Everything you need to know about rapid chess

Nowadays, the world is developing and accelerating faster than ever, which means that different types of sport are gaining more and more popularity. Rapid chess is a game that was considered exotic 30 years ago. Yet, today it noticeably overshadows the classics. Let us take a closer look at this game and its peculiarities.

General information

Rapid Chess is a game format in which the range of time for thinking varies in the following range: more than 10 minutes, but less than 60. Of course, both opponents have equal amount of time. It should be noted that the game must take more than 10 minutes. If the game takes less time, it is considered a blitz.  The game that lasts for more than 60 minutes is called classical chess.

Types

Time control in rapid chess can take place in a variety of ways:

• Until the end of the game. For example, players are given 15 minutes to move. If a player’s time is up and the game is still not completed, the game is scored a forfeit. Of course, there can be exceptions, but these situations must be specified in the general rules. For example, one of these situations is a checkmate on the board or impossibility to checkmate (this happens when several strong pieces play against the king).
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• Fisher’s Control. After each move the player gets a few extra seconds. Time is added automatically as the chess clock has such a function.

The most popular time control for rapid chess is the following combination: the game is given 15 minutes, and for any move made by a player 10 seconds are added. All official rapid chess tournaments, including the most recent world rapid chess championship, usually apply this type of time control.

Rules

In general, the rules of rapid chess do not differ from those of FIDE chess. However there are small additions and changes connected with the peculiarities of the rapid play.

The players do not have to record the game.

Player’s statements about incorrect arrangement of pieces and time setting are accepted up to and including the third move made. If this happens, the necessary changes are made and the game starts again.

If more than three moves are made, the game continues with the initial settings and arrangement of pieces.

Overdue time is also recorded on the player’s application. The player stops the clock and declares the overdue time with the words “Time” or “Flag”. It is paramount not to forget to stop the clock when the opponent’s time is overdue. Otherwise, if your opponent has time to change the clock, your flag may also collapse. Thus, there will be no winner in the game.

The referee must not fix the overdue time. Usually it is not required; players know the rules and conflicts in such a situation are extremely rare.

The player’s statement about an impossible move is accepted up to the moment when the player made his return move and switched the clock. Otherwise, the game continues.

Peculiarities

Rapid chess, due to the reduced playing time, requires being capable of thinking way faster than it is necessary in classical chess. The key factors to achieve victory here are not only mental processes, but also agility, as well as knowing the main game scenarios by heart.

Therefore, in order to win the game, it is important to make your opponent think. It is desirable to start doing this from the very first moves. Your opponent will be thinking about how to play the situation competently from the very beginning, and then he will quickly find himself in time trouble and start to make mistakes.

By the way, many Rapid players find themselves in time trouble precisely because of their desire to calculate the situation to the end, and they lose a lot of time on that. Although it could be an advantage in classical chess, in rapid chess wasting time on long thinking is tantamount to losing.

You should also not waste time looking for the best move. In rapid chess, every pointlessly spent second  leads to a negative result. Tactics for playing in an acute position with different time controls differ significantly. Thus, when controlling time until the end of the game, it is most advantageous to move to the lost endgame, since the opponent will not have time to move the queen and checkmate.

At the same time, time control with the addition of time transition to the lost endgame cannot be called a competent tactic. The opponent has a simple plan to win, and after each move he or she makes, additional seconds will be added. Thus, they will easily implement their winning strategy.

All in all, nowadays rapid chess is gradually replacing the classic game of chess. This format of confrontations is more spectacular, which is attractive for both spectators and organizers of the championships. In rapid chess, not only the result is interesting, but also the emotions of the players, the decisions made in a stressful situation.