Blitz time controls

  

Blitz time controls


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Garvin Gray    (2010-03-19)
Blitz time controls

Hello all,

I was wondering what others thought about this. I have just finished a match with Scott Nichols at blitz time controls ie 40 moves in 2 hours followed by 40 moves in 2 hours etc.

In my opinion, the second time period would be improved if it was 20 moves in 1 hour. The classical time control for the last 100 years or so has been 40 moves in (insert time here) followed by 20 moves in (insert time here).

In my match with Scott, it was quite common for the games to go only 50 moves or so, which meant we had 2 hours available for just ten moves or so.


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-03-20 22:31:07)
Blitz time controls

It makes sense... but I'm still not sure what to think about it. Any opinions?


Garvin Gray    (2010-03-22 09:16:20)
Blitz time controls

Looks like there are no protests or 'againsts' to my suggestion :)


Scott Nichols    (2010-03-22 14:34:02)
Blitz time controls

In the European Individual Ch. just finished, the time controls were 90 minutes for 40 moves, and 30 minutes for the rest of the game with all moves starting from move one having an increment of 30 seconds per move. I like the "game in xx minutes" after the first time control. The way it is, if an ending is complicated at all the game can drag on for hours and hours.


Garvin Gray    (2010-03-22 14:42:00)
Blitz time controls

The Classical time controls now being used are
1) 40 moves in 2 hours, 20 moves in 1 hour followed by 15 mins + 30 seconds.

Also used sometimes is 2)

40 moves in 100 mins, 20 moves in 50 mins fb 15 mins, all with a 30 second increment from move one.

I think the second time control would be better here as it guarantees that each player has some time to make their move, considering slow internet connections and technical issues.


Wayne Lowrance    (2010-03-23 00:57:35)
blitz time control

I See no objection to Garvin Grey suggestion. Wayne


Garvin Gray    (2010-03-24 15:37:26)
Blitz time controls

Are there any further opinions on this matter?


William Taylor    (2010-03-24 18:33:18)
Blitz time controls

No objection from me either.


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-03-24 19:30:09)
Blitz time controls

My point (if there's one) is that longer games like the current time control probably mean games of a better quality, the blitz time control is really long actually... so why not playing the lightning time control if you want faster games ? By the way there's no bad surprise with an increment at every move.


Garvin Gray    (2010-03-25 04:29:33)
Blitz time controls

Hello Thibault,

I am not asking for a significantly shorter time control. I am not proposing or asking for a shorter time control for moves 1-40. Moves 1 to 40 can stay at 40 moves in 2 hrs if you wish.

My request is for a change to the second time control from the current 40 moves in 2 hrs to 20 moves in 1 hr continuous.

Following others comments, I used examples of the time controls for major tournaments.

As I said in my first post, In my match with Scott, it was quite common for the games to go only 50 moves or so, which meant we had 2 hours available for just ten moves or so.


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-03-25 10:57:09)
Blitz time controls

... that is not easy to predict.

Anyway, what about this :

- 20 moves / 1 hour time control all game long
- 40 moves / 2 hours, then 20 moves / 1 hour

I would even prefer the first one that is easier to read but IMO it is not so interesting. The 40 moves / 2 hours has the advantage to offer the possibility to explore very deeply the most interesting positions encountered...


Garvin Gray    (2010-03-25 17:55:03)
Blitz time controls

Number 2 for me, which was my very first proposal :)


Garvin Gray    (2010-04-05 16:49:53)
Blitz time controls

Has a decision been made on this? Awaiting to start a match, so want to play the same time control in each game.


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-04-05 17:44:14)
Blitz time controls UPDATED

Hi Garvin!

OK, let's do it. I just updated the blitz time control to 1 hour + 1 hour / 20 moves.