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Speaking of speed

Posted By: Paul Weaver
Date: Saturday, 13 February 2010, at 5:51 p.m.

In Response To: Speaking of speed (Chuck Bower)

I believe I play quite a bit better when I play slowly. However, the time controls on the clocks (two minutes per point plus twelve to fifteen seconds per move) are generous enough to allow me to play my best game.

This is a bit off the Chuck's topic, but I will mention something about speed of play in chouettes and heads-up play.

In a heads-up game, the weaker player can play as slowly as he likes, but the stonger player is obligated to play at least as fast as his opponent. It is very poor etiquette for the stronger player to play at a slower pace than his opponent. The stronger player who violates this rule may well be punished by seeing his game disappear.

Similarly, in a chouette, the stonger players must play at least as fast as the weaker players if they want to continue to be welcome in the game.

I have a friend who is a very nice guy and a very strong player. He used to play in chouettes in which everyone but him played quickly. I have tried to tell him the reason that he is now excluded from the local chouettes. He thinks that people do not like to play with him because he is too strong. My take on the situation is quite a bit different. I believe he has lost his game because he plays too slowly.

He spends a lot of time trying to figure out which of two close plays is better. Whatever equity he gains in the short run is miniscule compared to the equity he gives up by making people not enjoy playing with him.

Messages In This Thread

• Speaking of speed
  Chuck Bower -- Saturday, 13 February 2010, at 4:51 p.m.
  • Speaking of speed
    Stick -- Saturday, 13 February 2010, at 4:54 p.m.
  • Speaking of speed
    Paul Weaver -- Saturday, 13 February 2010, at 5:51 p.m.
    • Speaking of speed
      Timothy Chow -- Sunday, 14 February 2010, at 5:24 p.m.
      • Speaking of speed
        neilkaz -- Monday, 15 February 2010, at 8:56 p.m.