Anyone else absolutely terrible at blitz?

Happy New Year,

I play on lichess, just wanted to ask this question here since blitz players are a bit obnoxious on there. I'm 1700 in classical and 1600 in rapid, but drift between 1000-1100 on blitz. I tend to freeze and play awful moves despite knowing good tactics. Does anyone else have this issue? I'm sound with theory, is it just my processing speed? Just wondering if anyone has any advice, I have a couple friends who play in blitz tournaments and it would be nice to join in.

Thanks

I'm nobody and I see-saw between 1200 and 1000 in blitz. I find that you need to have a solid, practiced opening, but in the middlegame, you need to be willing to risk, and be quick about it. A lot of people win some games just playing time, but eventually, they lose to folks who can go one or two pieces down to win a late checkmate.

I too find blitz extremely difficult.. I often go on streaks and win a bunch. Then lose a ton in a row. I'll blunder 5 times one game, and have an 80% no blunders game the next.

Blitz on 5|5 is doable for me, Bullet on 1|0 is a car crash I need increment to think. Have maybe only played a few blitz in the last year as well. Rapid is my time frame of preference 10|2, 15|5. Although recently playing bullet I don't feel I can consider the game properly. Hopefully as I improve overall my positional chess that I am practicing will aid my move selection.

I am terrible at blitz. I have 1900 RAPID and 1500-1540 BULLET, but my BLITZ is much lower.

me

i suck at blitz

me: trying to get better

I honestly feel the same, my rapid and bullet ratings are in the upper half of 1600 and my blitz remains in the 1400 range, never really understood why.

agree

I am--even in person face to face games.

Same here. I think I just suck at speed chess. I am consistently better at longer time controls, online or OTB. I often lose blitz games against people whom I can consistently beat in classical time controls.

My blitz is usually -150 compared to rapid lol

I tend to go on a losing streak in blitz (1000 to 600). I mostly rely on the opponent to run out of time. I also freeze and accidently blunder something (a mate or the queen). I lose most of the time in blitzs so I just move on and play rapid

If my speed is there (right now it isn’t) I’m not half bad

i always feel like the opponent is a computer or Magnus

same

Exactly. You should always play a combination of blitz bullet and rapid. Play bullet and blitz to warm up, play some rapid games and analyse them. Then take a deep breath and pull your sleeves and get ready to play some blitz.

Yep I am way weaker at blitz, not bothered because I don't consider it to be real chess. You're moving intuitively without proper analysis, which is not what chess is all about. Sure its fun but thats all.