New here, and originally thought it would be good for me to slow down and really think about positions. What I'm finding is, I still only think for a few minutes before each actual move. Its almost like I'm playing multiple blitz games, with long pauses while I wait for my opponent to make a move. Wondering how it is for the rest of you, and whether you find it effective to limit the number of games you are playing, in order to increase time spent considering the position?
I'm with you. I'm sure over analyzing would prevent some embarrassing mistakes, but really there are only a few games where I give it more than a 30 second think before moving. Of course, some of those turn out to be my best games ever, but I'm really here to have fun and I find it's easiest to do that by always having a game available to move in.
Originally posted by ExumaCan't speak for on here but I am in two tournaments on ICCF(the correspondence arm of FIDE). Two games have finished out of sixteen. Both draws against a 2170 and 2162. I expect the rounds to finish next year. The time controls are 10 moves in 50 days and the time accumulates. In one game I have 163 days to make six moves! Right now eight of my fourteen games are my move.
New here, and originally thought it would be good for me to slow down and really think about positions. What I'm finding is, I still only think for a few minutes before each actual move. Its almost like I'm playing multiple blitz games, with long pauses while I wait for my opponent to make a move. Wondering how it is for the rest of you, and whether you fin ...[text shortened]... the number of games you are playing, in order to increase time spent considering the position?
Back to your question, I usually take at least a day or two. Some positions take some real thought however. I have two games where I haven't moved in a week. I honestly don't think I could handle more games right now. To each his own though I suppose.
Originally posted by giantrobotGood lord! When you take a day (or more) to make a move, are you using the analysis board trying different lines? Are you systematically going through each move possible? Don't you get past a point and begin to lose perspective?
Can't speak for on here but I am in two tournaments on ICCF(the correspondence arm of FIDE). Two games have finished out of sixteen. Both draws against a 2170 and 2162. I expect the rounds to finish next year. The time controls are 10 moves in 50 days and the time accumulates. In one game I have 163 days to make six moves! Right now eight of my four ...[text shortened]... honestly don't think I could handle more games right now. To each his own though I suppose.
After some very stupid losses early on, I decided to take my time on moves... I haven't lost since!
The analysis board is my friend and I try to go through all the most likely possibilities before moving. The most thinking time I've put into a move is about 25 minutes, and it was a killer!
I made a hasty move recently that could have cost me the game but fortunately my opponent was more hasty and missed a golden opportunity for an advantage.
I'm guilty of making some hasty moves without properly assessing the board in most of my games, considering a move for maybe 2 to 5 minutes. However, when a given game starts to become really interesting (i.e. difficult), I might print the current board and think about off and on for a few hours over the course of a day. I also make use of the analysis board after attempting to calculate mentally the outcome of a given exchange.
Those difficult games turn out to be my favorites, even if I lose. 🙂
I move very quickly against opponents graded 500 or more points below me or if I am in an opening I know well. Sometimes this gets me into trouble as instinctive instant moves are not always best and the focus tends to be on what I can do rather than his possible counterplay.
If I get into trouble I slow down in those games hoping I can claw it back (I usually can). I won't resign unless I am significantly down and can generate no counter play.
Against players graded within 200 points of me I take most time. These are the games that I can and must win if I am careful. I will only resign when my opponents winning line is clear and I know he has seen it.
Players graded 300 or more points above me I am likely to lose to. I take them seriously and invest time but not quite as much as I would against opponents I can beat. I am more likely in these games to resign quickly if I go down or take a draw if the opportunity comes up.
obvious moves I try to do in few minutes but not less (which means I try not to make it quicker). unless it's a recapture with no in-between-move possibilities or an opening move without strategic choices.
on critical strategic moves, complex tactics, planning etc, I try to take at least a couple of days if possible. just to get a fresh look at it on different days, which is often incredibly helpful. sometimes a week or two, but usually that happens too late. launching an attack against high rated players usually takes a lot of time and re-checking things.
One or two days at most. Sometimes you have winning positions and the moves just flow, it'll be seconds. Because you're winning, it's fun looking at the different lines, choosing the shortest way,then it'll take me minutes. When i'm losing i might take a day or more searching for a way out. sometimes i'll take out the board and analyze it as a last resort. i've gotten to the point where if i have a lost position against a good player i'll resign quickly rather than waste my time and get depressed in the bargain.
Since the trip to and from work take so much time, I just recently started taking two games with me every day on the bus. The bus-part of my trip is about 30 minutes, so either I look at one game to work and one game from work, or I make out both positions, landing at 15 minutes each. However, I never take simple positions with me that requires no thought (i.e. book positions, forced re-captures etc). And, I also wait to commit the actual move I decided for to RHP until a certain day of the week so I ensure myself to have time for my next move over days which I am not heavily occupied.
I personally don't see the point of playing correspondance chess and moving in less than 5 minutes, but well, it's up to everyone to decide. And some positions do require less thought.
When after a while thinking I get the feeling: "I don't know what to do" I switch to other games. Then next day i find the right move in a glance. So I know that if you really have to move, just wait with it and let it ripe in some obscure corner in your brain.
If my position is better than his, then it is more easy to find the move, but if I'm under it could tak a nights sleep (or two or more) to find the best move. Therefore some people might think I'm dragging my games when I'm down and hasten when I'm up - this is not the case.
When I'm up a piece or two, I can better relax, it's not so crucial if I find the absolute best move or not, 'll win any way. Avoiding the blunders is enough.
But when I'm down with a piece or two, I better have more than a glance to fix my problems. It takes some time, perhaps, but sometimes I find 'the Move' and turn the game to my advantage.
So the answer to the question - "How long do you think in every move?" - I'd say, It depends. If it feels good or if it feels bad.
What I have started doing has helped a lot. Look at the board but don't make a move straight away, instead put in your notebook the moves that you are thinking of. You can also note down possible lines after these moves, but don't make any moves just yet. Come back to the game later and look at it again, play through your lines on the analysis board and see if there are any blunders. Once you are sure that you have a good line, then play the move.
Do this even for moves that appear obvious, you might have over looked something.
There are times when I think I have an obvious move and I do not do what I have described above. I regretted it later. 😞