ISmiteThemAll (1502) vs. yankeestadium (1557) --- Sun Jul 19, 21:30 PDT 2009
Rated lightning match, initial time: 1 minutes, increment: 0 seconds.

Move ISmiteThemAll yankeestadium
---- --------------------- ---------------------
1. e4 (0:00.000) e6 (0:00.000)
2. f4 (0:00.703) Be7 (0:00.328)
3. d4 (0:01.031) Bb4+ (0:00.343)
4. c3 (0:01.359) Be7 (0:00.328)
5. Nf3 (0:00.375) b6 (0:00.391)
6. Bd3 (0:00.469) Bb7 (0:00.312)
7. O-O (0:00.500) Nc6 (0:00.328)
8. f5 (0:00.547) d6? (0:00.610)
I would consider this move a mistake, as it pries open the f-file for me to attack.
9. fxe6 (0:00.640) fxe6 (0:00.172)
10. Be3 (0:01.641) Nf6 (0:00.500)
11. Qd2 (0:00.859) Qd7 (0:02.656)
12. h3 (0:00.953) O-O-O (0:00.828)
13. b4 (0:00.593) Nb8 (0:02.516) Bad retreat. Better is ...Bxe4
14. a4 (0:01.703) c5 (0:01.078)
15. Bb5 (0:02.547) Qc7 (0:01.156)
16. a5 (0:01.203) cxd4 (0:01.734)
17. cxd4 (0:01.438) e5?? (0:00.890) The losing move. No chance.
18. Rc1 (0:01.063) Bc6 (0:03.141)
19. d5 (0:01.688) Qb7 (0:00.968)
20. dxc6 (0:01.500) Qc7 (0:01.421)
21. axb6 (0:01.547) axb6 (0:00.625)
22. Ba6+ (0:01.906) Nxa6 (0:02.562)
23. Rxa6 (0:01.000) Kb8 (0:03.500)
24. b5 (0:03.844) d5 (0:01.422)
25. Qa2 (0:06.312) Kc8 (0:03.375)
26. Ra8+ (0:01.531) Qb8 (0:00.406)
27. Rxb8+ (0:00.968) Kxb8 (0:00.422)
28. Qa6 (0:01.031) Kc7 (0:00.422)
29. Qb7+ (0:00.703) Kd6 (0:00.812)
30. c7 (0:01.125) Rc8 (0:04.250)
31. Qxb6+ (0:00.828) Kd7 (0:01.828)
32. Nxe5+ (0:00.796) Ke8 (0:01.469)
33. Qb8 (0:02.797) dxe4 (0:08.312)
34. Qxc8+ (0:01.484) Bd8 (0:01.156)
35. cxd8=Q# (0:01.609)
{Black checkmated} 1-0

I Must, I Must

I have been a chess player for practically my entire life. Six around the age of six I have been mesmerized by the 64 squares, the 32 pieces, the two armies, the infinite possibilities. Nowadays it is hard to find people who like to play, so I usually play online. And nowadays, my schedule is so busy, I rarely play the lengthy thoughtful type of chess that comes to most peoples' minds. Instead I play mainly lightning and blitz, two variants of classical chess that severely reduce the time controls.

Blitz is generally 5 minutes per side, meaning both sides start off with 5 minutes and all time spent thinking and moving are subtracted accordingly. After you make your move, your timer stops and your opponent's begins. This brand of chess prizes instinct and tactical skill over deep contemplation and long term strategy. You can have a winning position, but if time runs out, you lose, period. Lightning chess is even more severe, with the time controls set to 1 minute per side. The action is fast and furious, and usually on the sloppy side. But what it lacks in beauty, it makes up for in adrenaline. This blog is dedicated to masterpieces of blitz and lightning play, from one of its most ardent disciples.