tactics timing

I'd like to see the time allowed for solving tactics puzzles either extended or eliminated.  In a real game, I don't lose points by taking a few extra seconds to find the best move, but I do on chess.com tactics trainer!  This is bad because it gets you in the habit of moving quickly.  Most articles I read about improvement say that you should focus on a deliberate thought process.  Chess.com tactics trainer needs to be modified to support better training!

The time is based on double the average time taken by all other members.

This is always an open question ... it really depends on what your goals on using the trainer are.  

Many a titled player has come out and said that if you don't see a simple shot within 10-30 seconds,  you're not going to see it even after 3 minutes. Trainers train your ability to recall patterns ... and perhaps this is why many a chess server "rewards" people who are "looking up from their mental database" more often than relying on raw calculation.

At the other extreme => IF

- You like to calculate forcing lines to quiescence as cleanly as possible as you would in a OTB game with reasonable time controls

- You have enough discipline to not make the first move on intuition (and hope to score the next move lazily by relying on piece moves) and actually calculate whole sequences in your head.

- Are more interested in learning and accumulating patterns than feeding your current levels of narcissism via a braggable rating.

THEN  just enjoy the dang trainer and don't bother about the rating. :)

I find it hard to believe that if one is sincere about their training method and has enough discipline, they would get distracted into rushing through analytical positions such as these tactics exercises. If you did, you've got more problems with your chess than the trainer is ever going to help you solve.

Excellent reply, Shivsky.

That's my suggestion to. Turn off the timer and just try to solve the tactic. That's the process I've been trying to do, though I still will do the instinctual move before calculating it out, more than I should. I'm still working on that

Yes, the allotted time for a specific problem evolves, based on the times taken by all the people who have solved it.  If there have only been a few people before you, you'll see that your own result can have a noticeable change on the time control if you weren't at or close to the previous average.

By increased percentages of correct answers and if you are doing them quickly enough (even by ignoring the ticker) then eventually you should still notice an improvement in rating as you get quicker at recognizing the patterns.

I think the timer is probably helpful for blitz/bullet players. However, for those of us who prefer more civilised time controls, it's more about getting the problem right within, say, 5 minutes.

I have to agree with the thread starter. 

For what's worth, you can turn off the obnoxious (graphical) timer in your Tactics Trainer settings.

You can also play untimed/unrated and track improvement by watching your overall accuracy % grow.

Or you can use the tool as recommended: Don't rush, don't think of the timer. Just focus, find the right answer, look for a better right answer , make your move (lather, rinse, repeat).  With practice, you should get more accuracy, faster.

A lot of tactics skill is an output of evolved pattern-recognition:  Someone who can find the smothered mate in 15 seconds is better at it than someone who needs two minutes.