Wondering

How many games do you carry, and how much time per move do you
really take when making one?
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
How many games do you carry, and how much time per move do you
really take when making one?
Kelly

I find my best performances are carrying 20-30 games on a 7:7 or longer format.
The time perameters mean I don't have to "clear my board" at every session for fear of being timed out and there's nearly always games to play when I log in.
I've never been timed out.
I am also a fan of the green dots(and I wish they were brighter, but that's another issue) and I will always play those games first.
This means I may play for an hour or more in the same few games , which helps because I don't "lose track" of what is happening in those games
I rarely play more than a couple of hours in a session though I may have 2 or 3 seeoins in a day
The time factors also help here as somedays I don't play at all.
Regarding time for each move , it depends.
Some moves are obvious and take no studying( I always play the same few openings)but I have established a routine:-
1.CHECK ALL CHECKS -the most invaluable lesson I have learned on here.
2.Are any of my pieces threatened.
3.What is the purpose of my opponemts last move.
No.3 takes the most time depending on the complexity of the game.
After this I use analyse board to work out my best move and the opponents best responses.I would say in complex positions I can take up to 20 minutes to decide on a move and then I double check it before pressing the submit button.
Why aren't I a higher rated player? - I miss things!!!

Originally posted by venda
I find my best performances are carrying 20-30 games on a 7:7 or longer format.
The time perameters mean I don't have to "clear my board" at every session for fear of being timed out and there's nearly always games to play when I log in.
I've never been timed out.
I am also a fan of the green dots(and I wish they were brighter, but that's another issue) and ...[text shortened]... ck it before pressing the submit button.
Why aren't I a higher rated player? - I miss things!!!

I've had quite a few games at once I believe over 40, and I don't spend
near the time on my moves as I should. I plan on correcting that however
but we will see. If I spend more than a minute or two on a move it is rare.
Kelly

It makes a huge difference how much time you are prepared to spend!

I spend about 5 - 10 minutes per move, with the result that my games here aren't much better than my OTB games, maybe even worse because of the breaks in concentration.

A friend of mine who is weaker OTB is about 400 points stronger here, and initially I was suspicious, but he explained that he spends hours over every move, literally, and this makes all the difference.

Originally posted by MikeFindlay
It makes a huge difference how much time you are prepared to spend!

I spend about 5 - 10 minutes per move, with the result that my games here aren't much better than my OTB games, maybe even worse because of the breaks in concentration.

A friend of mine who is weaker OTB is about 400 points stronger here, and initially I was suspicious, but he explained that he spends hours over every move, literally, and this makes all the difference.

My OTB rating is quite old, but it was around 1 to 2 hundred points higher
than here. I also have the added thing of working nights, so sometimes
I'll pop on and make a few moves when I should be sleeping, and it has
more than once bit me. I'm thinking of getting back into OTB rated games
again, I'm in a new area with some strong chess clubs near me. I just need
the time now.
Kelly

It all depends on the position. If it's tricky-dicky I won't look
at it till I have time to give it a work over. (look for a trap.)

But usually I choose what looks OK whilst sitting staring at the screen.

I try not to play instant moves (I must practice what I preach)
but have in the past made instant moves and resigned a move later.

So do as I say and not as I do.

The losses I shrug off.
But one game I won was ruined with an instant move that destroyed
a beautiful perfect wrap up. That annoyed me more than any loss. What an klutz.

I write down the move in a book, this is so I can. if need be, skip through
it at a board (usually at work). I showed my RHP mate who I work beside
this book full of RHP games. They are covered in quotes, notes and ideas.
(it might be worth money someday!)

I am not disciplined enough to do this everytime I log on.
Often I play a few screen moves and catch up later but I try to
keep it up to date.

I recommend this idea. It does slow me down, gives me a record
so I can set up the exact position if I need to work on it.
I have wasted some time in past looking at the wrong position at work
or in my study when setting up a position from memory. (I'm sure we all have.)
Also when I feel the need to play over a game (get my fix) I've often
grabbed the book and relived an old memory. Played some good games.
(re-read that bit as set some lovely traps!)

I do use the conditional feature a lot , especially the 'deep mode' when
I'm setting a trap.

I dislike leaving the site if I have a move to make. Though sometimes I have to.

I assume others players are the same. So I go for 'deep mode'.

'They have 30+ games on the go so make a pile of moves in one sitting.
After they have replied to me it will come around again in a minute or so.
They will want out of this sitting ASAP so slip in an instant move. BANG!

OOPS. Maybe I have given away too much.

The win that broke my heart.

Lately I've only had around 10 games on the go, a few years back I was comfortable with 50.

I'm a big time procrastinator, I'll open up the analyze board and move some pieces around for a few minutes. Then just say to myself, I'll figure it out later. Rinse and repeat until I'm in time trouble, then I just blitz it.

I only play some decent moves, because I spend a decent amount of time on analysis, it's just spaced out within a week.