20 Comments
User's avatar
George7's avatar

It’s funny I wrote about how blitz could help you chess game and how it helped mine on Reddit and everyone came at me like I was dumb. Not that I’m a master or expert or anything. I had never played blitz then decided to, just to get a few games in, and I noticed that reasonable moves worked just as well. I lost to time A LOT in rapid, and blitz seemed to really help my time management and recognizing critical positions as opposed to wasting too much time of non critical moves. https://www.reddit.com/r/chessbeginners/s/GLnISL9sYt

Nate Solon's avatar

I’m with you!

Arnaud Dides's avatar

Would 5+5 work for this too? It fits me more than 3+2

Nate Solon's avatar

Yes, 5+5 is great

Oscar's avatar

lichess counts 5+5 as rapid. If I want to compare blitz ratings pre- and post-challenge I suppose I need a faster time control (5+3, perhaps). As an aside, how can 5+5 not be blitz?

Nate Solon's avatar

5+5 is fine

Southernrun's avatar

I’m glad as was already nervous about moving to 3+2 as have been playing 5+5…but I tried a 3+2 today and got a mate so just maybe…🤔. But would prefer to stick to the 5 min option

Andy Pagett's avatar

My blitz rating is quite low - 550 ish - is 3+2 still the best time control for this at this rating or is a longer (still blitz) control better?

Nate Solon's avatar

I think I will adjust it to 5+5 if you’re under 1500

Daniel Dugovic's avatar

My schedule is chaotic, but experimenting can be fun. If sessions are spaced apart, are multiple sessions per day allowed?

Nate Solon's avatar

I would recommend doing them on different days whenever possible, but sure do whatever works for you.

Alexander Kojevnikov's avatar

Thank you for doing this Nate, signed up. I had several unsuccessful attempts to start playing blitz, but I'm way too slow, and my massive rating difference between blitz and rapid (and especially between blitz and classical) proves it. In all cases I gave up after few days as I always run into time trouble, frequently in winning positions. I never understand why everyone is saying blitz is exciting or fun; I simply hate it! I do hope sticking to it for a longer time period will change something, or just confirm for good I'm not made for blitz :)

Nate Solon's avatar

Blitz is a skill that can be learned like any other!

matt's avatar

I used to suck at blitz well beyond my rapid rating would suggest. But I played a lot of it and gradually I got better at it. It’s mostly just practice and being sharp/quick.

3 Questions Deep's avatar

Sounds like fun. I have been looking for a way to improve.

Mike Brown's avatar

I haven’t really played any Blitz style games… so my rating is “1200” - what should I expect/guess what my end rating will be? Any suggestions/advice/guidance on this topic ?

Nate Solon's avatar

Impossible to say you’re a total blank slate. It will depend on your overall chess level.

Epictetus Casanova's avatar

I'm much to old and slow moving(I have no fine motor skills)to even make the games competitive otherwise I would haha

Santiago's avatar

When does it start?