Time Management in Chess: Striking the Balance Between Speed and Strategy

Often, chess players overlook the importance of time and its management, finding themselves under pressure in unfavorable situations, which forces them to make mistakes that could cost them the game.

To understand the importance of time, you must first know that engines (like Stockfish) calculate the best move, but they do not account for the time needed to make that move!

For example, if you see one move that gives you an advantage of a pawn after 3 moves, and another that gives you an advantage of two pawns after 10 moves, which is better if you're playing blitz chess?

If you ask the engine this question, it will tell you that the move that gives an advantage of two pawns after 10 moves is better. And this, my dear, is the essence of the problem.

Engines vs. Humans in Time Management:

The engine can calculate thousands, even millions, of variations in just a few seconds. But as a player, you need much more time to calculate 10 moves, which is not feasible in blitz chess.

Thus, in blitz chess, the priority becomes the move that gives you an advantage after 3 moves, as it is more suitable for the nature of the game and its time constraints.

Time Management in Classical Chess:

As for classical games, the situation is different. You have plenty of time to think. But imagine thinking like the engines and trying to calculate all possible moves and the opponent's responses. If you start doing this, by the fourth move, you will realize that you need years of thinking to make a single move!

So, what is the right way to manage time in matches?

In reality, this is highly relative. You go through different phases during the game. Sometimes you need to think a lot about a single move, sometimes you should play at a steady pace, and sometimes you might need to take more risks and play quickly.

Types of Moves:

- Reversible move (temporary): This is the type of move that can be reversed in the later stages of the game. Usually, old positions can be restored over time and planning, as knights, bishops, and rooks can move between squares and return to previous positions.
  
- Irreversible move (pawns): Pawns, once moved, change the position permanently. Thus, you should take your time before making these moves, as they are decisions that cannot be undone.

Time Distribution Throughout the Game:

It is important to be flexible in how you distribute time during the game:

• Openings: Do not waste too much time here. Openings are often prepared in advance or well-known, but that doesn’t mean you should rush; just review your move carefully before making a decision.
• Middle game (tactics and strategies): This is the phase where you should spend the most time, as you make crucial decisions regarding permanent moves and complex tactics.
• Endgame: At this stage, you can sometimes take risks and play quickly, or sometimes remain calm. It depends on how well you’ve managed your time in the previous two phases.

Conclusion:

Time management is one of the keys to success in chess, whether you’re playing classical or blitz chess. The important thing is knowing when to think deeply and when to act quickly. Always remember that the engine has enough time to calculate millions of moves, but as a player, you need to make decisions wisely, balancing between quality and speed.