Help me, I'm bad at blitz

Sort:
fischersh2pawn

I know what you're thinking, and yes, 2147 blitz or whatever I am isn't a bad rating at all. And I would agree with you compared to the general population. However, for me (a 2075 USCF rated approximately) I feel like it should be way higher. I'm pretty sure most people my USCF and age (still in HS) are like 2400-2500 on average. And I feel like that should be true because my blitz games are so atrocious from my perspective that I'm sure if I could get my brain to work a little faster I'd be at that rating if not higher. No disrespect to my opponents, and I'm not saying people at this level aren't strong, after all, "blitz makes fools of us all". However, upon reviewing my games I notice MANY one move blunders per game that even I would never make OTB (and I do some pretty dumb stuff there as well, but my rating, considering the variation between the two systems, is way stronger). So my question is, how on earth do I get to at least a respectable blitz rating for a young 2000 -2100 USCF? (And I know blitz doesn't equal OTB and thats one of the problems, I was actually 2300ish as a 1950 USCF but I stopped playing and switched to braindead 10 minute rapid on the bus featuring many hung queens and accidentally abandoned games. I'll likely be playing some quicker events next year in college and I want to at least be on par with players my rating and above lower rateds in a time scramble (think under 5 minutes with 5s delay).

HangingPiecesChomper

chomp on hanging pieces

AntiLondonPlayer

Stop playing the London and join the anti London society!

Abtectous
This is all terrible advice. As a lower rated player I really arnt sure how to help, the best thing I can do is suggest quick tactics training and just playing blitz to improve at it.
AntiLondonPlayer

If you want serious advice it’s just do grind a lot and do chess tactics. Feel free to follow the chess mood method. Just a note my rating is actually a lot higher than what is on this account so I believe I have some qualifications to answer

ItsHegelTime

Aside from what has been already mentioned, I think that studying openings is one if the best ways to improve at blitz. Reason being, in a blitz game you don't have the time to really think about a position, so you're forced to rely on your intrinsic knowledge of a position. Thus, by studying openings, and the resulting positions, you will be able to find the correct plans and ideas without having to figure it all out yourself over the board.

edgemen28

You are a whopping 400 points stronger than I am in blitz and your complaining? Anything 2000+ is respectable. I need to hit 2200+ and I have hit multiple plateau's the 3 minute blitz time control I have found the opponents to be the most tactically strong and sound without a doubt. You are approaching the wall which is about 2200+ for most expert humans. That's normal.

Wilsons_World

1. Reduce Blunders (Fast but Safe Moves!)
Before moving, quickly check for hanging pieces and opponent threats.
Train yourself to scan for checks, captures, and attacks instantly.
2. Improve Opening Speed
Stick to 2-3 solid openings to avoid wasting time thinking.
Learn automatic first 5-10 moves and common traps.
3. Play by Patterns, Not Calculation
Blitz isn't about deep calculation—it’s about pattern recognition.
Solve puzzles daily to recognize forks, pins, skewers instantly.
4. Manage Your Time Wisely
Don't spend more than 10 seconds on one move unless it’s critical.
If you're ahead, play safe; if you're down, create complications.
5. Endgame Speed Tricks
Learn basic checkmates (K+Q vs K, K+R vs K, K+P endgames).
Practice pre-moving in winning endgames to save time.
6. Stay Calm & Avoid Tilt
Losing streak? Take a break. Tilt ruins blitz.
Play with a clear mind—don't chase lost points!
Final Tip: "Fast, simple, and safe moves > deep calculation in blitz."

ItsHegelTime
edgemen28 wrote:

You are a whopping 400 points stronger than I am in blitz and your complaining? Anything 2000+ is respectable. I need to hit 2200+ and I have hit multiple plateau's the 3 minute blitz time control I have found the opponents to be the most tactically strong and sound without a doubt. You are approaching the wall which is about 2200+ for most expert humans. That's normal.

Trust me, if/when you'll reach 2200 blitz, you'll be just as unsatisfied with your rating as you are now. I find that there is never a point where you are perfectly satisfied with your rating: there is always someone stronger, a higher level of achievement.

Wilsons_World
ItsHegelTime wrote:
edgemen28 wrote:

You are a whopping 400 points stronger than I am in blitz and your complaining? Anything 2000+ is respectable. I need to hit 2200+ and I have hit multiple plateau's the 3 minute blitz time control I have found the opponents to be the most tactically strong and sound without a doubt. You are approaching the wall which is about 2200+ for most expert humans. That's normal.

Trust me, if/when you'll reach 2200 blitz, you'll be just as unsatisfied with your rating as you are now. I find that there is never a point where you are perfectly satisfied with your rating: there is always someone stronger, a higher level of achievement.

I fully agree with this, this applies to all humans, except for magnus carlsen I suppose haha.

edgemen28

You can't just keep improving forever, their is a limit and that is the rating of Magnus Carlsen. You will hit a wall and then no amount of effort will allow you to get better but that is normal. That's the norm not the exception to the norm.

