Two of the toughest Blitz players in the bookstore: Jeff "caffeine" Roland (top picture) and Fred "smack talk" Bartell (below). Each scored eleven points in the MVCC Summer B&N Blitz and showed no mercy.
The Magic Valley Chess Club is an active club of primarily four, staunch chess players: Barry Eacker, Gary Dugger, Fred Bartell, and Aleksandr Vereschagin with others intermittently visiting. Darwin and myself attended one of their meetings and with the lack of summer tournament opportunities, Barry and I whipped up a Blitz tournament for the next meeting on July 9. E-mails and phone calls ensued and attracted fourteen players including Jeff Roland from Boise and Jeffery Hall, visiting from California, for the informal round-robin event. I brought five from the BCSD Chess Club: Tyler Avila, Wesley Bristein, Andre Murphy, Dylan and Darwin Porth and our 14 new Saitek Chess Clocks that I wrote a grant for.
Blitz is fast chess (G/5 d0)and is typically difficult for slow players such as myself, but players can get many opening and tactical reps, as a weight lifter would during a work out. I always set goals for myself in order to hone a particular skill and this day, I had two: 1. play the French Defense as black and the Scotch Opening as white, 2. Reach the endgame and try to run my opponent out of time. Most often I have too much time left on my clock when I lose or I am flagged because I am not moving fast enough. My results were mixed.
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| Fred Bartell v. Wesley Brimstein |
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| The Infamous "Poop" Game . . .even to the ending. After f5l, Fred's next move was Rd7+ and I was so focused on the c-pawn, I moved Rxc6, and my King was wiped out (photo: Jeffery Roland). |
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| Andre Murphy snatches a king and offers a shake to Gene Rambo. |
Our round robin tournament certainly included many king snatches. I earned one against Gary Dugger but I gave away four games in such a manner. The kids were excellent at snatching kings and victories away from the adults in this way. One player asked, "Can you do that?" I think our Idaho folk need more such tournaments to learn the rules, tactics, and strategies of blitz.
How to be a better Blitz Chess Player:
I found myself lacking blitz strategies and more focused on time during this tournament. "Blitz Theory" is one way to learn some of the nuances (a book that I have never read, but it talks about the chess clock as another piece). Jeff Roland's strategy was to amp up on large coffees. Based on how fast he was talking and his success, that might be a means of doing better. I play too sleepily. Suggestions from Gameknot:
1.Best blitz play is almost all
about tactics,NOT strategy! Strategy involves long term concepts,while tactics are immediate.Strategy is
sort of like more theoretical while tactics are more immedialy practical and
solid.So basically you will win more on tactics while using very little
strategy.You must apply your best tactics on every move,or you will not last
long.
2.SMALLER tactical combinations
are what you must seek,like 1 or 2 move combinations...not some long 4 or 5
tactical combination that will cost you too much time in a 2 to 4 minute
game(some 5 min.games as well).So,just because you have an initiative advantage
does not mean that you will have a winning tactical combination.This is where
having the initiative gets confused with tactical advantage.
3.I suggest software training
with handicaping to begin with.Give yourself a Knight up and play 5 minutes
against shredder,for example.Did you win?Why not?Examine your weakness's,where
you went wrong and reset the program.Try to play a five minute game like a 3
minute game!You must develop tactical "bravery"and intuition!Again
examine each game playing against a program and try to lessen the amount of
game time after a good number of self tactical training studies.
4.Another
lesson is that memorizing opening variations in 1 to 5 minute blitz(for the
most part) is unnecessary and can actually hurt your blitz play!Actually
playing out of book as soon as possible with a good grasp of tactics has much
more VALUE,than memorizing some 30 long Ruy Lopez opening!Trust me!If I can win
by making opening weak moves for white like 1.a4 and 2,h4 or
1.Na3 and 2.Nh3...confusing some "book players"right out of the shoot,then those few seconds gained while he is "thinking"about my strange moves,can cut an advantage!
The truth is,is that most games are decided by blunders,not superfine opening knowledge.So keeping your opening "repertoire" to one or two variations for both colors is mostly all you need.
5.Keeping pawns first and the
major pieces behind them is basically one of the best ways to play
blitz.Keeping your pieces in the center of the board and control of the center
is of course,key.Centralize a pawn,knight and bishop and after that drive them
further into your opponents position.
6.Keep in mind that any Knight
can take a Bishop but NOT the other way around.For that reason,Knights are
better in blitz play than Bishops.Knights are much more unpredictable both
tactically and psychologically against your opponent and a ticking 3 to 5
minute game.
In corresp long games,an open game is best with Bishops,however this rule does not necessarily apply in blitz play!!
In corresp long games,an open game is best with Bishops,however this rule does not necessarily apply in blitz play!!
7.Typical opponent mistakes by
statistical probability is not calculating the "check"upon
themselves.Knights do a better job than bishops in fast blitz.
8.Coordinating your pieces to
work together to control more squares is vital.Hedgehog setups I find work
great.
9.Stall tactics are too
numerous to mention here...I could spend 5 hours explaining this.
