Time management

I play half hour games-not online. I'm always in time trouble. I try to be disciplined, go through a checklist each move--what's the threat, check for checks, etc...-- but I have to abandon that approach as time winds down. Any advice on managing time better?

Even masters suffer the same fate, Jimmy. I wouldn't feel bad.

First of all, don't relax too much. You have to force your mind into jet mode. You have to search that board like the DEA messing things up, and you have to put out a lot of effort when calculating your variations. Effort! Effort! Effort! You only rest when the match is over.

Second, brush up on your positional assessments. Sometimes you simply don't have the time to explore a move for too long a period. You need to be able to assess whether you're still going to benefit from the move whether it's the best or least candidate. You can only do this effectively by understanding positional play... and tactics.

I find that training tactics is a good way to learn some time management skills. Compete with the clock, but don't just move haphazardly. 

Hi! 30 mins is a lot of time for online games, but I understand your time troubles, a lot of players have them. My advice: 1) try not to go with your clock lower than the opponent's time. This shouldn't be followed to the letter, but try to stick to this in positions where it makes sense. Because if you have much much less time than the adversary, he will be able to think more in key positions (like crucial pawn endgame) or try to flag you towards the end. 2) Never think more than 4-5 minutes on one move. Its is useless because you start doubting yourself and it leads very often to zeitnot. This helped me with my time troubles

Those are good tips!  I was lurking this topic and just had to say "Thanks" for all us beginners.

Think Chess.com should add a 30+15 time control as standard

15+10 definitely too short for quality games, 45+15 way too long these days

30 is good but after 20 min or so you continue playing chess but quality decreases as you or your opponent start looking at winning on time as there is no extra time per move 

I am switching to 30 min game, playing opening fast, last 5 min if you are ahead on time just complicate things even if the move is no good....win on time; strategy would be different if there was time added per move

45+45 I meant

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a chess coach based and chess book author based in California: www.ChessByLauren.com. 

  I understand your issue since I've been in time trouble myself. And yes, having low time is stressful.   My recommendation is to not spend too much time on each move. Be aware of how much time you have.  If you do find yourself with low time, then try to think on your opponent's time.  Always ask, "If she moves here, where is my opponent going to move?".  

I hope that this helps.  

   If you want to practice with low time control, then perhaps playing blitz will help you.

Thank you for such a valuable information. It is very important for me.

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15|10 is the FIDE standard rapid time control. Start at a pace of 40 seconds per move and finish with 10 seconds per move. Thanks to the increment you can always win a won position or draw a drawn position, you never lose on time and you are never in time trouble.

If that is still too fast for you, then play 25|10. It is better than 30|0 thanks to the increment. Start at 1 minute per move and finish at 10 seconds per move.

Hi, thanks for sharing this amazing post with us.