldn't want to see a chessboard for a few weeks.  Think of it this way, what do you think will make you better at chess?  Learning 600 basic tactics (spending 10 seconds per problem), or spending 2 hours learning one impressive combination?

Not that longer problems don't have their place, they wire your brain to combine tactics and such, but again you shouldn't be spending 2 hours on one problem.

No ive already been through the easy ones im just going through the complicated ones now... i think im not concentrating as i should.

And for the frustration part... believe me if you solve a complex GM problem even in 2 or 3 hours you feel great, once making it through. Once i finish studying tactics im going for strategy.

No - look at the answer after 2 mins. It is the time you have for OTB.

You need to recognise the patterns

It's like studying flashcards for an exam... you don't stare at a single card for two hours, even if it is a very challenging one. If your trying to memorize tactical patterns, just go through a set of problems at your own pace.

Go through openings, try to memorize and recognize various openings and ways to respond to them. Go through most common openings first: "how do I counter King's Gambit Accepted from white? From black?"

Go over grandmaster games, and try to understand precisely why they did what they did (what was the immediate goal and then what was the later effect?).

And most importantly, practice practice practice. Use those patterns and positions against your opponent. Even play against a master or grandmaster to see how they react to various situations. After I play against a master or grandmaster, I often ask for commentary on the match afterwards. Even not against masters and grandmasters, I strike up conversation on the game ex post facto to see what my opponent was thinking during the game.

That's how you improve.

YOU STINK BOO!

 Look who's talking...

Dont take it personal stinkyfeet, at least you tried to do a puzzle of your own, you just nedd to do one where the best moves are done.

Ouch! Do you want some aloe for that burn? Hahahahaha