I tend to be a bit of a slow player (deep thinker) in the first place. but with this correspondence chess business, it is getting way out of line. I often spend 10, 20, 30 minutes or more -- sometimes an hour! -- on a sinlge move. This is crazy! How can I abbreviate the anaysis and calculation process a bit? I tend to play out nearly every possible variation that might ensue. Maybe I'm not approaching it right at all. Maybe the right question to ask is: How best to think about one's next move? Thanks for all the excellent responses I get to my questions.
Originally posted by bassoDon't you find the more you play the more you recognise patterns? Don't you find you are getting a feel for what might be a good move?
I tend to be a bit of a slow player (deep thinker) in the first place. but with this correspondence chess business, it is getting way out of line. I often spend 10, 20, 30 minutes or more -- sometimes an hour! -- on a sinlge move. This is crazy! How can I abbreviate the anaysis and calculation process a bit? I tend to play out nearly every possible variat ...[text shortened]... to think about one's next move? Thanks for all the excellent responses I get to my questions.
They are the lines you should analyse in most depth - then check to make sure you haven't missed something else.
Originally posted by basso10 min is okay for a middlegame. I sometimes spend 30 or more minutes now and then on a middlegame position in my hard games. Most I spent was 80 minutes!
I tend to be a bit of a slow player (deep thinker) in the first place. but with this correspondence chess business, it is getting way out of line. I often spend 10, 20, 30 minutes or more -- sometimes an hour! -- on a sinlge move. This is crazy! How can I abbreviate the anaysis and calculation process a bit? I tend to play out nearly every possible variat ...[text shortened]... to think about one's next move? Thanks for all the excellent responses I get to my questions.
Find out your opponents threat and how to stop it in the best way. I can't really offer anything more then that.
it's good to play Slow. If I get a problematic position, I may think about it for a couple of days. not so much intensively, but it comes and goes in my mind from time to time. sometimes, after a long time, you suddenly see something you didn't see at all before. it might be important or not, but it brings pleasure that you finally see it. although mostly I tend to move too fast...
(like that rook-capture we talked about rahim, shoulda seen it but didn't. it's comforting you didn't see it either. 🙂 -it was 8.Nd5 threatening the queen, then after Q-exchange Nxc7 takes pawn and forks K+R. fritz called it.)
Originally posted by welsharnieWell, that puts us in the same boat. I was thinking this is a bit excessive, but perhaps it's more "normal" or usual than I thought. Still seems to me, though, to be too much time to devote to a single move. On the other hand, there is So Much to see, So Much is going on....
I can spend up to 2 hours (usually in 2 seperate sittings) analysing a position. This means I have usually seen enough to play off my next 3 moves, if my opponent meets mine instantly.
I usually spend 10-20 minutes per move.
Originally posted by welsharnieI guess us non subs spend a lot of time on our moves. I mostly do all my thinking at once so 80 min straight and if i still don't know, then i sleep on it use my timebank and then try again. i find it works well, and if you can;t get it go eat some food, some tv then try again.
I can spend up to 2 hours (usually in 2 seperate sittings) analysing a position. This means I have usually seen enough to play off my next 3 moves, if my opponent meets mine instantly.
I usually spend 10-20 minutes per move.
Originally posted by bassodo like i do play a lot of 5min or 3min or when you feel paticular crazy 1 min.
I tend to be a bit of a slow player (deep thinker) in the first place. but with this correspondence chess business, it is getting way out of line. I often spend 10, 20, 30 minutes or more -- sometimes an hour! -- on a sinlge move. This is crazy! How can I abbreviate the anaysis and calculation process a bit? I tend to play out nearly every possible variat ...[text shortened]... to think about one's next move? Thanks for all the excellent responses I get to my questions.
