What is lightning chess?

Lightning chess means you get 10 seconds for each move. The buzzer sounds and you have to move, then on the next buzz your opponent moves and so on. It's easy to blunder at lightning chess. At first it's not so bad because 10 seconds is more than enough for the first 5 or 6 moves but after that the pressure mounts. The best way to avoid getting into a complete mess is to play simply; that way you will get into a middle game where your chances are likely to be even unless you're playing a GM! Good lightning players develop their pieces early, avoid complications, concentrate well and always play on the buzzer. Occasionally your opponent might hesitate when the buzzer sounds and in strict lightning events they run the risk of forfeiting the game. It's the equivalent of running out of time on the clock.

Lightning chess and blitz chess are different but often confused. Blitz involves the use of clocks whereas lightning does not. In blitz each player usually has 5 minutes or so on the clock before the flag falls but times can vary and 3 minute or 10 minute blitz games are often played. Arguably the best blitz and lightning player in chess history was Bobby Fischer. In 2002 Larry Parr wrote a nice article about his ability as a speed chess player.

In April 1970, Bobby scored 19 - 3 (+17 -1 =4) to win the unofficial “Speed Chess Championship of the World,” which was held in Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia. Mikhail Tal (or a Soviet editor in Tal’s name) expressed the common understanding of Fischer as a speed player, “I don’t know what Petrosian, Korchnoi, Bronstein, and Smyslov counted on before the start of the tournament, but I expected them to be the most probable rivals for the top prizes. Fischer had until recently played fast chess none too strongly. Now much has changed: he is fine at fast chess. His playing is of the same kind as in tournament games: everything is simple, follows a single pattern, logical, and without any spectacular effects. He makes his moves quickly and practically without errors. Throughout the tournament I think he did not lose a whole set of pieces in this way. Fischer’s result is very, very impressive.” 

Tal concluded his comments on the blitz championship with the much less quoted, yet significant statement, “We had known, of course, that Fischer is one of the strongest chess players in the world. He can defeat Petrosian, Korchnoi, Spassky, and Larsen. Just as they can defeat him.”

The Herceg Novi blitz event was the speed tournament of the 20th century. It had four world champions competing, and Bobby not only finished 4½ points ahead of Tal in second place, he also obliterated the Soviet contingent, 8½ - 1½, whitewashing Tal, Tigran Petrosian and Vasily Smyslov, six-zip; breaking even with Viktor Korchnoi; and defeating David Bronstein with a win and draw. According to one report, Fischer spent no more than 2½ minutes on any game, thereby also giving, in effect, heavy speed odds to powerful opponents. So, while Tal – or a Soviet editor rewriting Tal – is technically correct that the greats could beat Fischer, it is more apt to say that he could beat them far, far more often. Here is the ever-so-telling tournament table:

Herceg Novi Blitz Tournament (5-Minute Chess)

See Larry Parr's full article.

To play through Bobby's games from the Herceg Novi blitz event click here