Blitz games - Part 2

Since writing 'Blitz Games - Part 1' I have changed my attitude to playing blitz games. It is of course possible that I was a little worried about my ability in this type of chess - which may be the reason for the slightly dismissive phrase "I don't take it ... seriously". On the other hand I was obsessing over increasing my rating on ICC so Blitz came second.

Blitz gets a lot of bad press. I think that is unfair. In 'Part 1' I talked about how it was a useful way to test out new openings and improving one's ability to analyse positions at a glance. Now I believe there is even more to the game than that.

I believe it has improved my tactical ability. I used to concentrate on piece development and building up a nice position. All well and good - but that does not win you games. Blitz has taught me how important it is to continually cause problems for my opponent. The learning process involved is when you discover that, even in losing positions, you can find yourself winning by continually pressurising the opponent. You might turn the game around completely or you might win on time.

Because even strong players are more likely to make mistakes under time pressure the feeling is that the opportunities are there, even against strong opposition. You find that you are trying moves which, under normal time limits, you would never dream of doing. You have to relax, of necessity - which is good for your game. You start playing moves like g4 or g5 for example! Playing 'dangerously'. You have shaken off the shackles and your reward is a new insight into the game.

More yet! Because the game is over in such a short time, you can appreciate the game as a coherent whole. In a long game, say in a correspondence game, it is easy to lose sight of your original plans for the game and you can get bogged down in long, exhausting variations. In Blitz, you have a plan which is usually followed through. OK, maybe you have to change tack but you don't lose track (forgive the poetry!).

Basically I believe my game has improved a lot because of blitz play. It's toughened me up as well. The victories and losses come thick and fast - no time to dwell on an the unecessary and irritating losses and become downhearted. By way of illustration I will show the moves of a game I played yesterday, winning on time against a player who is rated far above me.

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Don't Try This At Home!

I found the video below indirectly - while reading a Chess.com review for a new book called "Play Like a Girl!"- a fragment of which I reproduce here, thus:

'Jennifer Shahade refrains from lecturing men about what they should and should not do. Instead, she offers an interesting and unique mix of glamour, intellect, toughness and sweetness that’s extremely charming and, truth be told, commercial. But for me, it is this sensible and realistic perspective that makes "Play Like a Girl!" such a nice book to peruse.'

Jennifer Shahade is a Philadelphia based writer and gamesplayer. She is a two-time American Women’s Chess Champion (2002, 2004). In the "Hulachess" video below she is playing with the Red pieces against choreographer and dancer Gabrielle Revlock playing with the White pieces. Apparently (!) "Hulachess explores themes of multitasking, the feminine, circular side of chess and the surprising parallels between chess and hooping".





Jennifer goes into the details of how and why the video was made in her post here. Here is a brief summary of what she says about the actual game as played in the video:

"The moves were based on a game that I analyzed for Marcel Duchamp: The Art of Chess (to be reviewed in the August Chess Life, ~ed.), from the 1924 Olympiad in Paris. Duchamp lost that game against the Romanian master Davidescu, partly because he missed a line leading to perpetual check."

So here are the moves of the game for you to see if you can spot the drawing line - maybe you can see it in the video! If you can't, well - you'll just have to buy the book!



Jennifer is certainly one of the best representatives of the Royal Game, as can be seen from this brief biography:

"In her coaching career, Jennifer Shahade has made a point of focusing her efforts on girls and inner-city youth. From 1998-2005, she worked with Chess-In-The-Schools, a New York City non-profit organization that provides chess instruction to inner city youth. From 2003-4, she taught a Girls’ Academy through Chess-in-the-Schools, and started her own Girls’ Academy in New York in 2007."

She has co-founded (along with Jean Hoffman) the "9 Queens", a nonprofit educational organization founded in 2007 dedicated to extending the benefits of chess to those most in need of its benefits, especially girls and at-risk youth. So, yes, as well as the game itself, she is also involved in empowering women through the medium of chess.

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