Chess Time Management - A very underrated skill!

[@danheismanchess]

Thanks for watching! Want a better chess thought process to gain more rating points? Check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/amHVm4yqdr2oerM

[@fppicciano]

This time management video was a real eye opener for me. I'm in time trouble om about 50 percent of my games. Thanks

[@subschool5]

i watched about eight videos on this topic. your exercise of 7 minutes/2 minutes/30 seconds was not mentioned in the other videos. this is great idea. thank you and take care.

[@danheismanchess]

Thanks. I assume I did not author all 8 videos. I created the 7/2/30 exercise so I'm not surprised other authors did not mention that. The purpose, of course, was to illustrate (i.e., allow the player to demonstrate for themself) how extra time should greatly help analytical positions but have relatively small effect on judgmental positions.

[@subschool5]

@@danheismanchess that's fantastic you created that. time to get out my excel sheet and log some of my results for it. you didn't author any others I watched. i look forward to checking out your other videos. i'd love to hear more of your original ideas. take care.

[@danheismanchess]

Thanks! My videos have won "Best Instructional Video" from the Chess Journalists of America twice in the past 3 years so I think there's some really good stuff on my channel. My 350+ videos cover just about every aspect of potential chess improvement.

[@nomoreblitz]

I always appreciate generosity from experts, like Mr. Heisman. This video seems mostly devoted to general principles, guidelines, words of wisdom, until we get to 17:46 (Botvinnik's Rule): [time for first 15 moves]

[@danheismanchess]

Yes, to write it down, World Champion Botvinnik suggested that for "normal" openings (where you are primarily developing your pieces without many critical, tactical moves), you should use approximately 20% of your total time (including increment time, if applicable) for your first 15 moves. Taking much more than that can often lead to unnecessary time pressure later when more critical moves are being analyzed.

[@bulentkirca3311]

Thank you. It was very instructive.

[@danheismanchess]

You are welcome. Thanks for your support.

[@Chess_Improving_Adult]

Another very informative video. Thanks Dan!

[@danheismanchess]

Thanks. Yes, time management is a very important part of chess. It's becoming more well known now but for some reason when I first started writing about it, it seemed, well, like I was the only one...

[@peterryan9430]

Thank you. Great video

[@danheismanchess]

Thanks, much appreciated. Pass the word! :)

[@davidwestwood6850]

Pacing is critical. Use resources prudently.

[@danheismanchess]

Absolutely :)

[@ChessWithMouselip]

Making the conscious adjustment to speed up or slow down is difficult because I get into a sort of groove and in some situations adrenaline kicks in. This sounds like something to apply habit forming techniques on. First step: be aware of it! I can't make a conscious adjustment without being conscious about my pace (to fast/too slow). I think I have a tendency to play too fast. Looking at my clock times on the server validates that assessment. So, I need to start with being aware of my pace. Question, though... you use 40 moves to figure out the pace, but if it goes to an ending it can be 60 or more moves. If you figure the pace for a 60 move game then the number of seconds per move is simple since 60 seconds in a minute and 60 moves in the game. So, a 15/10 would be 15+10 for 25 seconds per move on average pacing for a 60 move game. A 15/10 for a 40 move game is: (15*60/40)+10=32.5 seconds average pacing. Perhaps 40 moves is a better "rule of thumb," though, because I think the average game is 40 moves.

[@danheismanchess]

Yes, you are right, like AA the first step is being aware of the problem. In the most serious games (Slow, OTB), I always record the number of minutes remaining after each of my moves. That is the first step to being aware of the time situation each move.

[@analogblues]

Thank you for this fantastic video, Dan! I took lots of notes. Time management is challenging for me even in 45/45 games because I tend to take too long per move (but your video will help me!) My biggest struggle is when I play against opponents online in a 45/45 format. Many barely use the time they have and end up with more than 45 minutes on their clock at the end. While this a poor decision on their part, I find this *more* difficult for me because I barely have any time to assess the position when it's their move. And, yet, they're still able to play at my rating level (~1250) without hardly taking any time. I guess when my opponent moves this quickly, it just means that I have to adjust and play with very little "opponent time," which I find difficult. Is that the correct assessent? Thank you, sir!

[@danheismanchess]

Thanks for the kind words. How long your opponent thinks should not have a big effect on how long you should take. You want to take a reasonable amount of time whether they are playing too fast or too slow (and their position may be either much easier or much harder than your side to play). Also, check out my video for those that play too slowly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmLJgpxoe5pnbtU

[@VVUC_]

Another great video. Could you make a video about time management from another direction - what to think about on 'my' time and to think about on opponent clock? I noticed that ofter I am wasting time on my opponent turn, and to be honest, I even don't know what to think about - because an opponent has few different moves, so if I want to try some tactics after his move I could be actually wrong with my calculations. I noticed that I am just watching a checkboard while trying to gather some general ideas about the position. It would be a great video. I heard that Kotov wrote something about that, but I cannot find any good content on that topic on youtube and I am curious about your opinion on that Sir.

[@danheismanchess]

I made a long reply to this but now I don't see it. Hmm. Wonder if there was something wrong with my computer?! I had referred you to possibly a Chess.com article I wrote on this via www.danheisman.com/chesscom-articles.html. I stated that the first thing you wanted to do was "Am I playing too fast or too slow?" and adjust accordingly. I mentioned that unless your opponent's move was forced or nearly forced, it was not easy to be analytical. And I quoted someone who once said "On your own time do calculation (analysis); on your opponent's time do strategy/planning."