I'm having a lot of problems with my time management in OTB tourneys. About 90% of the games I've played over the last few years have been on-line CC and I don't seem to be using my time properly. I've played in 8 OTB tournaments in the last year and this has been a recurrent problem costing me hundreds of rating points. Yesterday I had a won endgame position but because I had less than 2 minutes left I simply forced a repetition of moves rather than losing on time.
So any suggestions from more experienced OTB players out there?
Originally posted by no1marauderwell I have heard from strong players that you should always make a plan no matter how long it takes because then you don't have to calculate every move and actually save time check it out in how to reasses you chess
I'm having a lot of problems with my time management in OTB tourneys. About 90% of the games I've played over the last few years have been on-line CC and I don't seem to be using my time properly. I've played in 8 OTB tournaments in the last year and this has been a recurrent problem costing me hundreds of rating points. Yesterday I had a won endgame pos ...[text shortened]... han losing on time.
So any suggestions from more experienced OTB players out there?
Originally posted by no1maraudersame problem.
I'm having a lot of problems with my time management in OTB tourneys. About 90% of the games I've played over the last few years have been on-line CC and I don't seem to be using my time properly. I've played in 8 OTB tournaments in the last year and this has been a recurrent problem costing me hundreds of rating points. Yesterday I had a won endgame pos ...[text shortened]... han losing on time.
So any suggestions from more experienced OTB players out there?
Blitz out the opening moves.
Our timers are 110min/30 seconds inc.
Originally posted by no1marauderDo you play with an increment or not? I used to run into problems when playing no increment games (say 45/0 or something) however once I started playing 90/30 and similar I was fine. 30 seconds a move should be enough to finish off a won endgame if you know what you are doing.
I'm having a lot of problems with my time management in OTB tourneys. About 90% of the games I've played over the last few years have been on-line CC and I don't seem to be using my time properly. I've played in 8 OTB tournaments in the last year and this has been a recurrent problem costing me hundreds of rating points. Yesterday I had a won endgame pos ...[text shortened]... han losing on time.
So any suggestions from more experienced OTB players out there?
Originally posted by XanthosNZWe were playing with a 5 second increment which is the standard one in the USCF. That's barely enough to go through the mechanics of making the move for an old codger like me. The time allowed was G/120 but if you use the recommended 5 second increment you knock 5 minutes off the game time, so it was a 115 + 5s.
Do you play with an increment or not? I used to run into problems when playing no increment games (say 45/0 or something) however once I started playing 90/30 and similar I was fine. 30 seconds a move should be enough to finish off a won endgame if you know what you are doing.
This was an OTB tourney, Xanthos; you don't get to tell the TD that you'd prefer a longer increment.
Originally posted by no1marauderThat's the time control we use in my area: G/120 or 115 with a five second delay if the clock supports it. Time management requires constant diligence. I write the time used or time remaining (depends on the clock--used with an analog, remaining with digital) on my scoresheet nearly every move. This practice assures that I keep track of my time and that of my opponent.
We were playing with a 5 second increment which is the standard one in the USCF. That's barely enough to go through the mechanics of making the move for an old codger like me. The time allowed was G/120 but if you use the recommended 5 second increment you knock 5 minutes off the game time, so it was a 115 + 5s.
This was an OTB tourney, Xanthos; you don't get to tell the TD that you'd prefer a longer increment.
Because I play a fair amount of blitz, the five-second increment is more than enough time should it become necessary.
Correspondence chess encourages the pursuit of perfection and truth; in OTB, you have to be practical.
I sometimes have the same problem, especially if I get into an unfamiliar opening. My regular time control is 30 moves in an hour then a 15-minute rapid finish.
Sometime, you just have to be pragmatic about your choice of moves. Even if your insticts tell you there has to be a winning combination, but you can't see it, don't spend an hour looking for it.
Equally, if there's an 'only-move', don't waste any time looking for options. I just read a bit of Dvoretsky's Secrets of Chess Tactics about using the process of elimination - if you can quickly see that there is only one move which doesn't lose on the spot, just play it.
Seems simple, but I'm often surprised how often I find myself examining a forced line with my clock running.
Originally posted by no1marauderI know you don't get to choose the increment but I just mentioned that in my experience I had trouble without one and was fine with a decent one. I don't know how I'd cope with a 5 second one.
We were playing with a 5 second increment which is the standard one in the USCF. That's barely enough to go through the mechanics of making the move for an old codger like me. The time allowed was G/120 but if you use the recommended 5 second increment you knock 5 minutes off the game time, so it was a 115 + 5s.
This was an OTB tourney, Xanthos; you don't get to tell the TD that you'd prefer a longer increment.
So where does your time go? Is it one long think that eats it or a bunch of medium ones or just taking a few seconds too long every move? Opening is blitzed I assume.
Originally posted by XanthosNZI'm not really sure; Wulebgr makes a good suggestion as far as writing down the time after each move - I haven't done that. Most of the time my openings are "blitzed" only if someone is nice enough to play ones I know extremely well (I can get 15 moves into a main line Najdorf and/or Scotch and use up a minute) but I don't think I ever use very much time on say the first 10 moves. I'm guessing I'm using a lot of time on a few moves and maybe a little bit more than necessary on forced moves or ones with little practicable difference.
