Fast or Slow, I Don't Know ...

Submitted by JerryHobby on Mon, 11/10/2008 at 3:19pm.

Have you ever seen the movie, "Searching for Bobby Fischer?" I'm sure you have. I really like that movie for my own reasons. Anyway ... the point is that there was some discussion about speed chess versus playing an untimed game. The grand master said, "NEVER play with those fools in the park!"

If we break it down into three types of chess:

1. speed chess - playing with a very limited time
2. live chess - with or without a clock, but with enough time to strategize
3. slow chess - one or more days between moves

What are the real advantages of these compared with your various objectives. Obviously there are different objectives for different people.

For me, I want to have a really great live game where I can unroll my chess set and beat the freak at Starbucks or whatever. For me, should I work on live chess? Or is there a deeper value derived from slow chess or speed chess? What do you think? I welcome your comments.

Jerry

» posted in JerryHobby's Blog

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Comments:

by BouvMan - 12 months ago
Coeur d'Alene, ID United States

Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 67

I will not comment on #1. I have never tried it and it does not appeal to me. Like golf, if you haven't played it, don't knock it.

#3 is our online chess and it is more like not using a clock at all and everyone taking a very long time to move. We do need to have some type of control so that we do not wait forever on the dead.

#2 needs to be divided into two groups.

2A is the friendly game. Take time to look it over, but be polite and don't take forever. Most of these games are played in under an hour. This is the type game you would play at Starbucks.

2B gives you plenty of time to think things over. It is normally played with a clock. This is how you play official tournament type chess such as played in the USCF and Internatiional organizations. This is for really serious players.

by mschosting - 12 months ago
Portugal Portugal

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 1095

I would go for the first and second options, altough there should be more "categories" and there is an huge difference between OTB and online chess, the "deeper" value derived from any of it will depend on your objectives, if you just want to pass a good time playing 1m bullet online is just fine, you wont learn anything from it but can be funny, the longest time control gives you more time to create plans/strategy and think on the tactics, wich will be more useful to later analise the game and see where you are thinking the wrong way

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