slow chess culture develops on Chess.com

A wonderful slow chess culture is developing on chess.com, thanks to the owner of this website. He made a brilliant decision to bring Dan Heisman here to establish the Dan Heisman Learning Center. This group is dedicated to playing quality chess --in part by playing slow games, so one has time to develop the thought processes necessary to  improve their chess play.

Thanks also to the dedicated tournament directors of this group who run high quality 45/45 and 90/30 online tournaments. Right now, I am playing in a 90/30 tournament run by my friend Zugzwang 67. He is an amazing, thoughtful tournament director who is so conscientious that he sends out reminder notices, the day before a game is scheduled, so the players are less likely to forget.

The qualifiers are another important aspect of the slow tournaments. You must play in a qualifying tournament to participate and for good reason: the qualifiers weed out the people who sign up but are not willing to show up when a game is scheduled. And believe me that’s important: It is frustrating to plan your entire weekend so that you have time to play a 90/30 game, show up on time, and then your opponent doesn’t show. Online tournaments with slow time controls can only work if both players have the courtesy and diligence to show up when scheduled.

Anyone interested in quality chess should join the Dan Heisman Learning Center.

Good! I love slow chess. It makes the game look better.

And makes the game more fun, too.

I agree. It is more fun to play chess that you are really involved in. IMHO,slow chess makes that possible.

Yes... although from a non-chess player's perspective it can be boring.

Indeed; which is why we have rapid and blitz. Those are how chess needs to be exposed to the public, with fast paced action so people do not have to wait 5 hours only to see a draw (a bit like T20 in cricket).

              Now, if we can just get the owner to purchase Chess Cafe 

If you are not already a member, we'd love to have you join us at the DHLC.   Just click this link to join! 

http://www.chess.com/groups/join.html?id=15640

Another thing I like about slow, 90/30 games is the physical/mental challenge.It is hard to play your best for a game that runs as long as 4 hours, expecially during the last hour of play. So I work hard to consider all the things that affect men

tal performance such as exercise and sleep and try to make sure such lifestyle practices are optimal.

I have a lot to learn about chess and in turn, chess is helping me learn a lot about how to live.

It has been almost four years since this thread and it is still as important and practical today as then.  A shout out to Paul!

I agree nice one yes. 

This is great. Thanks.