But for example,making that so called "stupid"move can lead to an advantage,especially with your clock time running down!Look for an active pawn to move towards the queen,moving an a or h file pawn or other piece from one end of the board to the other can cause your opponent to possibly spend a few more seconds thinking about the "reasons"for this awkward movement.A quick King move 2 or 3 times in mid game,even though it does not promote development can cause more chipping away at your opponents think time and clock time!
But for example,making that so called "stupid"move can lead to an advantage,especially with your clock time running down!Look for an active pawn to move towards the queen,moving an a or h file pawn or other piece from one end of the board to the other can cause your opponent to possibly spend a few more seconds thinking about the "reasons"for this awkward movement.A quick King move 2 or 3 times in mid game,even though it does not promote development can cause more chipping away at your opponents think time and clock time!
10.Don't
forget to hover your piece ahead of time over the expected piece resting place
of your obvious opponent exchange square EVERY TIME!This half second advantage
will definitely add up to a better clock edge and more think time for you in
the critical endgame!
11.Study your wins and losses and develop the pattern recognition necessary for best blitz play.Obtaining the experience though thousands of games is better than trying to study precise openings and tactical puzzles.Obtain your style!
12.If 3 minutes is too fast for
you,start with 10 minute blitz and gradually move to quicker game play.
13.remember...the
1-2-3 move tactics are the soul of great blitz play!You have to master them to
improve!
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| Californian Jeffery Hall |
But why play fast chess anyway?
This article is a bit negative toward blitz,
but has some good points.
Pros:
- Allows you to try out your opening
variations to evaluate their power.
- Improves your split second
decision-making.
- Improves your time trouble skills.
Cons:
- By playing fast, you are not
considering key and deep moves.
- Playing incorrectly isn't always
punished.
- Speed chess is insanely addictive.
- In the long-term does not improve
your chess level.
WGM Natalia Pogonina has
these suggestions:
"Let
me offer you a few recommendations on blitz. Of course, none of us is perfect,
I don’t follow all of them myself, but at least I’m trying:
1) Treat blitz as a way of revising your openings. If you see that you don’t remember the plan and moves in a familiar position, here is your reason to go over your preparation once again after the game.
2) Play a few games and stop to analyze them. Pay special attention to mistakes and gaps in preparation. This is easy to do if you’re playing online since all the moves are stored automatically. In otb chess the problem is that you might not be able to memorize all the games you have played. Therefore, you should either play less games before taking a break to record them, or improve your memory.
3) If you haven’t played chess for a long time, you can try to regain your chess shape with the help of a few blitz games. Sometimes it’s extremely helpful.
4) If you feel you are playing badly (compared with your regular level), try to relax and forget about revenge. Return to blitz some other day when your mood and chess shape are better. This way you will save rating points or money (if you are playing for a stake, which I avoid doing).
5) Blitz requires extreme concentration. Before an important blitz event one should sleep well, prepare psychologically and consume enough food to last through all the rounds.
6) Don’t mess with park players, chess hustlers. They have lots of dirty tricks up their sleeve: “acting like noobs,” fixing the clocks, chess-bluffing, provocation, etc. – all aimed at separating you from your money."
1) Treat blitz as a way of revising your openings. If you see that you don’t remember the plan and moves in a familiar position, here is your reason to go over your preparation once again after the game.
2) Play a few games and stop to analyze them. Pay special attention to mistakes and gaps in preparation. This is easy to do if you’re playing online since all the moves are stored automatically. In otb chess the problem is that you might not be able to memorize all the games you have played. Therefore, you should either play less games before taking a break to record them, or improve your memory.
3) If you haven’t played chess for a long time, you can try to regain your chess shape with the help of a few blitz games. Sometimes it’s extremely helpful.
4) If you feel you are playing badly (compared with your regular level), try to relax and forget about revenge. Return to blitz some other day when your mood and chess shape are better. This way you will save rating points or money (if you are playing for a stake, which I avoid doing).
5) Blitz requires extreme concentration. Before an important blitz event one should sleep well, prepare psychologically and consume enough food to last through all the rounds.
6) Don’t mess with park players, chess hustlers. They have lots of dirty tricks up their sleeve: “acting like noobs,” fixing the clocks, chess-bluffing, provocation, etc. – all aimed at separating you from your money."
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| Steve Hinton, another tough blitz opponent |
Interestingly, she also notes that there is more conflict in Blitz chess because emotions run higher. She goes on, "Here and there you can see someone queening the wrong way, trying to win rook vs rook, etc. In my opinion, chess wins are not worth risking the comfort of your conscience. I don’t understand people who love playing on time in dead drawn positions only because they have 2-3 seconds more on the clock. "
Here are some Blitz strategies:
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| Wyatt Astle plays Grandfather Gene Rambo. The tournament was an education for first timers. |
In earlier posts, I indicated that WinTD will not pair beyond round 12 in a round robin, for some unknown reason. So, we only completed through round 12. Gene Rambo and Grandson Wyatt Astle withdrew mid-way so we defaulted to forfeit wins. Round robin tournaments don't do well with odd numbers and/or withdrawals.
