Scoring of Learn Area.

I enjoy doing the "Learn" training puzzles. But the scoring there is pretty funny.

You solve one that's a little tricky to figure out, and maybe get 2 points. You goof one that's about the same or even considerably harder, and get dinged for 12 points or something. That makes no sense to me, unless somebody is trying to keep our "grade point averages" low.

The byproduct of this could also be that someone who doesn't want to lose points takes extra time solving one, because the cost of blowing it is higher than the gain from solving it. That, to me, is really the opposite of training, because rather than learning to calculate faster (a benefit), you become accustomed to being able to take forever.

And it's also less fun if it's taking a long time. Any thoughts?

I have many thoughts about the content of the puzzles as well as how the rating system works.

I personally prefer Chess Tempo although Learn is good for beginners I think.

At the end of the day, puzzle rating means has little value. If it does bother you so much, then take your time and fully calculate it.

I disagree with your point about the "byproduct" as well. It seems you are suggesting that taking time to calculate is not as productive as instantly being able to solve a puzzle.

Lastly, if it's taking you a long time to calculate, then you should learn how to calculate faster.
How do you learn how to calculate faster?
By calculating.
Not by jumping on the first move you see and finding out it is a blunder.

We'll agree to disagree, then. As the puzzle scoring is pretty clearly arbitrary anyway, I'll just not take it seriously, and assume it won't improve.

[Toadofsky, thanks for the tip!]