Play Faster. Think Faster. Win Faster.

Source: I’m 2300 Bullet on Chess.com

Introduction

Speed chess changes everything. The clock forces you to make decisions quickly, often without perfect information. This makes it one of the toughest skills to master in chess. Whether you play blitz, bullet, or even hyperbullet, speed chess demands fast thinking and confident play.

In this post, we are going to break down practical ways to train for speed chess, develop real confidence in time pressure, and build habits that hold up when the seconds are running out. If you want to win more games and feel in control when the clock’s low, this post is for you.

Opening

Let’s start with the obvious: the opening. The moment your clock starts, you need to know exactly what you are doing. Good opening prep is non-negotiable in speed chess. You do not want to waste time thinking on move three.

But you should not just memorize moves. Focus on actually understanding your openings, knowing why the theory exists, why certain moves work, and what your long-term plans are after the opening. A great way to study is by looking at master games or using the analysis tool on Chess.com. Daniel Naroditsky also makes excellent videos; just search your opening plus “Naroditsky” on YouTube.

You can also set up positions and play them against bots. For example, if you play e4 and struggle against the Sicilian, set up that position and practice. Once you have that knowledge, you will be able to play your first five to ten moves with confidence, barely using any time.