What Time Control should I play? • page 1/2 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

Lerlas

#1

What time control do you recommend me to play. example: 15 + 10, or rapid or classical or blitz.

Lerlas

#2

Like which time control is good for improving?

mkubecek

#3

I would suggest to start with time control which gives you enough time to think about your moves, avoid (most) stupid mistakes and play decent chess (from your point of view). As you gain practice, you should be able to go faster gradually.

Most people here seem to take the opposite direction, though - and many don't get too far.

I would suggest to start with time control which gives you enough time to think about your moves, avoid (most) stupid mistakes and play decent chess (from your point of view). As you gain practice, you should be able to go faster gradually. Most people here seem to take the opposite direction, though - and many don't get too far.

Brian-E

#4

Agreed with mkubecek, but I would add that you don't need to gradually go faster later and your chess will continue to improve if you continue to give yourself adequate time to think.

Go for the slower time controls. And, very important, play with time increment (so not 30+0, but 30+20 for example). Zero increment means that the play will become much faster and more frantic later on. This spoils the chance to develop your endgame technique.

Agreed with mkubecek, but I would add that you don't need to gradually go faster later and your chess will continue to improve if you continue to give yourself adequate time to think. Go for the slower time controls. And, very important, play with time increment (so not 30+0, but 30+20 for example). Zero increment means that the play will become much faster and more frantic later on. This spoils the chance to develop your endgame technique.

chakmatus

#5

I have been on lichess for almost 3 years, and I started playing mainly games of Rapid (10+0), I then reduced the time gradually until 5+0, and today I play almost 3+0 and 1+0.

I will advise you to start with slower games in order to strengthen your thinking on each move.

I have been on lichess for almost 3 years, and I started playing mainly games of Rapid (10+0), I then reduced the time gradually until 5+0, and today I play almost 3+0 and 1+0. I will advise you to start with slower games in order to strengthen your thinking on each move.

45+45

"... Most internet players think that 30 5 is slow, but that is unlikely slow enough to play 'real' chess. You need a game slow enough so that for most of the game you have time to consider all your candidate moves as well as your opponent’s possible replies that at least include his checks, captures, and serious threats, to make sure you can meet all of them. For the average OTB player G/90 is about the fastest, which might be roughly 60 10 online, where there is some delay. But there is no absolute; some people think faster than others and others can play real chess faster because of experience. Many internet players are reluctant to play slower than 30 5 so you might have to settle for that as a 'slow' game." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627010008/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman12.pdf

"... Most internet players think that 30 5 is slow, but that is unlikely slow enough to play 'real' chess. You need a game slow enough so that for most of the game you have time to consider all your candidate moves as well as your opponent’s possible replies that at least include his checks, captures, and serious threats, to make sure you can meet all of them. For the average OTB player G/90 is about the fastest, which might be roughly 60 10 online, where there is some delay. But there is no absolute; some people think faster than others and others can play real chess faster because of experience. Many internet players are reluctant to play slower than 30 5 so you might have to settle for that as a 'slow' game." - NM Dan Heisman (2002) https://web.archive.org/web/20140627010008/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman12.pdf

SwaPneEl1

#8

My advice related to this topic is to check out this blog post, in Lichess only, free of cost! https://lichess.org/@/Avetik_ChessMood/blog/chess-time-controls-which-is-best-suited-to-you/Uy1oTrur. This gives u a comprehensive guide to what time control YOU should play.
And, as a sauce, I would advise you to play BLITZ games as well! Yes, B.L.I.T.Z games. Read this article, again from Lichess only: https://lichess.org/@/Avetik_ChessMood/blog/analyzing-blitz-chess-games-why-and-how-to-do-it/6Nziw4Un

My advice related to this topic is to check out this blog post, in Lichess only, free of cost! https://lichess.org/@/Avetik_ChessMood/blog/chess-time-controls-which-is-best-suited-to-you/Uy1oTrur. This gives u a comprehensive guide to what time control YOU should play. And, as a sauce, I would advise you to play BLITZ games as well! Yes, B.L.I.T.Z games. Read this article, again from Lichess only: https://lichess.org/@/Avetik_ChessMood/blog/analyzing-blitz-chess-games-why-and-how-to-do-it/6Nziw4Un

mkubecek

#9

@SwApNeEl1 said in #8:

And, as a sauce, I would advise you to play BLITZ games as well! Yes, B.L.I.T.Z games.
But please note the important "as well" part of the sentence. Yes, it says "as well", not "only". :-)

@SwApNeEl1 said in #8: > And, as a sauce, I would advise you to play BLITZ games as well! Yes, B.L.I.T.Z games. But please note the important "as well" part of the sentence. Yes, it says "as well", not "only". :-)

Youcandothis

#10

I think it's good to play many time controls, also including correspondence chess.