Do you timebox your analysis before making a move?

Hi,

I have been analyzing the way I have approached my games so far on RHP. In games , where I feel I have an advantage, I make my move on the first visit to the board( ie when its my turn n I am looking at he board for the first time). In games, where position is unclear, I tend to procrastinate a lot.I will not make my move on the first go. I will keep coming bak, and try to analyse. The advantage of such approach is I am able to see some ideas which I may not see in first attempt.But, the disadvantage is that, I may not remember what I saw in previous visits.
So, now I am thinking I should timebox my analysis n make moves.Maybe give myself 10 minutes in most cases, and max 30 minutes.How do you approach your games?

What is timeboxing?

I generally play very quickly when victory is sure.
But in many cases, you only have a small advantage (like a pawn, with even situation) in which case, everything is still to be done. In that case, I procrastrinate, and finish by spending a lot of time on them if necessary, as a normal game, basically. So sometimes 2 minutes if the move is clear, sometimes one hour or even two...
obviously this also depends on the opponent ranking. if it's much lower, I just play some average move, waiting for blunder (and it works 🙂)

For games whose situation is positionnally unclear, in the beginning, I try not to think as long as I can, which is pretty bad... I always try to find some short move that enables me to report serious thought to the following move. At a certain point, of course, I have to do it.
When I am slightly losing, I usually don't spend much time, cause I don't like being in inferior positions. More precisely: I don't like not having the initiative. So sometimes I may be in a worse position, but if I have the initiative, I still pretty much like it and spend pretty much time on it.
When I consider I don't have serious chances to win or draw, I quit as soon as possible. When I am psychollogically weak, I just quit a few games I could still try to defend, for the pleasure to go away from these awful situations. My ego is at stake, after all.

EDIT: and I also stare at positions when it's my opponent to play; when I don't have to think anymore, just for the pleasure of the eyes.

It depends on lots of things:

- My current gameload (more games -> less time per move)
- The stage of the game (faster in opening and endgame, slower in the middle)
- Rating of my opponent:
- If high game load, then I spend less time on moves against higher rated opponents, as I'll probably lose anyway, and so should devote time to games I might win
- If low game load, then I spend more time on moves against higher rated opponents, as that's the best way to improve.

.. But in general, I move when I feel like I've found the best move. The problem is taking those bad habits into the OTB world, where I might have 2 or 3 minutes per move, rather than 2 or 3 days. It's a bit of a shock after playing on here for a year or so... 🙁

Define timebox.

In complex situations, or confronted with something unexpected, I usually have a second look the next day. Often I see other things, more possibilities. I think that's one of the ways in which playing on this site is improving my game.

I keep my gameload rather low, unless the site surprises me with several 2nd/3rd rounds going simultaneouslly, like currently.

'Timebox' is only relevant for those who approach playing here more 'quantitatively', and must manage their dedicated time accordingly.

I am from software field, and we use this term for defining time periods within which to deliver. From wikipedia - "Timeboxing is a time management technique common in planning projects (typically for software development), where the schedule is divided into a number of separate time periods (timeboxes, normally two to six weeks long), with each part having its own deliverables, deadline and budget."

When playing white against a black wing opening I tend to play instantly the worst move I can see with absolutely no thought:o Otherwise when the positionmerits it I like to see the move, let the position fester in my mind for half a day, then revisit and play. But then My ecf is probably higher than my RHP equivalent so not a great recommendation for a technique.