You're a stronger player than me, so take this with a grain of salt...
I think the time controls are just personal preference. I've landed on 15|10 games as they seem to give me sufficient time to analyze between moves. But I also don't have as much time in my day to commit to anything longer.
I try to analyze all my games: win, lose, or draw. You can learn just as much from analyzing why your opponents' moves were good/bad as you can from your own. Without a chess coach, I just rely on the engine to help me understand why moves were good/bad. I typically follow the top engine line 5-6 moves from the move in question, and I can usually figure out what I want to know. Not always, but more often than not. As far as how long it should take, that's again personal preference. The value gained per minute of analysis probably follows the law of diminishing returns, but there's always something more to be squeezed out.
Hopefully some of this is helpful!
Time controls and analyzing games
Online, I play 15/10 because that is a FIDE rapid time control and easier to find games.
OTB, I do 90/30.
You're a stronger player than me, so take this with a grain of salt...
I think the time controls are just personal preference. I've landed on 15|10 games as they seem to give me sufficient time to analyze between moves. But I also don't have as much time in my day to commit to anything longer.
I try to analyze all my games: win, lose, or draw. You can learn just as much from analyzing why your opponents' moves were good/bad as you can from your own. Without a chess coach, I just rely on the engine to help me understand why moves were good/bad. I typically follow the top engine line 5-6 moves from the move in question, and I can usually figure out what I want to know. Not always, but more often than not. As far as how long it should take, that's again personal preference. The value gained per minute of analysis probably follows the law of diminishing returns, but there's always something more to be squeezed out.
Hopefully some of this is helpful!
Thanks for replying and offering your perspective. I pretty much analyze my games the same way you do. I do usually go down some short engine lines while doing the game review. What I was inquiring about is if I should spend longer and if I should go without using an engine. I've heard people advocate this position before and I would like to hear them expound on that but it seems that not too many people are interested in my post.
As to your answer to the time controls question. I disagree with them being personal preferences unless your just playing chess to soley have fun. I think its important to play longer time controls to improve but I'm just wondering at what point quantity trumps quality. Thank you for sharing with me and taking the time to write a reply!
Online, I play 15/10 because that is a FIDE rapid time control and easier to find games.
OTB, I do 90/30.
It's not too hard to find 30+30 games. Usually, a 2-minute wait on average. I use another chess website, though, to play these long-time controls because chess.com seems to be more focused on shorter time controls.
What I'm wondering though is if one has enough time to play a 90/30 game(but the question applies to any decision to do a longer time control. Ex: 30|30 to 45|45) each day(Theoretically, if I have enough time and I am able to find a training partner), is it beneficial? More beneficial than playing 4 15|10 games or studying more?
Thanks for sharing.
Online, I play 15/10 because that is a FIDE rapid time control and easier to find games.
OTB, I do 90/30.
It's not too hard to find 30+30 games. Usually, a 2-minute wait on average. I use another chess website, though, to play these long-time controls because chess.com seems to be more focused on shorter time controls.
What I'm wondering though is if one has enough time to play a 90/30 game(but the question applies to any decision to do a longer time control. Ex: 30|30 to 45|45) each day(Theoretically, if I have enough time and I am able to find a training partner), is it beneficial? More beneficial than playing 4 15|10 games or studying more?
Thanks for sharing.
Playing custom time controls is a grey area in my personal opinion.
I recently learned how to adjust with 15/10 and easily slayed a handful of opponents 200-300 rapid points above me.
OTB, I match in the 1500-1800 club level in 90/30 so I had to learn to gap myself with 15/10.
Different time controls and different games.
Hello, recently I've been trying to take chess a little more serious and I have a couple questions.
Currently I play one 30+20 game a day and sometimes a second one. I could potentially do an even longer time control such as 45+45 or I can do multiple shorter time controls. Which would be more beneficial?
The advantage of a shorter time control such as 15|10 is that I get more games under my belt but longer time controls are better because I can think more on my moves. Should I stay with 30+20 or change time controls. (I would probably enjoy a time control like 45+45 the most but it would be harder to commit to so I won't switch unless there is an obvious advantage in doing so.)
My second question is on analyzing games. I just attended my first OTB tournament in the last year. I had 1 loss, 3 draws, and 3 wins. I always hear that is beneficial to analyze your games but I've always avoided it because I don't know how exactly to do it and I'm slightly skeptical on its benefits(I still do a game review and look at the mistakes and blunders but not too much more).
How would I do this? Should I only be analyzing my losses and draws? How long should I take? Should I use a computer initially or wait to use it?