Does improvement include not only studying mistakes but also why one made them?
Or why other players make them?
I would say yes to both.
Okay, what you say certainly sounds right.
My question: technically, is it correct to say that efficiency in solving a position in a puzzle consists essentially in the precise calculation of moves ( tactics ), but it doesn't require strategic skills such as position analysis and more general evaluations that are essential in solving studies ?
'Calculation' and 'Observation' are different.
Observation pertains to 'what's going on in the position'.
Calculation is the preparation and comparison of precise sequences of moves.
See the difference?
Failure to appreciate the difference will result in gross inefficiency.
Could you elaborate on what exactly you think is the difference between a puzzle and a study. I often hear strong players talk about a puzzle, "as if it might as well be a study", without directly defining the difference.
In my language (Italian), the distinction is between "Problema" and "studio". Problema is something like: "White checkmates in 3 moves", while "Studio" is like: "White moves and wins". From this point of view, the puzzles would be more studies than problemas, but solving these presented here and others, they all seem to me to be only based on tactics, while the (few) studies that I have seen defined as such seemed to me much more complex, not only based on a precise, short sequence of moves to calculate. That's the difference I seem to have seen.
Again, it's possible that I'm talking nonsense. Enlighten me, I'm interested.
A puzzle doesn't have to specify a particular number of moves.
A study is often something that's composed.
Its a misconception to think that tactics only pertain to tactics and not to positional play.
Or that positional play only pertains to positional play.
Or that a move can't be both positional and tactical.
Does all that seem Obvious??
The point is that players have these misconceptions or they are gradually indoctrinated in.