Blitz: Training Tool or Talent Killer?
Dear chess friends,
Let me start with a challenge. Can you guess the time control of these three thrilling games played at the very top level? Your task: Can you figure out which was played in classical, which was rapid, and which was in blitz?
Game 1: Carlsen – Rapport
Game 2: Nakamura – Caruana
Game 3: Ding Liren – Dubov
Each game features deep opening preparation, clever tactics, and strategic brilliance. But behind each one lies a different time control—and only one was played with hours on the clock. The answer is at the end of the article, but there is no scrolling down just yet! Try to guess after analyzing the games.
Blitz in the 70s: A Forbidden Fruit
When I was a boy, our chess coach had a strict rule: no blitz before tournaments. This was the 1970s—no increments, no digital clocks, and flagging was often how games ended. His mantra was legendary: “Think 20 minutes for your first 5 moves!” We found this extreme… until we understood, much later, what he meant. He was teaching us depth, not speed.
The Digital Chess Boom: Blitz Everywhere
Fast-forward to today: Engines stronger than any human. Chess platforms where you can play 24/7. Tournaments in blitz, bullet, rapid—practically every day. Back then, if a player stopped coming to the club, we assumed they'd quit chess. Now? They might be playing 300 blitz games a week—just online.
What Do the Legends Say?
The great Botvinnik, patriarch of the Soviet chess school, forbade young pupils from playing blitz. And the results of his students speak volumes. Even Magnus Carlsen, while known for his blitz prowess, once said: “Blitz is fun—but it’s not real chess.” But then again… he defended his world title twice against Karjakin and Caruana via rapid tiebreaks. And Ding Liren became World Champion after winning in a rapid playoff with Nepomniatschi.
Blitz for Kids: Controlled Chaos or Bad Habit?
Today, I coach young players. Parents often ask me: “Is blitz harmful to my child’s chess development?” My answer? It depends—on how it’s used. Unsupervised blitz? Often harmful. Promotes bad habits: shallow calculation, instinct over thought. Blitz with purpose? It can be incredibly useful.Training openings, practicing time management, reinforcing pattern recognition, simulating tournament pressure.
My advice: Let your students play blitz, but in moderation. And always review the games. Use it as a tool, not a crutch.
My Advice to Parents and Coaches
Watch how much blitz your child plays. Make sure it’s not their only form of chess. Use blitz to train openings and sharpen tactics—but not as a substitute for deeper thought. Review blitz games together. Ask: Why this move? What was missed? Make room for slow play. Encourage classical and rapid formats too.
And Now… the Answer
So—did you guess correctly? Here are the time controls for the games: Carlsen – Rapport: Rapid, Nakamura – Caruana: Classical, Ding Liren – Dubov: Blitz. Only one of my friends guessed all three correctly… and then sheepishly admitted he’d seen the games before.
What Do You Think?
So now I turn it over to you:
Is blitz helping or hurting young players? Do you use it in training—or avoid it?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences.
#Blitz #ChessTraining #ChessForKids #Carlsen #DingLiren #Botvinnik #ChessCoaching
