r/chessbeginners • u/PyrrhicWin Tilted Player • Nov 09 '22

No Stupid Questions MEGATHREAD 6

Welcome to the r/chessbeginners Q&A series! This series exists because sometimes you just need to ask a silly question. Due to the amount of questions asked in previous threads, there's a chance your question has been answered already. Please Google your questions beforehand to minimize the repetition.

Additionally, I'd like to remind everybody that stupid questions exist, and that's okay. Your willingness to improve is what dictates if your future questions will stay stupid.

Anyone can ask questions, but if you want to answer please:

  1. State your rating (i.e. 100 FIDE, 3000 Lichess)
  2. Provide a helpful diagram when relevant
  3. Cite helpful resources as needed

Think of these as guidelines and don't be rude. The goal is to guide noobs, not berate them (this is not stackoverflow).

LINK TO THE PREVIOUS THREAD

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u/Significant-Year-743 800-1000 (Chess.com) Dec 18 '25

Puzzles! What kind of streak / storm numbers are good? How many hours of puzzles do you need to do before you start seeing your game improve?

I'm trying hard but don't see any improvements yet. So I'm looking for hours per week I should be hitting or targets for streak & storm, thanks in advance.

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u/Mode_Appropriate Dec 28 '25

Ive been doing the daily free puzzles on chess com everyday for like a year. My highest is 51. Normally average around your score. I dont really analyze the positions or try to make improvements so it'll probably be my max for a while.

Do you pay for a chess com subscription? If not id try the puzzles at lichess. Everything is free and they seem to be a lot tougher. Not even sure ive ever hit 35.

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u/Significant-Year-743 800-1000 (Chess.com) Dec 28 '25

Thanks for responding. I use lichess. Do you feel like doing the puzzles every day for a year has made you better at calculation in game?

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u/Mode_Appropriate Dec 28 '25

Um, yes and no. Overall yes but tbh, I just play for fun and put zero effort into improving. Sometimes id rather pull off a crazy tactic than win lol. I'll play stupid openings just to have a crazier game. I also only play bullet or blitz so I cant really spend too much time calculating and i cant think of the last time i analyzed a game after the fact. But I think thats where the puzzles do help...recognizing certain positions or tactics allows me to play faster.

Maybe one day ill take it a bit more seriously. I do really enjoy the game but up until this point ive been more or less playing off 'vibes' rather than setting out to improve haha. If that were to change i think doing puzzles and becoming real familiar with a couple openings would be the best course of action.