Improving isn't the only point of playing. There are endless forums pointing out that blitz playing doesn't help you improve at slow chess.
However, at some point, most people play blitz because they enjoy it. If blitz isn't fun for you, don't play it.
Improving isn't the only point of playing. There are endless forums pointing out that blitz playing doesn't help you improve at slow chess.
However, at some point, most people play blitz because they enjoy it. If blitz isn't fun for you, don't play it.
Very true!
Whether blitz helps or hurts your game depends upon your approach. You can read an article that I wrote on the topic:
Read the rest at http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2013/05/improving-through-blitz.html
Study endgames. You can never learn too much here. Shereshevsky's Endgame Strategy and a basic encyclopedic work like FCE or BCE should do well. Also have some middlegame study such as what to do in certain pawn centers, identifying weak points to revolve a plan around, weak color complexes and/or squares, good vs. bad bishop, bishop against a knight, the bishop pair, pawn structure, etc.
I defiently improved by blitz
So currently I'm around 1300-1400 and am slowly starting to see improvements in my rating due to watching video's and studying some openings. I'm really enjoying the game and mainly play correspondance since I have school and only get on from time to time.
However, when I do have time I find myself jumping on live chess and playing blitz chess. I feel that playingi 5 minute games is not helping me improve as much compared to if I was studying (I'm 1150 blitz on here).
I play enough OTB long games and should I just play 15-30 minute games whenever I have time on the live chess server?
Thanks in advance.
Like you, I am trying to improve, and in my opinion blitz games don't help. I've wasted so much time playing them, it hurts. Imagine if you spent the 15-20 minutes you spend on every blitz game, watching another video, or reading another few pages in a chess book, or reviewing one of your OTB games. It all adds up.
I'm on a new path now, and part of that path is to avoid blitz games like the plague.
So currently I'm around 1300-1400 and am slowly starting to see improvements in my rating due to watching video's and studying some openings. I'm really enjoying the game and mainly play correspondance since I have school and only get on from time to time.
However, when I do have time I find myself jumping on live chess and playing blitz chess. I feel that playingi 5 minute games is not helping me improve as much compared to if I was studying (I'm 1150 blitz on here).
I play enough OTB long games and should I just play 15-30 minute games whenever I have time on the live chess server?
Thanks in advance.