I’ve been running a monthly Blitz tournament with a time control of G/3;d2 instead of the more popular G/5;d0 or G/3;+2. I played in the tournament in August as a house player since we had an odd number (uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?201508151252) and enjoyed the time control a lot. The G/3;d2 time control still allows you to try and run your opponent out of time (which I think is the main reason some players prefer G/5;d0 over G/3;+2) but the two second delay helps prevent the pieces from playing everywhere in time pressure and allows you to win a completely winning position (which is why some players prefer G/3;+2 over G/5;d0). If you run Blitz tournaments, give G/3;d2 a try!
samshe, having pieces fly all over the board is the fun part of blitz
G/3 d/2 is a big improvement over G/5 d/0. But I still say, why not go all the way and make it G/3 inc/2?
Micah, you probably knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?
Bill Smythe
Because it’s much harder to run your opponent out of time with inc/2.
That’s the whole idea!
Bill Smythe
And one of the funnest aspects of blitz is trying to run your opponent out of time.
Nope. One of the best parts of blitz is holding a holdable position with little time remaining.
Another of the best parts of blitz is defeating an opponent over the board even though he has been keeping his head above water time-wise.
Bill Smythe
and G/3;d2 will still often allow you to do those things Bill
One of the reasons blitz, that is Game 5, d0 or i0, is popular is that a game ends. Once the flag falls, you lose, not matter how brilliantly you played. Imagination and desperation vie with the clock. Winning a lost game or losing a won game are part of the charm. Pretty much like life. You can play a 50 move game with decent quality in under 10 minutes, thought most games are shorter than that.
If you are holding a round robin blitz tournament on an evening club night, you can get a 12 player section done in under 3 hours. With delay or especially increment, the games finish at indeterminate times meaning that players have to wait around for a long time before the next round starts. A Game 3, i2 game that runs long throws the schedule out of whack and bores the spectators who are watching it. Game 5 is a little more civilized. Game 3 is for monkeys jacked up on Red Bull. We don’t let our club clocks be bashed for these types of games.
Think about what you are saying. G/3 inc/2 requires sixty moves to last for five minutes for both sides. How many blitz games last more than sixty moves?
I contend that, in the great majority of games, players have less total time with G/3 inc/2 than with G/5 d/0.
I assume Mr. Magar has never used a 2 second delay or increment. This is kind of like saying “Four Rated Games Tonight” would be better if it only permitted G/30; d0 because the players have to sit around and wait too much in G/25; d5.
Alex Relyea
Is Mr. Smith suggesting the only value of delay over increment is to try to run the opponent out of time?
Alex Relyea
I have directed blitz tournaments with 2 second delay, but with 5 minutes as the main time period. The players did not want to play with only 3 minutes on their clocks. We tried a blitz with increment time tournament, but the abuse of the digital clocks (DGT NA and Game Timer) was so bad that I am reluctant to hold one again. Given the time constraints we have for the use of the facilities, we can’t have a tournament that runs past 9:30 pm.
The members of our club are okay with playing blitz, but no one wants it USCF rated. I can get a bunch of players to compete in a non-rated blitz event on a rare evening with the right mix of players available. Zero entries for a rated tournament. The players are more interested in casual chess or analysis on club nights. Club nights are for socializing, not competition.
I have played a lot of blitz with no delay over the years. Most of the time I used only three minutes or less. On a few occasions I played blitz with a 2 second delay. The players were disgusted that I only used a minute on my clock to win. Chess hustlers are hard to hustle if you only use a minute to beat them. If I get to play blitz with increment, I might end up with more than the base time by the end of the game. That doesn’t seem fair. As I get older I find myself getting slower physically in moving the pieces, so I expect I will lose some blitz games on time pretty soon.
i know i’m olde school, but blitz will always be g/5 to me. that is the point of blitz.
Colorado used G/3; d/2 for our State Blitz Championship in May this year. Some commented it was very fast for them. It was exciting to watch speedy players live for a dozen or more decent moves with 1 second on their clock. My son managed to take clear second with 5 of 6 after a loss in the first round to a master.
No, but that’s one advantage of delay over increment
So what are the others?
Alex Relyea
Has it been objectively demonstrated that this is even an advantage?
Whether it’s a fact or not it, at least it is a true statement. One’s perspective determines whether that is an advantage. Some might reasonably argue that if you are seeking an adrenaline rush or trying to complete the games slightly earlier, delay is preferable to increment. Those not valuing either objective so highly would look at it differently. That would be a matter of opinion and personal preference.
Having established that practical difference, let’s see if Micah can identify some other practical differences. Then we can discuss the value of those differences.
Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity (probably misattributed) may well apply here.