Why do some people play obnoxiously fast in a 30-minute game (and often still defeat me)?

30 min games (rapid) have most trophies for league, mabey they just wanna get the trophiest  and split

idk

The thing about long time controls is that you're not just thinking on your own time. You can also identify what your opponent is likely to do, and have contingency plans based on that. So your opponent may have used little time, but that doesn't mean that they weren't thinking.

So if I were to play a game against Magnus and I had an hour and he had a minute, he'd destroy me. He would identify what it is that I'm likely to do, and already decide what to do before I even move. If I surprise him and do something that is unexpected, it's probably a blunder that he'll take advantage of without even having to think.

@NikkiLikeChikki also a very good point!

So when you're playing a long game, you shouldn't just be sitting there. You should be asking yourself the whole time "what is my opponent trying to do and what will I do if that happens."

@NikkiLikeChikki

In online chess, yes. In OTB chess, trust me, it is best to just get your head free and get a break and think nothing at all and let intuition lead your game. This rule only applies to a certain set.

However I am pretty sure the one who asked the question meant people who do not think at all, but just throw out random developing moves, not valueing the richness of openings and possibilities available in a game of chess, but just blindly applying there semi-knowledge. Those kind of players do not think much at all, they treat every game the same, no matter if bullet, blitz or classical. Maybe bcs of boredom, idk, but they sure as hell do not analyse much while the other is thinking for a minute. They just deviate if anything is obviously attacked and otherwise continue in their way.

Not OTB chess itself, at all. Not the opponent. But the surroundings. Often enough someone had a phone call next to our championship match and this was considered to be "normal" - also I have the tendency to look what others are doing too, look at the other boards, other players... then there is the whole covid regulations and every cough becomes irritating aswell.. I guess it is rough times to play chess and I have chosen a very stressful environment. But in a way I suffer from what Fischer suffered - getting distracted way too easily. However I heard from people that are not as easily distracted that they suffered of the same, so it really isn't just me - the environment just is distracting, loud and noisy. In online chess you can really cut out everything that disturbs you - noise, light, whatever.

Now I love OTB chess, but I would need more time to think when I get distracted every 5 minutes from something. I heard the advice from others of my chess club to not overthink too much, because you just get in time trouble. I heard from others how they are way too lazy to calculate lines to the end or aren't even capable of. Playing OTB chess (the real chess actually) is a completely own cup of tea. You can't compare it to online chess. Also you play in a much safer, more drawish way than in online chess, where you easily risk everything from time to time just to have fun.

To get to the point, my experience is, that it's absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to concentrate for 3 hours straight. You can be glad if you can use your own time correctly, don't waste your energy thinking about your opponent's responses - that is his or her job. You can react as soon as they made up their mind.

We're all different, so I wouldn't give this advice. When I played in high school, if I wasn't running to the bathroom to pee or getting a drink, I would be looking at the board. Maybe I wasn't hard-core calculating, but I would definitely be thinking what are they up to and idly be looking for some tactic. Once in a while I would come up with something by just randomly musing. Some people wander around and look at other boards, but that was never me.

@tinmatic, if they play a system opening, that's pretty much the point of it. To avoid spending time thinking a lot in the opening. I mostly play longer time controls, but in the opening I guess there's not much time difference per move than when I play short time controls. You aren't alone in disliking system openings. If I just say 'London System,' you'll suddenly have a lot of supporters. In general, system openings and gambit setups are prone to refutation if you're good enough, and if the person playing it really is on autopilot. Go ahead and beat it, if you can. The reason I play longer games is to have plenty of time to think in the middlegame, which is where I'm aiming to improve my chess. It's not any kind of insult, it's merely an issue of playing style, time-management, and where you want to invest your time during a game. Go right ahead and wing it in the opening... I can wait. 1d4.

Based on your rating... your opponents will not have good time management. This is a mistake and you are complaining about them doing something bad. This doesn't bode well for your Chess improvement. Focus what is within your control.

Nonsense. You can get more trophies in two 3-min games than one 30min game.

Some use longer Rapid and play in simul. So not only one 30 min game but more like 10+ games at the same time. 

He is one of those people who think that because the opponent is moving fast, he has to move fast too. Although to be fair I've experienced a similar thing playing online and even OTB. Psychologically it's hard in those situations to slow down, because you think your opponent must be so well prepared that they are playing almost on instinct and you are *thinking* about your moves, so you must be walking into some trap!

Excellent... Excellent... That is all true. And you are... You're eating up your clock with all that thinking! Go back and quickly play your original candidate move, and ignore that gnawing doubt you were feeling about it. Bwa haa haaa haaa haaaa...

That's not allowed.

Maybe not. But this is one week ago. 

Interesting question. If they play like this they are probably using fundamentals mostly and not calculating much. Take advantage of this by out calculating them but manage your time well so you don't feel so much pressure.

I suck. Because im ADD. There are times when I am calm and my thoughts are clear and that's the time to play. Most of the time I am not I'm in a hurry and that is not the time to play. Without fail if somebody comes in or calls me that tends to blow a game for me that I had won. Because of this I get quite aggravated when people take too long to move on what should be simple moves..... Like they take 2 minutes on a second opening move

What I'm saying is..... The longer your opponent takes the more it breaks the train of thought for people that play fast and have ADD. The more mistakes they make. I see it in my own play and frustrates me.

@tinmatic - I know you felt compelled to move quickly because your opponent played quickly, but you should be doing the opposite. You know what really annoys people who play fast? People who play slowly. I remember when I played OTB, there were some players who just moved right away even in classical and they would just sit and stare, tapping their foot, and getting mad that you didn't move. It's at this point you should just smile, laugh at the person on the inside, and just start torturing them. Sometimes I would just go like I was about to make a move, reach for a piece, then pull back suddenly and start thinking again. Hilarity ensued. There's a lot of psychology in chess and you should use that to your advantage.

I highly doubt he is grinding for trophies. He is just doing content for viewers probably.