Why puzzles often only +5, but -15?!
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So-Mi-Do
Apr 28, 2023
0
#1
I've gotten my puzzle rating as high as 1800 or so, but I've gotten so frustrated! When I get a puzzle right I get only +5 or maybe as much as +11 on occasion. But when I miss a puzzle at any point, it is always -15 or more. So it feels like I have to get three right for every wrong. I just can't get ahead! What's up?!
Apr 28, 2023
0
#2
Puzzles have ratings. If you are 1800 and you solve a 1300 puzzle, you will get only some few points. When you solve harder puzzles you get more points.
Apr 29, 2023
0
#3
So-Mi-Do wrote:
I've gotten my puzzle rating as high as 1800 or so, but I've gotten so frustrated! When I get a puzzle right I get only +5 or maybe as much as +11 on occasion. But when I miss a puzzle at any point, it is always -15 or more. So it feels like I have to get three right for every wrong. I just can't get ahead! What's up?!
Rating gained is both a function of the puzzle rating vs the time to solve vs the average solve time. So solving correctly faster will give more points.
Apr 30, 2023
0
#4
I pushed to my current high of 1908 TODAY! And I used some ideas from here:
Apr 30, 2023
0
#6
2) If not fast then slow down and at least get it right. Many puzzles start to have the same patterns that can be recognized fast (which is the point, I guess).
My tips for solving puzzles:
Take a break if you get angry. I get it, you want to get more points. Just relax and return later. I found out the hard way after losing 200 points in one sitting.
Scan the whole board
Look for checks and captures (Forks, skewers, pins included)
Find hidden resources (Ex. double checks?)
Every once in a while, I get a huge puzzle rating increase. Probably because I'm actually awake.
Also regarding the topic itself, the rating you lose is constant from the start. However, the amount you gain decreases the longer you take. The minimum you can gain is +5, even if you spend an hour on the puzzle. As long as you get it right.
Mar 24, 2025
0
#8
IMAdamRoshak wrote:
No, you are definitely correct about it being rigged. I have solved five plus move puzzles that were very high rated and consistently every time get only five points and yet on the same difficult puzzles I get the very last move wrong, minus 20. Honestly most of the puzzles are just designed to trick you and get you tilted. Chess is hard enough but these rigged BS puzzles on this site are some of the most infuriating things I have ever taken part in. I reached a peak rating of 2337 and got tricked on 10 straight and within minutes you lose 200-300 points of rating. It is a an absolute joke and a waste of time.
There have been some changes related to how ratings are being handled and some members currently are seeing the updates. The overall system is supposed to be improved but my understanding is part of the change is trying to handle ratings inflation in puzzles.
Mar 24, 2025
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#9
If you fail an "easy" puzzle (for your rating), it assumes you underperformed.
Mar 25, 2025
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#10
You can change the puzzles you get in Lichess tho. But I like Chess.com better than Lichess rn.
Mar 25, 2025
0
#11
They developed the current points system with target times in 2017. They initially gave a minimum of one point for a correct answer.
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/suggestions/tactics-trainer-average-time-1
But a lot of people got upset.
So they changed it so you would get five points for a correct answer, no matter how long you took.
14 days ago
0
#12
So-Mi-Do wrote:
I've gotten my puzzle rating as high as 1800 or so, but I've gotten so frustrated! When I get a puzzle right I get only +5 or maybe as much as +11 on occasion. But when I miss a puzzle at any point, it is always -15 or more. So it feels like I have to get three right for every wrong. I just can't get ahead! What's up?!
because chess.com programmers have no clue what their doing
1 day ago
0
#13
So-Mi-Do wrote:
I've gotten my puzzle rating as high as 1800 or so, but I've gotten so frustrated! When I get a puzzle right I get only +5 or maybe as much as +11 on occasion. But when I miss a puzzle at any point, it is always -15 or more. So it feels like I have to get three right for every wrong. I just can't get ahead! What's up?!
the puzzle ratings on chess.com are all messed up that's what up
20 hrs ago
0
#14
Well, i know that you shouldnt compare the two, but yesterday or so i played a lot of puzzle battles, and i got mostly 5-11 points for a win. While three of my opponents who lost, lost between 160 and 200 points. Which is honestly ridicilous. I read on an older forum here, that this is because if you dont play puzzle battles alot, and you lose a game, you lose more points at the beggining. Which is in my opinion also weird because if you see that you get around 5-10 per win means that you need to win 20 such games.. But you know, thats life.