@jimj12 You definitely want to solve it all the way through.
Most tactics up to a certain point are completely trivial if you're capable of some deductive logic. I mean if you're in a position where you, crucially, know there is a tactic and you have the option of Qxh7+ or a bunch of normal moves then the first move is probably Qxh7+. You can make that move, see the result and after the move you'll probably be able to suss out the idea (if the computer doesn't immediately give away its queen ending the problem because it sees that as better than letting you find the super tricky mate in 7 Qxh7+ just started). You might've increased your tactical score a bit but you've certainly learned nothing doing it this way.
This is why in many ways I think books are better than online tactics trainers, particularly for those that don't have the discipline to not solve by the process of elimination. When you have to write out the line and all major defensive variations before seeing the answer (and generally doing these problems in batches of say 6 before checking any of them) then you have to really see everything before making the move.
Working everything out helps build the intuitive understanding that eventually let's players start to recognize tactics in a fraction of a second that lesser skilled players wouldn't find even if you gave them hours and especially not if you didn't tell them there was a crushing win available to them. It also improves your visualization and board vision, which are also crucial.
Most tactics up to a certain point are completely trivial if you're capable of some deductive logic. I mean if you're in a position where you, crucially, know there is a tactic and you have the option of Qxh7+ or a bunch of normal moves then the first move is probably Qxh7+. You can make that move, see the result and after the move you'll probably be able to suss out the idea (if the computer doesn't immediately give away its queen ending the problem because it sees that as better than letting you find the super tricky mate in 7 Qxh7+ just started). You might've increased your tactical score a bit but you've certainly learned nothing doing it this way.
This is why in many ways I think books are better than online tactics trainers, particularly for those that don't have the discipline to not solve by the process of elimination. When you have to write out the line and all major defensive variations before seeing the answer (and generally doing these problems in batches of say 6 before checking any of them) then you have to really see everything before making the move.
Working everything out helps build the intuitive understanding that eventually let's players start to recognize tactics in a fraction of a second that lesser skilled players wouldn't find even if you gave them hours and especially not if you didn't tell them there was a crushing win available to them. It also improves your visualization and board vision, which are also crucial.