i do brain puzzles before bullet to improve my reaction time, the brain games reaction episode is good too, then do mouse practice to improve my mouse skills, but im still a patzer, just a 1900, but thats something i do
Dear @Dollyfroggy!
I cant recommend you anything for rapid without checking your games, seeing where your strengths and weaknesses are, whether you prefer an open tactical battle or aim a positional safe closed game.
Finding a suitable opening repertoire is a long process - you will have to play a decent amount of games to test yourself in it - and it depends on your preferences and on your style. Openings are a question of taste! :-)
Just in general: forget about memorizing variations!
If you try to do that, you will find yourself in trouble finding a refutation when your opponent makes some second best move throwing you off from your book theory.
Even if you get them into the line as far as you memorized, you wont really know what to do next in the “good middlegame” :<
Focus instead on understanding the positions. Learn how to play the pawn structures that arise from the opening: what are the plans for each side?!
When you understand the pawn structures you will see why certain moves are played and why pieces are developed to certain squares.
Through playing experience you will see which pieces are better to trade off and which should rather be kept on the board.
Wasnt this topic about bullet improvement?!
Allright… For fast time controls I can give you a sort of opening advice based on experience.
My own repertoire is influenced or rather messed up through waaay tooo much bullet. :/
I play “sister-openings” as black - Caro Kann and Slaw Defence.
Both opening result in a similar pawn structure, and I can premove 1…c6 and 2…d5 against everything without fearing those cheap lefong tricks like for example in fianchetto-openings.
I play my first 2 moves and dont even watch whether they have opened with 1.Nf3, c4, e4, d4, g3, f4 or whatever. :0
To me it is the safest way to go - so I choose to play the same stuff as white.
1.d4/2.c3 - that gives black the chance to equalize the game early - it is not an ambitious approach, but very fast.
Happy chessing and all best :-)
I cant recommend you anything for rapid without checking your games, seeing where your strengths and weaknesses are, whether you prefer an open tactical battle or aim a positional safe closed game.
Finding a suitable opening repertoire is a long process - you will have to play a decent amount of games to test yourself in it - and it depends on your preferences and on your style. Openings are a question of taste! :-)
Just in general: forget about memorizing variations!
If you try to do that, you will find yourself in trouble finding a refutation when your opponent makes some second best move throwing you off from your book theory.
Even if you get them into the line as far as you memorized, you wont really know what to do next in the “good middlegame” :<
Focus instead on understanding the positions. Learn how to play the pawn structures that arise from the opening: what are the plans for each side?!
When you understand the pawn structures you will see why certain moves are played and why pieces are developed to certain squares.
Through playing experience you will see which pieces are better to trade off and which should rather be kept on the board.
Wasnt this topic about bullet improvement?!
Allright… For fast time controls I can give you a sort of opening advice based on experience.
My own repertoire is influenced or rather messed up through waaay tooo much bullet. :/
I play “sister-openings” as black - Caro Kann and Slaw Defence.
Both opening result in a similar pawn structure, and I can premove 1…c6 and 2…d5 against everything without fearing those cheap lefong tricks like for example in fianchetto-openings.
I play my first 2 moves and dont even watch whether they have opened with 1.Nf3, c4, e4, d4, g3, f4 or whatever. :0
To me it is the safest way to go - so I choose to play the same stuff as white.
1.d4/2.c3 - that gives black the chance to equalize the game early - it is not an ambitious approach, but very fast.
Happy chessing and all best :-)
@Funkmaus It is possible to premove fianchetto openings while dodging nearly all cheapos by changing move order, for example playing instead of playing g6, Bg7 play g6, d6, Bg7. You can even delay the fianchetto further by playing something like g6, d6, c6, Nd7, Ngf6 and then Bg7 followed by castling. This makes it very hard for your opponent to win material with Bh6: the worst that could happen is an exchange of bishops and you often end up winning their bishop instead.
This is my main opening in ultrabullet and it has been working quite well for me so far!
This is my main opening in ultrabullet and it has been working quite well for me so far!
Whoa, dear @fatbu - you have opened my eyes!
Where have you been 20 years ago?!
Thats an amazing advice to change the move order - I wonder how this idea didnt come to my mind. :o
Not sure if I will give it a try, its hard to switch to completely different stuff after so many games played in Caro and Slaw.
Maybe I will try it in ultra - I am really slow and terrible there.
In any case, I will forward your advice to my dear second half, FM WattSchrott who plays Kingsindian as black.
Thank you!!!
Where have you been 20 years ago?!
Thats an amazing advice to change the move order - I wonder how this idea didnt come to my mind. :o
Not sure if I will give it a try, its hard to switch to completely different stuff after so many games played in Caro and Slaw.
Maybe I will try it in ultra - I am really slow and terrible there.
In any case, I will forward your advice to my dear second half, FM WattSchrott who plays Kingsindian as black.
Thank you!!!
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