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Using blitz as training tool

#1

Sometimes I use blitz as a training tool, for "training" a "live" position. For example today in this game :

https://en.lichess.org/Wq5Zrtg9/black#63

I was wondering : If I give back the exchange, will the pawn ending be won ? At first I was a little bit in doubt. But the black king was in better shape than the white king in the pawn ending, so ... I decided to just test it.
And it turned out fine, as white got into zugzwang and had to give up a pawn, resulting in a clearly lost pawn ending.

I think this testing in "live" games can be useful, because the impact of playing a line live in a game is bigger than when analyzing just a bit afterwards, and I think it can also help to improve intuition as well as the courage to make certain decisions (pawn endings can be very very tricky. one mistake can mean a loss instead of a win).

Apart from these reasons, I think such an approach can also make your own chess more interesting.

Only playing games to win a few rating points and not really looking at the content of your games is different than consciously working on your chess improvement and also enjoying the chess itself.

For example "Ha, great, I won against 1500, flagged in lost position" sounds different compared to e.g. "Hey... This position in my game was new and interesting and reminded me of the chess study by Afek I saw last week". :)

h f ! \o/

Sometimes I use blitz as a training tool, for "training" a "live" position. For example today in this game : https://en.lichess.org/Wq5Zrtg9/black#63 I was wondering : If I give back the exchange, will the pawn ending be won ? At first I was a little bit in doubt. But the black king was in better shape than the white king in the pawn ending, so ... I decided to just test it. And it turned out fine, as white got into zugzwang and had to give up a pawn, resulting in a clearly lost pawn ending. I think this testing in "live" games can be useful, because the impact of playing a line live in a game is bigger than when analyzing just a bit afterwards, and I think it can also help to improve intuition as well as the courage to make certain decisions (pawn endings can be very very tricky. one mistake can mean a loss instead of a win). Apart from these reasons, I think such an approach can also make your own chess more interesting. Only playing games to win a few rating points and not really looking at the content of your games is different than consciously working on your chess improvement and also enjoying the chess itself. For example "Ha, great, I won against 1500, flagged in lost position" sounds different compared to e.g. "Hey... This position in my game was new and interesting and reminded me of the chess study by Afek I saw last week". :) h f ! \o/
#2

Agree. The mind works perfectly when you are perfectly involved in any activity. If it doesn't please or hurt you, it won't be remembered. That's the disadvantage of trying to improve just by studying and not getting involved. New teachers believe in active learning as the most effective way to learn. And I strongly believe they are right. It's the same thing with chess, the more involved and passionate and active you are in chess, the more you will "get" iit.

Agree. The mind works perfectly when you are perfectly involved in any activity. If it doesn't please or hurt you, it won't be remembered. That's the disadvantage of trying to improve just by studying and not getting involved. New teachers believe in active learning as the most effective way to learn. And I strongly believe they are right. It's the same thing with chess, the more involved and passionate and active you are in chess, the more you will "get" iit.
#3

Very interesting was Nxe5 instead of Qxe5. Considering whites dubious king-side activating the knight and keeping the Qs on the board look interesting.

Very interesting was Nxe5 instead of Qxe5. Considering whites dubious king-side activating the knight and keeping the Qs on the board look interesting.
#4

I just played a game where I thought that going for a pawn ending was the only option to win, but that turned out to be completely drawn!

https://en.lichess.org/QuYGvokG/black#79

I just played a game where I thought that going for a pawn ending was the only option to win, but that turned out to be completely drawn! https://en.lichess.org/QuYGvokG/black#79
#5

Here another example.
I felt that this piece sac was wrong, but after some pondering I decided to just try it, to see how that would go, in "live".
It gave white some initiative and practical chances. Black had to defend, with options to err.
https://en.lichess.org/O6Kbp9V1/white#23

Here another example. I felt that this piece sac was wrong, but after some pondering I decided to just try it, to see how that would go, in "live". It gave white some initiative and practical chances. Black had to defend, with options to err. https://en.lichess.org/O6Kbp9V1/white#23

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