David Howell has taken the $5,000 first prize at the Winter Chess Classic in Saint Louis after winning an epic 129-move game in the final round. The English GM played around 90 moves of that game on the 30 seconds a move increment…
At this point in my life this would be way beyond my capabilities. Playing 90 moves on a 30 second increment would be difficult, if not impossible, for most, if not all, Seniors. Like the Director of the (restricted), (name withheld), during the recent televised hearings concerning the most recent (classified), most humans would need a “break.” When nature calls one must answer, or suffer the consequences.
I absolutely agree. With my tournaments, I prefer to have a secondary time control after move 40. For most people it is a tremendous relief if they’ve been playing on the increment from move 28, say, to get a block of time at move 40. Not that it stops “relief blunders” at move 41.
An option is to play two or three moves very quickly to build up a few minutes on the clock, then sprint. This is another reason why I’m so strongly opposed to 30 (or even 10) second delay.
If you have been playing on increment since move 28, then you have perhaps not made wise use of your time. I remember when IM Rashid Ziatdinov was playing at a tournament in Atlanta. His round one opponent, a high Expert level player, got a reasonable position going into the endgame against the IM. However, he left himself with so little time that he soon lost his way and lost. Ziatdinov commented to me after the game that he sees this same pattern a lot from weak players (well, a high Expert is a weak player if you’re Ziatdinov). They use up large blocks of time early in the game when the position is so complicated that no one, not even Kasparov, could analyze it through to a final conclusion. They then have insufficient time left when the reach the endgame where it is possible to completely analyze a position. Learning to budget your time properly is one facet of chess development.
Although I agree with, “Learning to budget your time properly is one facet of chess development,” I must say that it is something easier said than done. Time trouble can be caused by insecurity and lack of confidence. GM Bent Larsen told me to “Be confident in your moves,” which was great advice, but something with which I had trouble because of the realization of just how badly were the moves I not only played, but considered!
I have noticed that almost all of the games in the female section of the US Chess Championships are played mostly on increment. Although exciting for the commentators, and fans, it must be awful for the players forced to sit there second after second with their clock dwindling. It looks like TORTURE!
And if your bladder if filed to capacity, it is TORTURE!
Even if Howell had been aiming for a draw, Rufeng Li is a bit of a bitter ender, rarely offering or accepting draws.
With the increasing number of tournaments with faster time controls, it is becoming the thing to do to press someone who is low on time. If you have a plan, the thirty second increment allows you to march on against an opponent who has to defend accurately on every move. The key is to have found a plan and have the endgame technique. If the position is unclear, complicated, or chaotic, it is easy to run into time pressure and make mistakes. That happens even when you feel you stand better. Combining physical strain of needing to go to the bathroom along with psychological stress of finding moves is a big problem for chess players. As a rule, it is usual to go to the loo when you have 30 minutes or more left on your clock. It is hard for very young players and much older players to control their bladders for an hour or more. Sipping water occasionally is better than guzzling Gatorade, soda pop, ice tea, coffee, or other concoction which make you have to go to the bathroom frequently.
Last weekend, I played in a Game 29, d0 tournament. I had to watch my fluid intake as well as my time usage. Making good move in a rook ending means little when you have to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately, the men’s room was on another floor, too. At the end of the tournament, I was physically exhausted, thirsty, and emotionally drained by the intense stress of the games.
I try to play tournament chess as often as I can, as you might see from my MSA record which is less than half of the number or tournaments that I have played in going back to 1971. The event was one of many state championship tournaments held each year. I like to support my state federation and the chess community in general by competing. A number of my young students also played. Sometimes you do not have the luxury of picking and choosing. Playing chess intermittently to protect a rating or when conditions are “perfect” has never been my thing. You cannot hide your chess in a bottle. Nostalgia for long ago battles is not as interesting as clashing swords now with the younger generation. The suggestion to not play is unsatisfactory.
In playing in these ever faster time controls, many adjustments must be made by the player in the days before the event as well as on game day. I have found that it is more effective to study typical middle game plans and endgames more than openings, as intuition and technique in shortened time must be spot on. Keeping to a regular sleep schedule, food choices, and working on sharpening focus are among a number of factors that are necessary. Younger players don’t have to worry as much about this, but for older players these things save time and help in the recovery cycle. I have played in more than a few “allegro” events with d0, going back to the beginning when these types of events became rateable. Staying ahead of your opponent on time under any short time control is not easy, but can be practiced. Many interesting ideas and strategic plans must be scrapped as impractical because they take too much time to calculate. Even when everything goes well, it is still a race between fatigue and will in order to be successful.
didn’t i read an article recently about older players doing just as well in quick-time events since ya do get done more quickly? like you mention, intuition and technique probably more developed in players that have “been around awhile” (i resemble that remark!). so, this could help make up for any other factors?
Having “been around awhile” will in absolutely no way way “make up for any other factors,” especially the age factor, as has been proven with much empirical evidence over the decades. I would like to think it could possibly mitigate the difference somewhat, but I seriously doubt it. If you do not believe me, ask Yasser!