user18273: I am studying from Lazlo Polgar's "Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games", there are positions with heavy material imbalance for example like a lone King against Queen, 2 Knights and King under the category to find mate in 2 or 3 moves.
Some of them are not easy for me even after few minutes to find mate with the given 2 or 3 moves but I can easily do in 4 or 5 moves.
In cases like this with large material imbalance why should I spend my energy and time in finding the fastest sequence if I can do the same with slightly more number of moves?
What do I gain by knowing the fastest sequence?

user20776: There is no advantage if your goal is to improve your OTB rating.   The time wasted solving a problem in fewer moves would be better spent learning things that you could use in your games. 

18273: <p>I am studying from Lazlo Polgar's <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Chess-5334-Problems-Combinations-Games/dp/1884822312" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games"</a>, there are positions with heavy material imbalance for example like a lone King against Queen, 2 Knights and King under the category to find mate in 2 or 3 moves.</p>

<p>Some of them are not easy for me even after few minutes to find mate with the given 2 or 3 moves but I can easily do in 4 or 5 moves.</p>

<p>In cases like this with large material imbalance why should I spend my energy and time in finding the fastest sequence if I can do the same with slightly more number of moves?
What do I gain by knowing the fastest sequence?</p>
 20776: <p>There is no advantage if your goal is to improve your OTB rating.   The time wasted solving a problem in fewer moves would be better spent learning things that you could use in your games. </p>