I know you don't get to choose the increment but I just mentioned that in my experience I had trouble without one and was fine with a decent one. I don't know how I'd cope with a 5 second one.
So where does your time go? Is it one long think that eats it or a bunch of medium ones or just taking a few seconds too long every move? Opening is blitzed I assume.
Originally posted by WulebgrGood suggestion; at least I'll be able to better identify the problem.
That's the time control we use in my area: G/120 or 115 with a five second delay if the clock supports it. Time management requires constant diligence. I write the time used or time remaining (depends on the clock--used with an analog, remaining with digital) on my scoresheet nearly every move. This practice assures that I keep track of my time and that of m ...[text shortened]... ondence chess encourages the pursuit of perfection and truth; in OTB, you have to be practical.
I can't play blitz, period. I always just lose on time.
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Originally posted by no1marauderI'm not surprised that you're getting into time trouble with those time controls. Clearly a 5 second increment for each move is inadequate.
We were playing with a 5 second increment which is the standard one in the USCF. That's barely enough to go through the mechanics of making the move for an old codger like me. The time allowed was G/120 but if you use the recommended 5 second increment you knock 5 minutes off the game time, so it was a 115 + 5s.
This was an OTB tourney, Xanthos; you don't get to tell the TD that you'd prefer a longer increment.
Most games last about 40 moves. So with 120 minutes on the clock, that’s an average of 3 minutes per move. It's very natural and logical to get into a rhythm of spending around 3 minutes on every move. That's fine providing that the game doesn't last beyond 40 moves. But if it does, you're suddenly forced to adjust to playing much quicker than you did in the earlier part of the game, just to avoid losing on time. That's a recipe for disaster.
I think the best solution is play considerably faster than you have been doing in the first 40 moves of the game. Instead of spending 3 minutes on each move, try to make a decision within 2 minutes. If you can do that, then you should be able to keep a fair amount of time on the clock, to use in reserve in case the game lasts longer than expected.
Of course, this isn't so easy to do in practice. If the game is very complicated and you have to make a crucial decision, then it's sometimes necessary to spend much more time on a move than you would like. That can't be avoided. Therefore in order to free up extra time for those difficult moves, you have to be ruthless with the time you spend on moves that don't matter so much. Play the opening as quickly as possible and never waste time deciding between two equally good moves. Just pick the more practical of the two and play it.
I used to get into time trouble in nearly every OTB game. But I hardly ever do nowadays. I was a perfectionist, but I got fed up of ruining so many games because of time pressure. I learnt to be more pragmatic, make decisions quickly and not agonise over missed opportunities. I also found that playing quickly is more fun.
Anyway, that's my suggestion, which works for me. Maybe it would work for you? I don't know, but if you’re consistently getting into time trouble then you obviously need to try something different.
Good luck in your tournaments.
This debate reminds me of two things:
1) Botvinnik's advice that players suffering from time trouble play training games where the focus is on time management rather than the quality of the chess, and realising that you have to sacrifice some depth in order to manage time
and
2) Purdy wrote that the major difference between players of different classes is not their knowledge, but almost purely the speed at which they calculate. He wrote that the players who are not naturally quick at calculation face a choice between getting in time trouble, or relying more on 'feel' ot 'intuition'. He also wrote that this is why you can find OTB players who are relatively stronger CC players - there is not such a need for speed of calculation, rather it is understanding that counts.
From my own experience I'd say I am having more trouble with the clock as I approach 40, but paradoxically my blitz is still fine. Anyone else have similar experience?
If anybody's interested, here's the game.
[Event ''August Studio Quad""]
[Date "08.27.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Walter Snyder"]
[Black "no1Marauder"]
[TimeControl "G/115 + 5s"]
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7
6. O-O Nge7 7. Re1 O-O 8. d3 a6 9. e4 Qc7 10. Rb1 Rb8 11. Bg5 d6 12. Qd2 b5 13.
Bh6 b4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Ne2 e5 16. b3 h6 17. Qb2 Kh7 18. h4 f5 19. Qd2 Be6 20.
Kh2 Rf6 21. Rh1 Rbf8 22. Kg1 Kg7 23. h5 gxh5 24. Rxh5 fxe4 25. dxe4 Ng8 26. Nh4
Bg4 27. Rg5+ hxg5 28. Qxg5+ Kh7 29. Qxg4 Nh6 30. Qh5 Qf7 31. Qxf7+ R8xf7 32. f3
Nd4 33. Kf2 Rg7 34. Rh1 Kg8 35. Bh3 Nxe2 36. Kxe2 Rxg3 37. Kf2 Rg7 38. Nf5 Nxf5
39. Bxf5 Kf8 40. Bc8 a5 41. Rh8+ Rg8 42. Rh1 Rfg6 43. Bh3 Rh8 44. Rh2 Rgh6 45.
Kg2 Ke7 46. Rh1 Kf6 47. Kg3 Kg5 48. Rh2 Rxh3+ 49. Rxh3 Rxh3+ 50. Kxh3 Kf4 51.
Kg2 Ke3 52. Kg3 Kd4 53. Kg4 *
The final position is an easy win, but I was worried that I might run out of time even after Queening! And I was having difficulty figuring out exactly where his pawns would end up when I did Queen with the clock ticking relentlessly. So, I chickened out. It took about a minute of post-mortem to figure it out😞