does playing fast improve your game?

Hi all, 

I love a good game of chess but i have never had the ability to play fast. Is this something that improves with practice or if you can't you can't! My long game is ok, I'm not exactly a wizard, but its ok for me. 

What are the ways to improve.

Thanks.

 Very slowly, and it will set up bad habits that will become roadblocks latter.

 Yes, but not practice playing fast games. Fast games only give you time to do what you know very well. You have to learn things through long games and study first before you can attempt to use them in speed games.

Read books, play long games, analyze those games, do drills, and play over GM games.

The broad categories are openings, tactics, strategy, and endgames. A common pitfall is focusing too much on openings. A common way to improve quickly in the beginning is to focus on tactics.

Here's a book:
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-Tactics-ChessCafe-Chess/dp/1888690348

not as a beginner, or if you are just starting out... .......

playing fast... well I dont think it is okay because you cant look at your moves and check over them. The quick moves are a passege way to a loosing game. Wel only if you are really good at chess and you practice you may like to try it! But we all hhave a part to learn!!

Did you learn to speed read before learning the ABC's?

Did you learn to run before walking?

I think you should base your chess on what you want to get out of it.  If youre here strictly for fun, then play all the speed chess you want.  If you are serious about improving then play nothing faster than G30.  

Thank you all for the replies.

 IMBacon - Ive been walking a little while, left foot, right foot and why body seems to follow, but, then i tried running......

I get what you mean, i think i shall just stay put with walking - never enjoyed running anyway (are we still talking about chess?).

Regards.

Of course we are talking about chess, if this thing gets to exercise, then you have lost me :-)  Whatever you decide, good luck to you!

Playing slow chess is better for learning to build plans and think ahead.

Playing fast chess is more about practicing and honing what you've already learned.

Granted, you can still build plans and think ahead, even in bullet chess—but if you find it difficult to do so, you're probably better off working on your slower game, first.

You should never take fast games seriously. If you do, you'll get some bad habits. 

Just think of fast games as improving your tactical vision and forcing you to spot patterns quickly. Don't think of them as reinforcing any more important knowledge than that. 

now i see why they call 'cherub' - well put.... thanks.

Where you want to reinforce your knowledge that you've *just* learned is in slow chess games, where you have enough time to think about the ideas carefully. 

 just....