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| WinTD will not pair past 12 rounds in a round robin (photo: Jeff Roland). |
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| Barnes & Noble is a nice venue to play chess. |
Player
|
Rating
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
R4
|
R5
|
R6
|
R7
|
R8
|
R9
|
R10
|
R11
|
R12
|
Score
|
|
1
|
Jeff Roland
|
1690
|
W5
|
W3
|
L4
|
W14
|
W12
|
W13
|
W9
|
W6
|
W10
|
W2
|
W7
|
W11
|
11
|
2
|
Fred Bartell
|
1661
|
W6
|
W10
|
W14
|
W7
|
W11
|
W8
|
W5
|
W3
|
W4
|
L1
|
W12
|
W13
|
11
|
3
|
Gary Dugger
|
1227
|
W4
|
L1
|
W12
|
W13
|
W9
|
W6
|
W10
|
L2
|
W7
|
L11
|
W8
|
W5
|
9
|
4
|
Steve Hinton
|
1555
|
L3
|
L14
|
W1
|
W12
|
W13
|
W9
|
D6
|
L10
|
L2
|
W7
|
W11
|
W8
|
7½
|
5
|
Brett Hall
|
1582
|
L1
|
L12
|
W13
|
W9
|
W6
|
L10
|
L2
|
W7
|
W11
|
W8
|
W14
|
L3
|
7
|
6
|
Wesley Brimstein
|
1003
|
L2
|
W7
|
L11
|
W8
|
L5
|
L3
|
D4
|
L1
|
W12
|
W13
|
W9
|
W14
|
6½
|
7
|
Tyler Avila
|
1000
|
W9
|
L6
|
W10
|
L2
|
W14
|
L11
|
W8
|
L5
|
L3
|
L4
|
L1
|
W12
|
5
|
8
|
Andre Murphy
|
1000
|
L12
|
W13
|
W9
|
L6
|
W10
|
L2
|
L7
|
W11
|
W14
|
L5
|
L3
|
L4
|
5
|
9
|
Aleksandr Vereshchagin
|
1138
|
L7
|
W11
|
L8
|
L5
|
L3
|
L4
|
L1
|
W12
|
W13
|
W14
|
L6
|
W10
|
5
|
10
|
Darwin Porth
|
1000
|
W14
|
L2
|
L7
|
W11
|
L8
|
W5
|
L3
|
W4
|
L1
|
W12
|
L13
|
L9
|
5
|
11
|
Adam Porth
|
1259
|
L13
|
L9
|
W6
|
L10
|
L2
|
W7
|
W14
|
L8
|
L5
|
W3
|
L4
|
L1
|
4
|
12
|
Gene Rambo
|
1704
|
W8
|
W5
|
L3
|
L4
|
L1
|
L14
|
W13
|
L9
|
L6
|
L10
|
L13
|
L7
|
3
|
13
|
Dylan Porth
|
1000
|
W11
|
L8
|
L5
|
L3
|
L4
|
L1
|
L12
|
W14
|
L9
|
L6
|
W10
|
L2
|
3
|
14
|
Wyatt Astle
|
1000
|
L10
|
W4
|
L2
|
L1
|
L7
|
W12
|
L11
|
L13
|
L8
|
L9
|
L5
|
L6
|
2
|
 |
| Aleksandr Vereschagin v. Darwin Porth while Gary Dugger looks on. |
In round 2, I was playing Aleksandr Vereschagin and I just couldn't continue playing. I hung a bishop and immediately lost a rook in the next move. I wasn't worried however as Aleksandr had less than a minute and me with more than two minutes. I was definitely going to win on time. As Pogonina indicated above, I just couldn't do that and my conscience forced me to resign. If it was a cocky chess player, I would have run them out. After playing in a similar manner with my daughter in round 1, I soon realized that I was going to receive a tremendous amount of dung from my counterparts. And I did!
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| At least my little girl didn't give me sh*t . . .or she would have been mowing the lawn when we got home! |
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| The King gets whacked again with less than 30 seconds left for each! (top two photos: Jeff Roland). |
Sometimes the environment creeps into your game and I found my emotions were running high because of the chidding. False expectations start to rule your moves. My subsequent games were negatively affected but it was a valuable lesson and practice in a extremely social and friendly environment. I definitely deserved crap for some of the obtuse moves. But my goals were realized upon reflection as I definitely know how not to play the French Defense, avoid giving up a b- or g- pawn to a bishop or a queen, complicate the position when you go down a piece, and don't show mercy when you are going to win a losing position on time.
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| "Hemingway under Bald Mountain" by Adam Porth, Lithograph |
Jeff Roland beat Fred Bartell in Round 10 securing first place and a prize that I donated, my Hemingway print. Fred received notecards of my lithograph for second place. Jeff was visibly proud, but still heavily caffeinated, actually beat me home. He to Boise and me to Wood River Valley.
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| Darwin is now playing with the "big kids!" |
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