How to improve speed and efficiency

Hi folks, I’ve been playing for about five months, and I’m getting frustrated because there are times when I feel like I’m making slow, hard progress, but then lose a number of consecutive games on timeout and drop way down in points. Looking at my stats, I’ve lost as many games on timeout as I have by checkmate, which is so annoying.

My partner suggests doing longer games (I play most 10 minute rapids) so that I can the time to think through my moves more completely, with the idea that I’ll get faster once I get better in my theory, understanding, and execution. I’ve tried this a little but I’m a little concerned that doing it more will actually just breed worse time management habits.

I’ve seen others say that playing bullet is that best way to get rigorous about speeding up your game. Just wondering if anyone other beginners have had the timeout struggled and managed to remedy it?

You’re partner is correct, play slower time controls if you  want to improve. 

I played up 2/1 bullet chess not too long ago, mind you as a drinking session but no way I can keep up and got flagged in won positions.

In 15/10 or 90-0, I am competitive with players as strong as 1900. 

Some correlation?

Longer time controls allow you to utilize CCT techniques, blunder checks, scan for tactics and exercise deeper or newly gained calculation skills.

Whats more important to you; cheap and shallow thrills or long term improvement, with the option of revisiting speed chess?

Play 15/10.

Hit my profile and dm me with further questions.

 

Im new and only played 1 month and having the same problem.
i start and almost only play 30 for the time to think. And found i cant handle 1 or 3 because not familiar with the variation and structures.
Im now around800 playing 30 but cant even made reasonable move in 1 or 3.

Im planning to study more, practice more, play more longer game before go fast.

A normal game off chess takes about 4 to 6 hours. So only expect to play good chess in 10 minutes if you think you are seriously faster then Anish Giri.

@1

"lose a number of consecutive games on timeout" ++ Play with increment

"I play most 10 minute rapids" ++ Play 15|10

"concerned that doing it more will actually just breed worse time management habits"
++ No. Time management is fully utilising all time allowed by the time control, whatever that is.

"playing bullet is that best way" ++ No. Playing ping pong does not make you better at tennis.

Well I am 1500ish and sometimes you may need a break from chess but at least stay active in puzzles to understand tactics that you may had never learned. People can also play unsoundly and wrongly which can also throw you off. Just take your time to understand tactics and do tactical lessons provided by and puzzles provided by chess.com. Practicing helped me play faster

Study openings: Knowing common openings and their plans can save time during the game and help you develop a solid position.

 

Practice tactics: Regularly solving tactical puzzles and practicing combinations can improve your ability to find tactical opportunities and make quick decisions.

 

Analyze games: Study the games of strong players to understand how they make decisions and improve your own decision-making process.

 

Use checklists: Create a mental or written checklist of things to consider during each move, such as threats, piece development, and pawn structure.

 

Focus on the board: Avoid distractions and concentrate on the position in front of you to make accurate moves and reduce the time spent on each decision.

 

Improve visualization skills: The ability to quickly visualize moves and understand the consequences can help you make quick and accurate decisions.

 

Limit time per move: Set a time limit for each move to improve your time management and decision-making under pressure.

 

Play against stronger opponents: Playing against stronger players will force you to think faster and make more accurate decisions.

 

Remember, improving speed and efficiency in chess takes time and practice. Consistently working on these tips will help you become a quicker and more efficient player.

Idk about the opening part as most beginners do not follow the book moves thou.

Play more bullet.

Great responses all – thanks for chiming in and sharing your experiences and insights! I’ll give the 15|10 format a go. I’ve done quite a lot of the lessons re openings, tactics etc., but possibly just need to revise and go again to fully absorb.

I disagree with all of these suggestions, play fast and fast only, if you play slow you will see deeper but lets be real no one is special everyone could see 10+ moves ahead if given enough time, so why do that? progress by thinking ahead fast, and eventually you'll be able to see ahead fast and wont take the length of a backstreet boys album to find a good move.

Well the OP has gained almost 400 rapid points since the time of positing.

Clearly, slowing down has helped.

From what I have witnessed, you get faster thru improvement (slowing it down ironically) and proficiency.

Yeah but it doesn't stick, I went from 800 to 1500 in rapid, and im confident I can reach 1800 easily, and you think deep and you see all this variations but you need to do it every game, and it's really slow, you do get better understanding but when you lower the speed and higher the stress level you tend to forget and you solely focus on moving or making moves that dont lose. As opposed as making good moves quick, Why train 1-2 years on rapid to be destroyed by a gm bot in under 3 minutes? why not train fast and make that gm bot work 5 minutes or 6 minutes, and eventually draw or even win? The reason why slow chess doesn't work is because is not intense, you need intensity you need to stress about the time, you need something extra to fight for your focus so you can improve.

bro got the fruity zesty pony flair

Well done on your progress and and good luck on 1800.

Theres a time control for everybody. It takes a different skill set for classical, rapid, blitz and bullet play.

Personally, I’m a 90/30 time control player so even 15/10 is bullet to me. Playing more bullet or blitz will not improve my chess skills, if anything, will shallow my skill set.

It is what it is. To each their own