Why We Should Hate Blitz Chess

While I was in High School, I had the opportunity to participate in a chess tournament at a coffee shop just outside the University of Oklahoma. What made this experience so memorable compared to the other tournaments I frequently attended was the fact that each person only had five minutes on their clocks.   

Out of the 20 or so contestants, I am sure I placed dead last. Contrary to other tournaments where I frequently placed, this event left me scratching my head wondering what happened. Was it a fluke? Was I not versatile enough as a chess player? Was I a one-dimensional player trapped in a world where I needed a vast amount of time to make the right move? Was chess not for me?

Perhaps my perspective is biased due to distasteful childhood experience, but here are a few reasons why the amateur chess player should avoid making a quick game of chess their bread and butter.

1. Instant Gratification. Have you ever been impatiently waiting for someone to move? Have you felt the urge to check your phone mid-game? We always need something in front of us keeping our mind occupied, and thanks to the internet and mobile devices that has become the new reality. Chess is an art. Playing a quick game on your phone to pass the time has more in common with Tetris and Pacman then Fisher and Tal. 
2. Muscle Memory. Every night the strip in Vegas is flooded with 10,000's of tourists, and at one point or another most of them leave the shiny and bright slots to join the circle surrounding the miraculous graffiti man. An individual with a few cans of spray paint who can transform a blank canvas into a beautiful sunrise in minutes. Much like the artist in Vegas, the expert Chess Master has devoted countless hours pouring over openings, strategies, end games, and theory to become the flashy winner they are today. All we see is the tip of the iceberg, and not everything underneath the ocean. The moves they make can be compared to you tying your shoes, or washing dishes. It has become second nature because of the years of hard work that created the muscle memory.
3. The Art. All of the famous games we have come to know and love are not blitz games. They are hard-fought out battles between two titans. That can not be done in 10 minutes. Want to create your own art? Think it through. Sit down and enjoy a good game, take your time. Smell the roses.  

The man who won the tournament was the better chess player. If we played and I had all the time in the world I am sure he still would have won. I did not become a better player by participating in the blitz tournament. I have become a better player by reading chess books, analyzing Grand Master games, reviewing my past matches and reaching out to mentors.

Are you the hobbyist chess player looking to improve? Do not make the ten minute game your primary chess curricular.