I don't understand what's going on. 2 weeks ago, I started doing puzzles and swirled through it so easily, and got to 2200 ratings. I then managed to maintain at around 2000-2100 for a while, and I do not know if I suddenly have some health issues going on but a week later after that, I am now stuck at 1700 after losing so many puzzles. The puzzles suddenly seem so hard to spot and it's very hard puzzles too, some of them are from rated games ranging in 2500...
Chess,com puzzles are extremely easy compared to lichess puzzles...
Hi there! I understand your frustration—it’s tough when progress feels like it’s slipping away. I’ve been there too. When I felt stuck, I went back to mastering the basics—practicing simple tactical themes like forks, pins, and skewers until they became second nature. This helped me simplify complex positions more easily. Lichess puzzles can feel harder because they often come from higher-rated games, so mixing in chess.com puzzles or focusing on specific topics might help. Also, don’t underestimate the value of playing some blitz or rapid games to apply your puzzle knowledge in real-time; just limit bullet to 5–7 games to avoid burnout. Analyzing failed puzzles and using resources like The Woodpecker Method or Jeremy Silman’s books can also make a big difference. Remember, a rating drop doesn’t mean you’re getting worse—it might just mean you’re tackling harder challenges. Stay patient and consistent—it’s all part of the process!
hope that helps :) and yea I am always free for giving more advice!
@Finnessed hey happy new year!
@schizoplayer said in #1:
> The puzzles suddenly seem so hard to spot and it's very hard puzzles too
Some observations that really helped me lately, but purely personal opinion (even though based on things better Players have said).
1. Setting a time limit for doing rated puzzles or a limit on the number (like three) per day, is really useful.
Why?
If I don't, I get sloppy, if I fail one I can always "fix my rating" with the next. This is really bad, because you form bad habits, if you only have three rated attempts you must really think every possibility through before entering a move and that's ultimately what you should be training.
Also really makes you think why you failed one, and I think one can actually learn a lot from that too, "what did I overlook" and "why" etc...
It may feel like cheating to take 15min for one puzzle but this way you get bet better, faster precise thinking comes from a lot of slow precise thinking, that slowly gets faster over time through practice.
Also less tilting if you can only loose 30 points or so per day.
Then I do unrated runs also, maybe I should do those rated too, I'm not sure...
2. Like finessed said easy puzzles also help a lot because that's a completly different skill than analytical thinking. I use the difficulty setting I do "easier" and "easy" to train my instant and medium pattern recognition. These I atm mostly do on the category specific ones "Fork", "pin" etc.
3. I do unrated harder just to get really challenged (and fail mostly...)
Sorry for the long rant hope some of it is useful...
@lonelypeanut said in #3:
> @Finnessed hey happy new year!
>Happpppyyy New year Friend :)
>
> Some observations that really helped me lately, but purely personal opinion (even though based on things better Players have said).
>
> 1. Setting a time limit for doing rated puzzles or a limit on the number (like three) per day, is really useful.
> Why?
> If I don't, I get sloppy, if I fail one I can always "fix my rating" with the next. This is really bad, because you form bad habits, if you only have three rated attempts you must really think every possibility through before entering a move and that's ultimately what you should be training.
> Also really makes you think why you failed one, and I think one can actually learn a lot from that too, "what did I overlook" and "why" etc...
>
> It may feel like cheating to take 15min for one puzzle but this way you get bet better, faster precise thinking comes from a lot of slow precise thinking, that slowly gets faster over time through practice.
> Also less tilting if you can only loose 30 points or so per day.
>
> Then I do unrated runs also, maybe I should do those rated too, I'm not sure...
>
> 2. Like finessed said easy puzzles also help a lot because that's a completly different skill than analytical thinking. I use the difficulty setting I do "easier" and "easy" to train my instant and medium pattern recognition. These I atm mostly do on the category specific ones "Fork", "pin" etc.
>
> 3. I do unrated harder just to get really challenged (and fail mostly...)
>
> Sorry for the long rant hope some of it is useful...
@schizoplayer said in #1:
> I don't understand what's going on. 2 weeks ago, I started doing puzzles and swirled through it so easily, and got to 2200 ratings. I then managed to maintain at around 2000-2100 for a while, and I do not know if I suddenly have some health issues going on but a week later after that, I am now stuck at 1700 after losing so many puzzles. The puzzles suddenly seem so hard to spot and it's very hard puzzles too, some of them are from rated games ranging in 2500...
>
> Chess,com puzzles are extremely easy compared to lichess puzzles...
Thats the same to me i was 2700 and then back to 2000 i ma stuck here i dont know but i g=agree with u
@Dushyanth123 said in #5:
> Thats the same to me i was 2700 and then back to 2000 i ma stuck here i dont know but i g=agree with u
There was also a change in how puzzles are rated a while ago, that had an impact on the difficulty, I remember a thread about that.
@lonelypeanut said in #3:
> It may feel like cheating to take 15min for one puzzle but this way you get bet better, faster precise thinking comes from a lot of slow precise thinking, that slowly gets faster over time through practice.
There is another argument for "slow puzzles", i.e. harder puzzles and working on them for longer time. Many players, especially young and those playing mostly rapid/blitz, feel that they cannot actually use longer time controls efficiently; even if they stare at the board for 5-10 minutes, they still don't see anything they didn't in first 15-30 seconds. The problem is mostly with inability to focus on the position long and deep enough. Doing hard puzzles and focusing on them until you solve them, even if it takes 15 minutes or more, can be a way to fix this problem.
Ps: I've just tried rated on "easier" and boy it's crazy, I've not gotten a single one wrong but also not gotten a whole point for it yet.
BUT because I know I'll lose 35 or maybe even 60 if I get one wrong I'm also going about it a lot more carefully, it's really interesting.
Guessing and being right 90% of the time and really trying to be 100% sure are very different things.
I might keep doing the easier ones rated now, thanks to this thread, we'll see. ;)
PPS: sorry again for spamming, but I'm fascinated by this experience the "easiest" puzzles gain a totally new quality doing them rated, I can spot the tactic basically instantly, but proving that it's the best move and won't lose me 65 rating points takes a lot more time and different thinking muscle. Very cool. Who knew 1200 rated puzzles could be so difficult?
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