I was previously playing a lot of rapid, 10 min plus 3. I have my rating at around 1850 with that, and improving.
I decided I would give blitz a go. 5 plus 3. I am finding that much more challenging. To start with, I was finding it hard to beat even players with rating at the 1300 level. However, having a bit more experience in this format now, I have got my rating up to 1500 so far, but it is really hard work. Very fast and tactical. I think I will be doing well if I can get my rating up to 1600 in this format.
I was wondering why this feels much harder. Is it because a lot more players play that format, or is it because my older brain (64 this year) just doesn't think as fast as younger players. Or perhaps a bit of both. I would be interested in what others think.
It's also possible that you still need to get used to the new pace.
I'm close to your age and I also play better at rapid and classical than I do at blitz, but for me that has always been so and I don't believe my age has anything to do with it.
Some players play particularly well on instinct, regardless of their age, while others benefit especially from thinking time.
Could it be that the blitz pool is stronger than the rapid pool? That's what I thought was the cause of my rating difference between those two.
@TwoBillionSeconds said in #3:
> Could it be that the blitz pool is stronger than the rapid pool?
Not likely, the design of the rating algorithm makes sure the mean value should be always close to 1500 and when you check the rating distribution graphs, they look very similar for rapid and blitz. And there is no reasonable way to compare pool strength for different time controls. A difference on player's side, i.e. being stronger in rapid than blitz (relatively to the pool) is IMHO more plausible explanation.
Age and a stronger blitzpool will have effect I think but to me it is also about confidence and then I mean believing that you are fast enough. Still 350 is quite a big gap between 5+3 and 10+3 so my guess is that more blitz games will have a positive effect on your blitz rating
@TonyNorriss Try two or three ideas out' ... First Study Chess say by reading a Chess Book or a few' here is one ... The Art Of Logical Thinking In Chess by Neil Mcdonald . Then Turn your VOLUME Down While Playing on Lichess to 3 as your opponents' moves are LOUD & Intimidating to you as they "LOOK" "correct" NOISY
@TonyNorriss ... Remember to check what SHOTS were missed by both sides with the Analysis button . Play More Chess as well (Blitz & Rapid) as Studying Complete Games that have explanations in Chess Books & Chess videos Good Luck
@TonyNorriss The problem is that you are trying to play blitz using your brain. This works in rapid where making good moves means you gain rating, but this doesn't apply in blitz, because you are spending time to play good moves.
If you want to gain blitz rating, try to make moves quicker.
I was able to switch to 5+3 first by playing 10+2, then 10+0. If you can play 10+0, you can do more than fine on 5+3 (or even 5+2).
I think rapid is better than blitz as it has a lot more time and we can think thoroughly.
Rapid is way harder than Blitz..
OP... if your an average player... you will crush a 1800 blitz player if he's playing rapid against you.
To me bullet and blitz chess don't mean squat... that said internet chess doesn't mean squat either... way to easy to cheat...
