Here is an example of the types of puzzles the op is describing:
https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1332795
It's a rook and king vs king endgame. Optimal play is Mate in 4 with 1.Kg5. However, you can easily checkmate in greater than 4.
You can easily checkmate in 25 moves too.
The point of puzzles is to make you think like a better chess player, not a worse one
Learning the quickest way to execute an "obvious" win can be crucial in a speed game.
Here is an example of the types of puzzles the op is describing:
https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1332795
It's a rook and king vs king endgame. Optimal play is Mate in 4 with 1.Kg5. However, you can easily checkmate in greater than 4.
You can easily checkmate in 25 moves too.
The point of puzzles is to make you think like a better chess player, not a worse one
1. Kg5 forces Mate in 4, while 1. Kh5 forces Mate in 5. Unless you're in a situation where you'll hit the 50 move rule* when executing Mate in 5 instead of the Mate in 4, there is no reason to penalize the Mate in 5. It's just as good. It's a forcing sequence that wins the game.
* Note: The only way this situation would hit the 50 move rule would be if this game had been King and Rook vs. King for 46 moves prior to the start of the puzzle. Call me crazy, but I don't start puzzles assuming that the position is coming from a game that has been played that poorly.
Chess is finding the fastest way to mate regardless of the situation.
Once you start to see that, you'll get a higher level of understanding.
This is also why move orders are so specific, even just in the opening.
So yeah, welcome to chess 
I've just reported that puzzle. It has multiple solutions, every legal move wins except the ones that hang the rook immediately. That puzzle should just be deleted.
Warning: big baby alert. I'm going to complain. I'm going to over-exaggerate to make my point. I'm also extremely frustrated.
I feel like 9/10 chess.com puzzles are almost negative learning.
Oooo...you can fork the king and queen with your knight? Too bad, it was mate in 4. And in a bizarre sequence of moves too. Enjoy your -15 points.
Cool! You spotted mate in 3! Too bad there was another mate in 2...again, in an equally bizarre and unconventional way. Have another -13 points on the house.
See that hanging bishop? Take it! Ooops, sorry, in 3 moves you could have set up a pin that won the rook. Try not to let the -15 points sting.
Having trouble finding the move? Been staring at the screen for 10 minutes and have no idea where to begin? Sack the queen.
Not sure if you should check the king with the bishop or rook? Sack the queen.
Are you in a pawn endgame? Promote to queen...then sack it.
Are you in another king/pawn endgame? Is your king protecting your pawn and you're not sure if you should advance your king or your pawn first, even though regardless, your pawn will still be protected from the opponent's king? Good luck. You have a 50/50 chance of guessing right. But like guessing which way a USB goes into the slot, there's only a 10% you'll get it right on the first try.
Hey, you got the right move! But there are several more to go to solve the puzzle...and trust me, they're so weird, they're non-intuitive. Don't take the bait.
Wow! You actually solved that mate in 3! We have, just for you, 5 whole points! That's because it took you 1:43 to solve but you should have been able to get it in 0:27.
OK, I'm going to be completely serious here.
I feel that the majority of chess.com's puzzles are so non-intuitive, it's almost impractical. I realize that not every puzzle translates directly to how I'll play in a game, but I'll seriously look at a puzzle, immediately see a hanging piece, or an exchange where I'll end up +1, and then I'll sit there for 5 or even 10 minutes evaluating everything I can think of because I just know that there's a "gotcha" somewhere. Sometimes, after experiencing gotcha after gotcha, I'll see a hanging piece and I'll know that can't be it...I'm missing a mate in 3 or a way to win the queen. 10 minutes and -14 points later, nope...you should have just taken the hanging piece, idiot.
Yes, I'm aware I can do custom puzzles. Yes I'm aware I can adjust the rating range in custom puzzles. I'm complaining because I'm frustrated. And even though my observations above might be a little exaggerated, I there's some truth as well.
Or, maybe this is just the point of puzzles and I've reached my intellectual limit at the upper 1800s.
As an aside, it would be nice if there was a graph that could show you where, exactly, your weak points are...based on all your puzzles over the last 30, 60, or 90 days, here are the top 6 puzzle categories that seem to be giving you the hardest time, and then you can just click on the graph and start solving those puzzles. Maybe there is and I'm missing it?
Maybe I'm missing the point of puzzles altogether?
OK, I'm done.
No but you are right. I was solving a puzzles and came upon this:
It was black to move and I obviously took the hanging rook. BUT IT WAS WRONG. They had some BS move to escape a checkmate EVEN THOUGH THE HANGING ROOK WOULD PREVENT IT ASWELL!!
I was solving a puzzles and came upon this:
It was black to move and I obviously took the hanging rook. BUT IT WAS WRONG. They had some BS move to escape a checkmate EVEN THOUGH THE HANGING ROOK WOULD PREVENT IT ASWELL!!
I bet that you are talking about this: https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1170208/practice
And you are wrong.
1. - Bxh1 is just a draw, white obviously perpetual check you with Qf6+ Qg6+ Qh6+.
The "BS move" 1. - Ke7 (running away with the king) just wins. You don't win the rook, but you don't have to, you are up 2 pieces already.
Here is an example of the types of puzzles the op is describing:
https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1332795
It's a rook and king vs king endgame. Optimal play is Mate in 4 with 1.Kg5. However, you can easily checkmate in greater than 4.
