How to get better in games with fast time controls?

Looks like you don't really need any suggestions on blitz and bullet chess.

Just remember that the goal of chess is to have fun!

For me the problem with blitz as a learning tool is that you don't understand what is happening as it's happening, thus the playing experience is of questionable value. In long chess a complex sequence of moves might become easy to find in a fast time control when you study it long enough and break down its nuances.

In a fast time control, if I was confused by a complex sequence before, since I never truly figured out what was going on, I'll probably be confused by it again.

Of course you could analyze positions you got in blitz very deeply, but I think long ones are more relevant because the insight into your thought process as you go over the game is much deeper.

Ultimately, you can make an argument for blitz chess to improve your chess, but although I respect the points made, it's still a little unconvincing as a whole.

I do! I just agree with the fact that standard chess is needed to be good in blitz and bullet which will improve your overall game.

I think it's standard that can help your blitz; not so much the other way around. At least regarding the pattern recognition. Obviously if you want a higher rating, you want to be acquainted with "blitz specific" strategies too.

"And they got good while playing those ultra-fast time controls!"

Frankly this is a claim out of thin air. It could have easily been the reverse (them being good gave them the tools to play good fast chess) and my experience and intuition makes me suspect so.

Yes, and they were already masters when they turned to blitz chess on the internet. The problem is, players new to chess think blitz and bullet are the way to play chess and get better at it. Case in point, the author of this thread.

This is incorrect. Nakamura was playing bullet chess on ICC when he was a class player. There are quite a few GMs who started out as class players playing blitz and bullet chess online.

Again, I agree that there is a danger of playing too much blitz chess, and blitz is no substitute for hard analytical thinking. But it obviously has its place, not only in the development of world class players, but in the development of scholastic players too!

Ok, I stand correced. But these are the exceptions. I was away from OTB events for 16.5 years. One thing that is for certain, the internet, and chess engines have changed chess, and not always for the better. Postal chess is now instant, no delay from the mail man, but people do not realize you invest hours into each move. They think it's a substitute for OTB play, and will happily rattle off 15-20 moves, or more in a day! I got out in 2000 just as the engines were starting to beat me. The old breed of pure postal players has for the most part, passed on or retired. The new breed just doesn't get it. The quality of my opponents in online games here doesn't come close to matching the old days. People can't draw drawn endings against me because they rush.

I'm about the same generation as you, and I agree with you that even GMs often lack an understanding of the game that was common for strong players just a few years ago. But they more than make up for it in tactical prowess now.  

I think it was Yusupov who recently criticised young GMs such as Alexander Ipatov for being tactical monsters but not understanding positional chess. 

today nakamura has played out a king+pawn vs king dead drawn ending until stalemate - may be hoping that his opponent would faint. not surprisingly, nakamura is considered to be a big chess idiot among the chess elite. he could definitely have made better use of his time than thrashing some bunnies on icc in one minute bullet. its good for him that he does not play so much bullet anymore.

or may be he played out the position because of the stupid no-draw sofia rules. i am not sure - but the it is hillarious to such a dead drawn position played out until the end.

Yes, Naka should have agreed to a draw much, much earlier. This is becoming a trend though. Carlsen played on til there were only kings against Kramnik in Candidates' tournament, and there have been other similar instances. 

I think it's kind of their way of thumbing their noses at the stupid Sophia rules. They play these out to the very end as if to say if the people making the rules want to see the games played out, we'll play these games all the way out.

"This is incorrect. Nakamura was playing bullet chess on ICC when he was a class player."

I'm still not sure why you are allowing yourself to be so easily swayed. Just because you play bullet and are not a master, then become a master, doesn't mean that this is the cause. I have gotten better over the years; I've played bullet occasionally over the years as well. But then again I've also done a lot of other chess things, and I certainly wouldn't assume it was the bullet that caused the improvement.

The reason I asked this, was so that I could be able to see tactics in standard games, and not take too much time in standard.

Kings Gambit

Apparent USCF rule: "If a game is being played using a clock’s time-delay feature, no claims of insufficient losing material will be considered, since a player in such a position should be able to maintain his/her game without running out of time. This game would likely be drawn by the 50-move rule, the threefold repetition rule, or the 175-move limit." http://dallaschess.com/scholastics/2001champ/tournamentrules.html

Whew! [sigh of relief] Even with no time delay I'm not sure I approve of "insufficient losing chances," but I'm so glad at least the USCF has enough sense to not use it when there is time delay. If the position is really so easy to hold, then simply hold it -- move back and forth if you have to, but just hold it.

But what about FIDE then?

play moves that will help your later position. also play unpredictably when your opponent is lower on time JUST so if they're premoving then when it auto moves their move it won't be as good. Likely in bullet after it should be endgame, and from that you should win a pawn at least

IF you are more thinker then think briefly then ride up the TINY increment you get :)

Say "The plural of fettucine is feta cheese knees" 10x real fast every day until you improve.

The book Bullet Chess One Minute To Mate by Hikaru Nakamura and Bruce Seirawan is one of the few books on the subject it is full of useful information. http://www.amazon.com/Bullet-Chess-One-Minute-Mate/dp/1888690674