ItsHegelTime
edgemen28 wrote:

You can't just keep improving forever, their is a limit and that is the rating of Magnus Carlsen. You will hit a wall and then no amount of effort will allow you to get better but that is normal. That's the norm not the exception to the norm.

Okay, but my point is that reaching some arbitrary "respectable" rating is not going to make you (or anyone else) any happier. It's perfectly fine to want to improve at chess, but I don't think it's very productive to obsess about achieving some specific rating. Just focus on enjoying playing/studying chess, and don't worry about whether you're "good enough".

edgemen28

This has nothing to do with what we are discussing I am saying you cannot keep expecting to improve forever is my point. I intend to win the army chess championship simple as that. I am under no delusional I'll be a GM. When I get like CM or FM that'll be fine.

munirsahrul

give me some tips to win fast chess!

Wilsons_World
munirsahrul wrote:

give me some tips to win fast chess!

I know this will be a pain to read because it's long but:

1. Play Openings You Know Well
Stick to solid and familiar openings that don’t require deep memorization, so you don’t waste time thinking about them.
Try 1. e4 (King’s Pawn Opening) or 1. d4 (Queen’s Pawn Opening), both of which lead to open, tactical positions.
2. Develop Pieces Quickly
Focus on getting your pieces out (Knights and Bishops) and controlling the center early.
Avoid early Queen moves or unnecessary pawn pushes that don’t contribute to development.
3. Practice Tactics
Speed is crucial in fast chess, and tactics often decide the game. Work on recognizing common tactical patterns (pins, forks, skewers, etc.) so you can spot them quickly.
Use apps or online tools like Chess.com Tactics Trainer to practice.
4. Manage Your Time
Don’t spend too much time on any single move. If you’re stuck, make a reasonable move and move on.
Think ahead in terms of several moves, but don’t get too distracted by time pressure.
5. Stay Active & Aggressive
Create threats and force your opponent to respond to you. In blitz, being the one creating threats can pressure your opponent into making mistakes.
If your opponent is on the defensive, keep pushing.
6. Simplify When Ahead
If you’re ahead in material or position, try to trade pieces and simplify the game, making it easier to convert your advantage.
Avoid complex tactics if you’re ahead—focus on keeping your lead.
7. Use the Clock
Don't let your opponent get too much time on the clock. If you can, speed up your moves and put pressure on their time.
Use increment or delay to your advantage by making fast moves to gain time and avoid blunders.
8. Avoid Big Blunders
Try not to make obvious blunders under time pressure. Check for hanging pieces or potential tactical shots before you move.
Double-check your move if there’s time left; even in blitz, it can save you from dropping a piece.
9. Stay Calm Under Time Pressure
The key to success in fast chess is to stay calm and make decisions quickly without panicking.
If you get into time trouble, don’t rush. Even with seconds left, try to make a solid move.
10. Endgame Awareness
Even in blitz, you must be able to play simple endgames (like King + Queen vs King, or King + Rook vs King) to win quickly.
Know your endgame basics to avoid losing or stalemating in time pressure.
In summary, speed, tactics, and good time management are key in fast chess. The more you practice, the more you’ll be able to think quickly and recognize patterns that allow you to win under time pressure. Good luck!

AntiLondonPlayer
edgemen28 wrote:

You are a whopping 400 points stronger than I am in blitz and your complaining? Anything 2000+ is respectable. I need to hit 2200+ and I have hit multiple plateau's the 3 minute blitz time control I have found the opponents to be the most tactically strong and sound without a doubt. You are approaching the wall which is about 2200+ for most expert humans. That's normal.

He literally addressed your point

fischersh2pawn
AntiLondonPlayer wrote:
edgemen28 wrote:

You are a whopping 400 points stronger than I am in blitz and your complaining? Anything 2000+ is respectable. I need to hit 2200+ and I have hit multiple plateau's the 3 minute blitz time control I have found the opponents to be the most tactically strong and sound without a doubt. You are approaching the wall which is about 2200+ for most expert humans. That's normal.

He literally addressed your point

I agree I have a solid rating it's just very low compared to most at my OTB strength and age. I'm not overrated OTB as I have many games there and peaked 2100+ last December.

munirsahrul

thank you but the writing is too long

Wilsons_World

Might be too late now but my shorter version is here:

Play Familiar Openings – Stick to solid openings like 1.e4 or 1.d4 to save time.
Develop Quickly – Get your pieces out fast; avoid early Queen moves.
Practice Tactics – Recognize pins, forks, skewers to spot quick wins.
Manage Time Wisely – Don’t overthink; play reasonable moves quickly.
Stay Aggressive – Create threats to keep your opponent on the defensive.
Simplify When Ahead – Trade pieces to convert your advantage smoothly.
Use the Clock – Play fast to pressure your opponent’s time.
Avoid Blunders – Double-check moves for hanging pieces.
Stay Calm Under Pressure – Think clearly even with seconds left.
Know Basic Endgames – Master simple endgames to secure wins.
Key to success: Speed, tactics, and time control. Practice and stay sharp!

analist76bis

one solution: play bulet!!! and then at blitz it will seem that you have a lot lot of time available!