Time Is On My Mind

A question and answer column by FIDE Master Andy Lee.

Q: I recently began playing in chess tournaments and I am still getting used to playing with a clock.  Usually I get nervous and move too quickly.  What do you recommend to help me get adjusted?  -- Ray, North Carolina

A: Over time, every chess player develops a different way of dealing with the clock.  It's a Goldilocks and the Three Bears problem: finding "just right" without being too fast or too slow. 

For example, my most successful former student, Grandmaster Sam Shankland, was a very "speedy" player as a kid.  Most of our lessons consisted of me telling him to slow down.  However, as he has improved, he has learned to use his speediness as an advantage; he spends a lot of time thinking when it is his opponent's turn to move and puts pressure on his opponent without making many mistakes.

Another friend, Grandmaster Vinay Bhat, has had some legendary time scrambles because he moved so slowly at the start of the game.  Once he thought for five minutes against me before making his first move ... with the white pieces!  He later had one minute to make twelve moves!  However, he too has managed to turn his time management into a successful part of his strategy, probably in part because he is an excellent bullet chess player!

Probably the most strict time manager in chess history was former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik.  If he had two hours to play 40 moves, he would make sure that he spent exactly one hour on his first 20 moves and one hour on the second 20.  This division technique allowed him to use his time wisely without squandering it.

I have one other helpful hint when you feel that you can see far ahead in a game.  Use a solid amount of time (usually about 10-15 minutes) to calculate.  Then play your plan quickly: if you've calculated correctly, you can play your next group of moves without having to doublecheck over again.