Bullet Chess

Like just about everyone else in the world, I have turned (actually re-turned) to the game of chess this winter, partly in the wake of the popularity of The Queen's Gambit, but also just because it's winter, it's COVID, and it was bound to happen eventually. I go through a chess phase about every two years. I play on the Chess.com app, which allows you to play millions of players from around the world, and to play games in which you get anywhere from seven days to one minute to make moves. I used to favor the games in which you get 24-hours to make your move. But bullet chess is my latest obsession.

Basically, bullet chess games are lighting fast matches in which you get one (1) minute to make your moves. No, not one minute to make each move, but one minute to make all your moves. As in, you start with the clock at 1:00, and then, if it takes you 10 seconds to make your first move, you have only 0:50 seconds to work with after that. It is the game of chess compressed and concentrated into it's fastest and most stressful form. And it's awesome. 

The way you feel after playing an intense game of bullet chess is like the feeling after taking a cold shower in the morning, or taking a shot of whiskey, or -- when you get beat really badly -- that of getting your hand burned on the stove. I actually use bullet chess to help me get out of bed in the morning, it can be that electrifying. 

It can also be maddening, frustrating, and capable of producing (in me, anyway) blinding flashes of anger when I get absolutely eaten alive by an opponent. However, when I do make a check mate, especially a good one, in less than like 20 seconds, it feels as though Manna from Heaven has been bestowed upon me, and I shine brightly for a few golden moments in chess glory. Trust me, it is that good. 

That's...if you can get past the pure anguish you will experience in your first 50 or so games as you get used to the speed of play, develop a strategy, and then get good enough to actually beat someone. At least, it took me about that many games to start winning consistently. And by "consistently" I mean (counting timeout wins) one in every three matches. I definitely lose more than I win, hence my paltry rating of 350. In case you don't know, chess ratings go up to 2800 or so. An average player is about a 1200 - 1500. That said, there must be a lot of people in the 300-400 range in the world, cause it's easy to get matches on Chess.com where I play my games. 

If you decide to take-on bullet chess, here are some tips:

1.) Accept that you're going to get destroyed on your first few matches. If you get easily butt-hurt by getting beaten badly, fast, and a lot, then bullet chess is going to be painful for a while. But you will get over it. I'm one of the sorest losers that ever lived, and after nearly 400 bullet chess games in the past week, I barely even notice a bad loss anymore. Okay, not exactly true, but it doesn't sting nearly as bad as it did in the beginning.

2.) Move fast. I'll say it again: MOVE FAST. This is bullet chess. The name of the game is speed. Even now, about half my losses come from timeouts. If you're used to deliberating over every move for hours or days, you will need to adjust your mentality drastically in order to avoid timing out and even have a chance to win. Seems intuitive until you actually step up to the plate and try to play.

3.) Use the same opening. Find an opening that works for you and use it every time you play. Naturally, you'll have to adapt it based on what your opponent does. You can never blindly play the same exact opening all the time. But if you develop a consistent opening strategy, you'll be able to save a lot of time in the very beginning of the game. 

4.) Play 5x more aggressive than you normally would play. There is no time to sit back and play defense, unless you're just trying to move pieces around and run out the clock, forcing a timeout. If that's your style, good luck with that. You'll do okay until you run into anyone who can actually play chess. But if your intention is to check mate your opponent, go in fast and go in strong. If you see a sacrifice or an exchange that will help you move the game along, open up space, make it. Be bold and put your opponent on the back foot. Playing defense is the black plague of chess, especially in bullet. 

5.) Beware the "Wayward Queen" opening. If you play a lot of bullet chess, you will run into the Wayward Queen opening about once in every eight or 10 matches. Just enough so you have time to forget about it. But don't. While the Wayward Queen is one of the most uncreative, grade school, novelty openings in the game of chess, it is pretty effective if you aren't ready for it. Study this opening well, and develop a fool-proof response for when someone pulls it on you, which they inevitably will. You can use it yourself if you just want to try it for kicks, but don't make it your permanent strategy. It's lazy, foolish, and bad chess.

Bullet chess is not for everyone. But if you're impatient, short on time, or just want to feel like you've had an IV shot of espresso, you should get into bullet chess. It's the most intense experience of the game of chess and will accelerate your learning of the game, not to mention make you grow a thicker skin. 

Oh, and if you want a quick primer on how to get started in chess, click HERE