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Join NSC RookieU800, Open and Blitz Jan 7, 2007
The Blitz is a chess game where each player gets 5 min for
the entire game. Players play with chess clock. If time expires for the player he
loses the game.
Playing blitz is an important tool for chess improvement. Some chess players disagree, but usually those who are not good blitz players or not strong chess players on the first place and do not know about it.
People are rarely “wired” to play blitz well, for most players this skill has to be developed.
Blitz games are full of adventures, students who get used to play blitz will never want to go back to play without clock. In a blitz game the player can often win “on time” even loosing in material, and also a player can win in case of an illegal move (see rules ). These rules give a lower rated player some additional chances in the game.
In chess it is not important how much time you spent thinking on a move, it is important how effective your thinking is for that time. Many players make blunders after long thinking. Good players learn not to make blunders even in bad time pressure – this is the key to improvement.
If a student says it is hard to play blitz because he needs to think fast, it is the same as a basketball player would complain that he needs to run fast.
Everyone can probably come up with a good move with unlimited time. However in a real game time is always limited. The ability to manage time, play fast without blunders is an important skill in chess.
Most (if not all) World’s great players I knew played a lot of blitz games, hours and hours of blitz. They used blitz to prepare for all their Championships.
It is not for very young players, but if your child likes to play blitz they can start at any age. Around second grade is a good time to start playing blitz for everyone.
Here are things you can practice while playing blitz:
1.Your favorite openings
2. Endgame technique
3. Tactics
4. Time management
WGM Elena’s advise:
Play blitz regularly, several times a week.
If you feel that your child stays on the same level and doesn’t improve for a while – try to encourage them to play blitz!
Sign up for the blitz tournaments: http://www.chessplayer.com/BlitzForKids.htm
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