You will train your self to make moves in a more urgent way, and speed up the thinking process, as well as get an adrenilin rush!
i personally think anything beyond 20 min is excessive. I mean never in real life chess will you get the freedom to think about your moves like we do online. Personally, I have a quick reference to make a 5-10 min move: first deterimine if there is any forced moves (avoiding a 1-move checkmate or threatened peace). If so i examine all of the moves concerning that, picking the top 3-5 that come to mind immediatly. I check each for an immediat 2-3 move blunder, iliminating those that do. That usually leave 1-3 moves which i TRY to calculate 3-8 move down the road, usuallly writing on a paper which lines seem to work.
If nothing is forced, i look at the imbalances, checking the differences in space, development, inititiative, material, pawn structure, minor peace activeness, and major piece activness. During this time i dont think of any moves, im just writing down pluses and minuses for both sides.
Usually by now you can tell what advantages you have over you oponent, or how you can fight back, and need to build your moves to eighter strengthen your position or weaken his (if you have knights vs his bishops, find a way to try and close the game, and then get your knight to a safe influential square) i never check much further than 8 moves and never look into psyco sacrifices unless i truly see nothing.
One idea that may help spead up your playing to is go to a blitz site for a day or so (I like yahoo) and teach yourself to eliminate the need to check all variations. If you have been playing each move in 20+ min, then try the non time limit 10min per move setting, it gives you plenty of time to calcualte plus you will have no final timelimit for the game.
While there are many good points to taking your time, i do think your a bit slow...eighter way good luck with your games.
Originally posted by c guy1How is CC not 'real' chess? It is simply a less common form of chess to OTB chess. You do not limit yourself to thinking time on the basis that you would have to in OTB chess... that's like not using a database because you cannot in OTB.
I mean never in real life chess will you get the freedom to think about your moves like we do online.
I think the best way to improve the speed of your analysis is to play rapidplay chess (30 min games), as this enables you to analyse a fair bit, but you need to be able to do this quickly, or else you will suffer severe time trouble. I think this is best as blitz it too short to really improve your analysing skills. It is, however, very good at preparing you for OTB time scrambles.
c guy 1 has it about right. Some instructors point out that lower rated players tend to start calculating "if I play here, he goes there, etc." even before they evaluate the position. Knowing who has what advantages will certainly cut down looking at a lot of meaningless moves.
Originally posted by masscatBut sometimes a move which doesn't seem to suggest itself can be the strongest move. You can eliminate obvious blunders, but some that seem like they should be discounted can then be revealed to be very strong.
c guy 1 has it about right. Some instructors point out that lower rated players tend to start calculating "if I play here, he goes there, etc." even before they evaluate the position. Knowing who has what advantages will certainly cut down looking at a lot of meaningless moves.
I saw a GM playing an IM. The IM tried to kick away a N, and instead it moved to a square which seemed to trap it. The GM had calculated this 'unnatural' move far enough to realise he could extract it, and the annoyance it caused before then would be enough to give him a winning advantage.
Originally posted by c guy1When Kramnik beat Kasparov, I can't remember who it was but they took about 40 mins to make one move (obviously playing over the board), I know because I was following it on the internet (without any commentary) and it seemed like an eternity!
i personally think anything beyond 20 min is excessive. I mean never in real life chess will you get the freedom to think about your moves like we do online. Personally, I have a quick reference to make a 5-10 min move: first deterimine if there is any forced moves (avoiding a 1-move checkmate or threatened peace). If so i examine all of the moves concern ...[text shortened]... points to taking your time, i do think your a bit slow...eighter way good luck with your games.
I'm sorry for not being clear on my last post. Honestly I have no problem with taking 10-40 min on a move, I took a 40 min move in High School State the last weekend. I mearly suggested this to help him speed things up. I personally love deep games, but this is just an idea to help him speed up.
Spending over ten minutes on a move is excessive unless it is a critical move in a game. Narrow down your options until you have a few playable moves. Then, you may use the highly useful analyze board feature, and play both sides out, figuring what move would lead to a superior position. Chess is a positional game, so natural developing moves often are better then direct attacking moves early in the game. Many times, a long think isn't necessary until at least 15-20 moves into a game. If you're taking longer time to make moves before that point, you may possibly consider working on your opening theory.