Though, for some reason, the engine claims that it's a draw unless you play 1.Kg5. It's possible to make a mistake and end up with a stalemate or a draw by repetition, but I'm not sure why the engine assumes that will happen.
50... move... rule...
yes, i know it makes literally no sense
Here is an example of the types of puzzles the op is describing:
https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1332795
It's a rook and king vs king endgame. Optimal play is Mate in 4 with 1.Kg5. However, you can easily checkmate in greater than 4.
Though, for some reason, the engine claims that it's a draw unless you play 1.Kg5. It's possible to make a mistake and end up with a stalemate or a draw by repetition, but I'm not sure why the engine assumes that will happen.
Yes, there are such 50 move puzzles and they are valid... But an indicator would be nice...
First of all, I don’t think you’re doing that bad. Looking at your rating at Rapid, Blitz and Daily, you are doing quite well. If you can keep this up, your rating will improve in all of them.
Regarding the ‘fairness’ of the puzzles. This is a concern for all players. Everyone feels cheated every now and then. That;s why it’s good to realize that the puzzles are solid, designed to have a solution that’s demonstrably the best. That’s why people like Hikaru can blast through puzzles in seconds.
Another thing I’ve noticed watching streamers play puzzles is that they have a specific approach to solving puzzles. Also, they pause their move before they play and check other options. There’s a lot of great content available. Daniel Naroditsky’s content on puzzle solving was recently recommended to me.
I’ve also checked the last few puzzles that you failed, just to see if they were indeed difficult. Some were, but at least half of them were not. I can guarantee you'll do better if you take your time and focus.
@Duckfest - sorry to reopen such an old thread. But, I am really struggling and trying to improve. Do you remember what particular resource from Daniel Naroditsky was recommended to you? Blog post here or one of his videos. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
you are mad cuz bad lmao
just get good at puzzles smh
tactics bad lmfao
@Highlander156
I find NM Nelson Lopez (aka Chessvibes on YouTube) to be one of the best at explaining key concepts and puzzle-solving techniques, especially for people like me at the beginner/intermediate level. Here are links to two of his videos on puzzle-solving:
3 Step Process to Solve Chess Problems/Puzzles!
Solving Puzzles And Giving Explanations For 49 Puzzles In Puzzle Rush Survival Mode - Chess Tactics
tactics are mid.
thank you
IDEK
Warning: big baby alert. I'm going to complain. I'm going to over-exaggerate to make my point. I'm also extremely frustrated.
I feel like 9/10 chess.com puzzles are almost negative learning.
Oooo...you can fork the king and queen with your knight? Too bad, it was mate in 4. And in a bizarre sequence of moves too. Enjoy your -15 points.
Cool! You spotted mate in 3! Too bad there was another mate in 2...again, in an equally bizarre and unconventional way. Have another -13 points on the house.
See that hanging bishop? Take it! Ooops, sorry, in 3 moves you could have set up a pin that won the rook. Try not to let the -15 points sting.
Having trouble finding the move? Been staring at the screen for 10 minutes and have no idea where to begin? Sack the queen.
Not sure if you should check the king with the bishop or rook? Sack the queen.
Are you in a pawn endgame? Promote to queen...then sack it.
Are you in another king/pawn endgame? Is your king protecting your pawn and you're not sure if you should advance your king or your pawn first, even though regardless, your pawn will still be protected from the opponent's king? Good luck. You have a 50/50 chance of guessing right. But like guessing which way a USB goes into the slot, there's only a 10% you'll get it right on the first try.
Hey, you got the right move! But there are several more to go to solve the puzzle...and trust me, they're so weird, they're non-intuitive. Don't take the bait.
Wow! You actually solved that mate in 3! We have, just for you, 5 whole points! That's because it took you 1:43 to solve but you should have been able to get it in 0:27.
OK, I'm going to be completely serious here.
I feel that the majority of chess.com's puzzles are so non-intuitive, it's almost impractical. I realize that not every puzzle translates directly to how I'll play in a game, but I'll seriously look at a puzzle, immediately see a hanging piece, or an exchange where I'll end up +1, and then I'll sit there for 5 or even 10 minutes evaluating everything I can think of because I just know that there's a "gotcha" somewhere. Sometimes, after experiencing gotcha after gotcha, I'll see a hanging piece and I'll know that can't be it...I'm missing a mate in 3 or a way to win the queen. 10 minutes and -14 points later, nope...you should have just taken the hanging piece, idiot.
Yes, I'm aware I can do custom puzzles. Yes I'm aware I can adjust the rating range in custom puzzles. I'm complaining because I'm frustrated. And even though my observations above might be a little exaggerated, I there's some truth as well.
Or, maybe this is just the point of puzzles and I've reached my intellectual limit at the upper 1800s.
As an aside, it would be nice if there was a graph that could show you where, exactly, your weak points are...based on all your puzzles over the last 30, 60, or 90 days, here are the top 6 puzzle categories that seem to be giving you the hardest time, and then you can just click on the graph and start solving those puzzles. Maybe there is and I'm missing it?
Maybe I'm missing the point of puzzles altogether?
OK, I'm done.
Literally the only thing I got from this was that you saw a good move but failed to look for a better one.
efficient technique is important in a time scramble situation.