How to get better at blitz?

Hi all,

 

Been a member of chess.com for a while, but just now posting on the forums for the first time.  If you look at my profile you'll see I play mostly daily chess, and my peak rating was a little over 1500 I believe; my tactics rating is about equal; and my lessons rating is over 1800.  If you were to ask me I'd say that I feel like I'm a fairly solid intermediate-level player, who's guilty of the occasional blunder over the board, but overall who feels like he has a pretty good grasp on basic strategic concepts and principles in the game...

 

But if you look at my profile you'll also probably notice that in spite of all that, my blitz rating isn't very good.  In fact... it's pretty bad. It peaked at 1300 something I think (I didn't play blitz much when it was that high, and I think I just got fairly lucky in most of my games), but I went on a terrible losing streak and have gotten myself stuck in the 1000-1100 range.  Judging by other players' ratings, I wouldn't think it's normal to have such a huge gap between different categories of chess.  Am I wrong?

 

Aside from just continuing to play, and reviewing all of my losses, anyone have any good tips for improving at blitz chess?

I think a big rating gap between daily and blitz is normal for some. Just analyze your games and you'll see. My blitz games are nowhere even near the quality of my Daily games. As it should be. I think for most people, their blitz ratings are a good measure of their overall chess ability, but for some others, the speed of blitz games puts them at a disadvantage.

I think 2 players who have similar OTB ratings could have very different blitz ratings. Some can make good decisions quickly, without making obvious observation errors. Whereas others aren't as good at it, even though the same two people, given as much time as they need would arrive at equally good moves.

I'm not yet a member of my local chess club, but i've gone for skittles a few times now. judging from the few OTB games i've played there, I measure up fairly well against players who have ratings closer to my Daily rating than to my blitz rating here.

Analyzing your games is necessary, but the other thing is, you need to study. This means all phases of the game. If studying separate phases of the game is too boring, at the very least, play through master level tournament games, preferably annotated. Spend some time playing through various tactical maneuvers. If you can't afford annotated game collections, go to Chessbase.com, they always have a couple annotated games almost every day. But I do recommend at least some separate end game study. The main thing is you need to advance your total understanding; pawn structure patterns, including typical pawn breaks; fluency with tactical sequences and motifs; be able to get your pieces developed and castled with a roughly eqaul position; and learn how to play a tight endgame without giving your advantage away. Hope this helps.

Ratings are relative to the pool of players. It's very possible that 1400 daily = 1100 blitz.

Blitz is difference to chess. In blitz, time is very important.To be good at blitz, you have to use difference approach:

1. The opening should be simple and have a straight forward plan. For example, London System, French Defense, Benko Gambit

2. Play out simple but ok moves. Save you time. Be practical.

3. Focus on putting pressure to your opponent. Create a lot of tensions and don't execute to early. Your opponent will spend a lot of time.

Your Lessons rating, Your Correspondence chess rating, and at some degree you tactical rating here shows you close to nothing how strong you are in chess . Blitz rating does that (for internet chess). And your blitz rating is 1050. Unless you have played most of your games vs underrated scumbags i would say your definition about yourself : Decen/solid intermediate player is pretty much not the case. A beginner is more close.

But i can give you some credit because many.. really many players with low rating have played like 10 000 - 20 000 blitz games. Now.. Normal beginner player rated 1000 with say 100 or 300 games is no match vs same rated beginner but with 10 000 blitz games.

They have way more experience and while they still don't have a clue about chess , they are way stronger vs same rated who does not have that much games and will seems like they are playing with no blunders etc for you. They are just way more familar with their opening and their board vision is just better than yours and they are faster and are playing with more confiedence,  but still terrible at strategy/tactics or endgames.

I suggest you to play Gambit line which will force your opponent to think but you must know the plans and ideas of that Gambit.

You need to be very fast too.

@OP it may seem counter-intuitive, but slow down, study, play correspondence chess, or slower paced games aimed at learning to play well is probably best.  Blitz requires good pattern recognition and you don't develop that by fast play with little thought put into each move.

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To help on topic question i would say if you want just quick wins - yes you can learn gambit and have fun and wins. But the way you will really improve is first solve tactics - tons of them. Then observer how stronger players are playing blitz , specially with commentary - and play a lot. You need at least 1k games and only then you will start improving.

In blitz 100-300 games - you are just provisional rated really.