Blitz Strategy

BLITZ

Strategies:

1. Make the position complicated (higher rated players such as 2100-2300 honestly dont know how to properly deal with threats in short time controls

In Over the Board Tournaments, players have to play timed chess which is 120/0 or 60/0 for each side. Psychologically, your brain is getting adjusted to this new time frame. Playing aggressive in rapid time controls makes your higher opponents think at a faster rate which he/she is not comfortable with

2. When in doubt, sac a pawn

Sacking a pawn in 3/0 or 5/0 game literally does not change the outcome of the game. The aim is to have a relatively decent amount of compensation (such as active play, minor threats, doubled pawns, weak king, etc.)

3. Play your pet line

Chess players should always have a pet line against stronger playerw. For example, my pet line against the Kings Indian Defense and the Grunfeld Defense is 

the Smyslov/Petrosian Opening which gives white a slight edge, has an active plan, and relatively decent traps. I would play aggressively against higher rated opponents with moves such as e4, but I have such a deep positional insight into this opening which other players dont understand. This is my pet line

1. It avoids mainline theory

2. It has traps

3. Positional themes which I have a great understanding off

4. Nifty traps

Example of a simple trap which a NM fell into in a blitz game

4. Premove your king back and forth or on dark squares or light squares when you are low on time or if your down material and sac your pieces to check your opponent if their low on time or if your both low on time. This can be applied to bullet chess as well. If your opponent has a light squared bishop just premove your king on dark squares and keep ur pieces slightly away from his camp.

WARNING WARNING DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER 

YOUR OPPONENTS MAY OR MAY NOT TALK TRASH AFTER THE GAME

It doesnt matter though because its all about having fun, learning, and winning the game :D

I hope you guys find these tips useful and I hope you guys will employ these strategies in your own games ^_^

Masters who don't play blitz often can't deal quickly with threats, you're right.

But the ones who play regularly are very good at handling tactics.

But as far as traps and aggressive play I completely agree of course.

who are you talking to tiger? Also, I don't consider myself a bad player. The whole point of blitz and bullet is to prep for a tournament. It's a way to test how you can deal with time pressure, recognize when to sac pieces, recognize tactics, mating net, etc. My otb is 1700 and thats in like 15 tourneys over the course of one year. I have such high expectations and confidence that I plan to break 1900-2000 before i graduate

Interesting post. Blitz is not the same as regular chess, and the object is to win, and time is an important factor. I've had these tactics used against me, and find them hard to counter.

Pet lines are interesting; I could do with some tactical offbeat lines against thr French Defence and Caro-Kann.  Any ideas?

Key to win in blitz: make fast random moves without thinking a lot.

You have a strong pawn on e5 teo active bishops your much more developed his pieces are passive and if he castles he may run into bh7 ng5 ideas. There are also some nice pawn sacs in the caro but I'm not too familiar with it.  He has a queen on d4 you can plan be3 and rc1 and so on

Thanks avi97; how might you proceed against 4..c4?  I agree with you the position otherwise looks fine for white.  I faff around usually and somehow lose control of d4 in the main lines (not this one).

psychokiller - without meaning to be unkind, your strategy doesn't seem to be helping your rating 

Interesting. I am not a strong blitz player but I play blitz for fun and tactics. I prefer chess clocks with flags over digital clocks. Seeing exactly how much time you have is a little bit annoying and can affect your concentration.

Cardinal Rule: take care of all immediate threats first.

c4 makes no sense because your not supporting d4 with c3 so i would just recomend c5 and resolve the central tension

Very good advice. Especially in Blitz, it is harder to defend than to attack, hence you sometimes get away with saccing a pawn. As for the pet lines, don't walk into your opponent's pet lines either. For example, stuff like Tennyson gambit or Englund gambits are loaded with traps that its worth it to decline those gambits in Blitz just to get your opponents out of book.

Great advice man. Perhaps I will practice playing blitz games like this as you say they're beneficial.

• Focus on piece development and activity. Having a good understanding of pawn structures will also be helpful.
• Most blitz and bullet games are won by understanding of pawn structures and how the structure changes.
• Try to stay up 10 or so seconds on the clock since having some extra time at the end can make all of the difference.
• When slightly worse (i.e. down a pawn or an exchange) fight to equalize and hopefully liquidate the position into a draw. Only once you've maintained some equality, then try to fight for the win. I'm not saying play passively but take less risks.

You mentioned having good pet openings! Modern openings like the Pirc, King's Indian Defense/Attack, Fianchetto set-ups, etc. work very well in blitz. Try to play openings that may be out of book for your opponent. You can play the main lines but usually my opponents know them better than me lol.

• Don't play when you are not feeling well or if you become tilted! You'll most likely not be as able to play well and you'll end up losing more even more rating. The best way to go into blitz is just saying, "I want to play some interesting chess and I don't care about the result. Just here for a good time and I'll try to play my best  " I do struggle with emotions during the game but I think I'm getting better at handling them (maybe) lol
• Conversely, play when you feel in form! A good measure for me is if I'm getting 30+ consistently on Puzzle Rush, I should be tactically aware enough to not make as many stupid mistakes.
• Watch the top guys and play Guess The Move! After a few games, you'll be surprised that you are making a lot of the same moves the top guys are making

Hope that helps!

- Logan

smoke and mirrors

Reads point 1 on first post.

Leaves thread.

A pet line is a line which you know very well.

 Flagging feels better when I am positionally better.