Q&A for How to Play Blitz Chess

Keep in mind that you don't learn as much about chess when you play blitz. If you're new to chess and are just learning, you should stay away from blitz chess because it's mostly about intuition and time management. If you're an expert and you know your theory and opening, then playing blitz chess is something that is more fun.

No, you do not get to take a piece. If you are playing with an increment, for example 10 | 5, a ten minute game with an additional 5 seconds per move which is extra time for the players to play the game. The extra time per move is so that if the players play a 100 move game, they will have more time, but still play a fast paced game. When the extra time runs out, their base time starts to run down. If your opponent runs out of time, and their flag falls on the clock, you may claim a win on time, you do not have to claim a win on time.

Probably intuition unless you are an exceptionally fast thinker or you're very experienced at blitz chess.

White's clock starts when the game is officially begun. As soon as white makes his/her first move, s/he starts black's clock.

Both players cannot run out of time at the same time. The first player to run out of time loses.

You place a piece in the center (d4, e4, d5, e5) that will be easy to defend, usually a pawn.

You cannot make a move that places your king in check. If you cannot make any moves without putting yourself in check but are not currently in check, it's called a stalemate, and the game ends in a draw.

Yes.

Any player whose time runs out automatically loses, regardless of the position on the board, unless the winning side doesn't have enough material to checkmate. So if you each have just your king and the other runs out of time, it's a draw. If the opponent has queen, two rooks and five pawns but you only have king and knight and your opponent runs out of time, it's a draw, because you don't have enough material to checkmate. But if your opponent has all of pieces and you only have king and rook, then you still win if your opponent runs out of time.

You should try to think of a few moves before you begin the game. When your opponent makes their move, you should think about how they are playing and how you can respond to their strategy.

It would depend on the rules. If it is casual, it's best to ask him before the game. In official tournaments, though, you lose the game immediately.

Try setting the engine to a lower level, if it's possible. If you want to beat the engine at a high level, keep on improving your chess!

That depends on the time control (i.e., how the chess clock was set up). Some have delays, increments, or increase time at some number of moves.

If you're talking about the lever, it's used to show whose turn it is to move. Players press the lever to indicate that they've made their move.

The person who runs out of time loses, no matter how many pieces are still on the board.