In Online Chess, I rarely see anyone use the conditional move option. I do it often to speed play. Why do so few players use this option when moves seem obvious? Let me know your thoughts and whether you frequently play ahead.

Ya I use conditional moves to speed up play only when obvious and I think more people should do the same.

At least for me, its not the end of the journey that matters but the path travelled getting there.  I will use an occasional conditional but mostly I am in no hurry to complete my games.  When you are done you'll add another game anyway so why not enjoy the one you are playing?  When one orders a steak rarely do you see how fast you can gobble it down. 

If you want a fast game, go play blitz.

I have seen it used and got a shock when my opponent seemed to have replied instantly! Mmm, yeah, I might use it, when I consider less 'new fangled'.

I use it a lot. I especially like to add conditional moves against weaker opponents in postions where there is a big blunder available.

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Thanks for the input so far. As I read, I realize that my use of conditional moves is not completely to speed play. It also allows me to think about and analyze my opponent’s plans. I like the feature, regardless.

Thanks all.

Well, free players are only allowed one line of conditional moves so it can really only be used sparringly. Also, personally, it's annoying to spend time logging in 10 moves only to have your opponent do something completely different for their 2nd move (that's not to say it's a waste of time to plan your moves that far in advanced but the process of imputting the information for no gain is irksome).

Any time my opponents moves are forces I do use it.

I also really like the conditional move feature, but I only use it to plan two or perhaps three moves ahead, with the exception of forced mate sequences. I would like to be able to 'fork' a certain line after say two moves and continue it from the second move. I find it a bit tedious to do the same three-four forced first moves multiple times just to vary the last move in a line. If I could save the first moves and then create additional variations from there I would use it even more.

I have used it in the 3 games of online chess that I have played here, generally when I have a tactic set up for my opponent to fall into.

I never use it because I think it kind of demonstrates a show off - as if you are the king of chess and you know what is coming ahead... :)Well, not really, but it may make you nervous that while you know the next 4 moves for sure, your opponent is taking long to make a move in an obvious situation. So I rather play after opponent's move just in the normal sequence. You have nothing to gain from conditional moves but lose.

I have seen GM games where one side trades his queen and you know the next move  must be capturing the other queen in response (to get even) yet GMs sometimes spend some time for God knows what... It is psychological and you shouldn't rush at all in chess.

I use it when the obvious logical response of my opponent is limited to one move, otherwise I find it wastes too much of my time.

I use it sometimes, usually at end game when forced moves by my opponent usually only have one or two choices.