Blitz for Beginners

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An_asparagusic_acid
SoupTime4 wrote:
An_asparagusic_acid wrote:
llama44 wrote:

I think blitz is useful to help gain experience. Especially young improving players can play 1000s of games and get a lot of experience... of course they also play lots of OTB too. Blitz is only part of the puzzle.

I don't know if I'd say it improves "intuition" but other than semantics we might not disagree.

Another benefit is that it can help beginners tactical skills.

I know 2 guys that made it to USCF Expert on nothing but tactics, and playing funky openings like the halloween/frankenstein or whatever its called gambit.  They do very well at their level.  But anytime they have to play in the Open section of a tournament, they get destroyed.  Chess is just something fun for them, so its not a big deal to them.

Tactics are overrated, against every single tactical opening there is a positional line.

SoupTime4
An_asparagusic_acid wrote:
SoupTime4 wrote:
An_asparagusic_acid wrote:
llama44 wrote:

I think blitz is useful to help gain experience. Especially young improving players can play 1000s of games and get a lot of experience... of course they also play lots of OTB too. Blitz is only part of the puzzle.

I don't know if I'd say it improves "intuition" but other than semantics we might not disagree.

Another benefit is that it can help beginners tactical skills.

I know 2 guys that made it to USCF Expert on nothing but tactics, and playing funky openings like the halloween/frankenstein or whatever its called gambit.  They do very well at their level.  But anytime they have to play in the Open section of a tournament, they get destroyed.  Chess is just something fun for them, so its not a big deal to them.

Tactics are overrated, against every single tactical opening there is a positional line.

This debate rages everywhere, and will never end.  I personally dont care what anyone studies (chess wise)  As long as they are having fun, what does it matter?  The debate of "tactics vs. strategy" will go on forever.  The only debate i wish would die is "Im rated 400.  What opening should i study?"

Terrible_Pete

Lots of great stuff here guys!

SoupTime4
Terrible_Pete wrote:

Lots of great stuff here guys!

Its like going to a buffet.  You get to pick and chose what you want.

wyoav211933

I think to get better at chess, you need a balanced diet. Playing blitz is gives you some experience, especially in openings, but it shouldn't be the entirely or even most prominent part of your chess life. I will disagree with a previous comment and say that I really think that "correspondence chess" is a good idea early on and you can learn a lot. Learn tactics! And going through GM games isn't as hard to follow as you think if the person giving annotations is good.

Nicator65

Well, there are very few examples of strong correspondence chess players becoming titled OTB players. And it could be argued that those few played OTB too.

The reason is that the player doesn't feel the pressure of having to solve a problem. It's like walking slowly instead of running. There are benefits of walking compared to not doing any exercise, but if someone wants to be in good shape then walking slowly is not the best method.

On tactics training, most of the time the positions have to be solved by activity and coordination... and not by a tactical shot.

Nicator65

Because... you say so?

Ziryab

It was a compliment. One of the highest possible. Now it’s gone. Think about that.

Nicator65

Ah, thanks and my apologies.