Puzzles with more than one good solution.

Hi,

I'm a novice adult chess player. I play for the love of the game.

In solving puzzles on the site it seems some have more than one good solution, but, if you don't pick the "right" move it's "puzzle failed." My question is, is the move in the puzzle always "the best" move?

If yes, that's good to know. If, no, then I just won't worry about it. In the vast majority of cases for me, if I fail a puzzle, I really didn't see the best move. However, that isn't always the case. A small number the puzzles seem to have more than one good move or solution.

Your thoughts?

My personal recommendation: check with the engine. In the majority of cases there's a catch in the "2nd best" solution. Not necessarily, but as far as I am concerned it's rather a PEBKAC story.

I'd like to have puzzles where the goal isn't to "play the best move" but to demonstrate that you can play good enough moves to with the game.

Normally puzzles are generated to have one and only one good solution (source: lichess blog post, but I'm to lazy to find it)

I would like lichess to train me to spot positions the moment they become a puzzle e.g. https://tailuge.github.io/chess-o-tron/html/blunder-bomb.html?p=KG - (This uses the 'learn from your mistakes' code, but you have to decide when the opponents mistake has happened in a passage of play)

Best @Sarg0n advice: https://lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/tactics-are-the-only-thing-you-need-to-reach-a-2000-rating-on-lichess#7

@Steve10000 , I have encountered this as well. In a situation where you move a knight to give a discovered attack on the enemy queen, for example. There are two different knight moves that will work, but if I choose the one that was not played in the actual game, then it will tell me that I failed the puzzle, even though my move was fine. It is a guessing game in those instances. However, if you have a choice of moves, it is always possible that there is some clever counter move if one of your options is played. You must check carefully. If you do not understand, take it to the analysis board and make sure that both moves are okay.

No and I'm definitely sure of it, there is always ONE best move in lichess puzzles.

Now sometimes there are alternatives good enough moves to win the game quite easily for a human but this doesn't mean that there isn't a better move. I checked with the computer and somehow it has always been right about that.

Source : An article I've read a while ago and the 1000+ puzzles I've solved (or attempted to solve) on this site (with 600+ on this account).

Puzzles should only have one good continuation. If it doesn't it will be removed. Please supply links to broken puzzles.

Thank you, all, for the very helpful comments and suggestions.

I can't say I've seen an "broken" puzzles. I think any such would be spotted right away and removed. No?

All the Puzzles seems fine as far as I can tell. Puzzles are a great feature offered here. My question -- which I think has been well answered -- was simply this. Is the puzzle's "right" move always the "best" move? It seems that, while, in some instances, there are multiple playable lines in a Puzzle, finding that "right move" is excellent training for players seeking to improve at the game.

Off topic: I'm learning to consult the engine on games more often. In addition, I've been reviewing game moves prior to looking for the solution. This seems to help me grasp how the positions were arrived at which, in turn, helps find the right move.

Thank you, and good luck with your games. :-)

Some moves can be stylistic and open to interpretation. Tactical problems are different though. There is a clear,objective
right and wrong answer. If I ask what is 2+2 and you answer 3.99 it's wrong no matter how close it is to the right answer.