Analyzing and playing

What do we love about chess? The opportunity to triumph over an opponent. The joy and excitement of playing. Each of us is acquainted with the situation when the desire to play a few online games turns into a long night of chess.

Chess players used to have problems finding places to play and suitable opponents. Often they could wait months for their next game. Thanks to modern technology we can find a suitable opponent just by issuing a command like "seek 5 0 1500-2000" on a chess server. We can play dozens of games per day without leaving home or waiting for specific opponents. Bravo, progress! Many of us play internet blitz. Just take a look at your finger notes and notice the number of games you played.

So there is no problem in finding opportunities to play chess. The question that remains is, "What we do want from chess?" Some just play chess as an idle diversion. Others want to improve their chess understanding and are ready to spend hours training. Up to you what you want. But if your choice is to proceed step-by-step to a new level of proficiency, you need to think about the ramifications of online playing. What are its pro's and cons?

I'm pretty sure that chess does not tolerate an amateur approach. If you play this game, be serious all down the line. If you are at the board (or screen) - think of the pieces! Only serious individuals get results in chess.

I believe that every game we play needs to bring us some dividends. Each game needs to be carefully analyzed. It is impossible to gain knowledge by playing mindless chess without post mortem analysis.

You were beaten in the opening - go to mega database, find the games of experienced players in this line, and memorize the way they played. You lost a completely drawn ending - analyze it yourself and then with a friend, coach, or chess engine. You'll see which ending principles were not applied. You are baffled by the middlegame - find similar games of titled players and learn the plans they use. Every game you play hides a wealth of instructive material. The trick is to look for it.

The explanation why your own games are recommended for analyzing is pretty logical. The mistakes founded in your games are much closer to you than the mistakes made by a player whose game was published. I am advocating self-analylsis based on personal game review. It is much easier to learn from own mistakes rather than to continue repeating them.

So, your chess training process is supposed to be like the cyclic game-analyze, game-analyze, etc.

But which analysis can be applied to a game played with a short time control? Opponents just move pieces and push a clock (or mouse). Are there any deep plans or nice ideas? No, just moving and pushing!

That is why I advise that club level players who wish to improve use their time constructively. Do not play a lot of blitz games, especially 1+0 or 3+0. Such games give you nothing. It seems like you are training in chess but actually you are just wasting time. This control is founded for Armageddon and for fun. But never for training. My advice to every club level player who desires to become stronger in chess is to play at least 5+5. Some rational games start from this or around this control.

If you play a few games with time control 5+5 (or slower) and then analyze them, you will make more progress than you could with a full night of 3+0 games.

So, please use the products of the technology rationally and pursue your goals methodically. And you will see how easy it is to progress!