Sleaze as an Element of a Blitz Game

Anybody who plays Blitz chess knows that there is Sleazy side to the game. 3 minute chess games are very popular at the internet chess club and often one side has a much better chess position but had taken a long time to create the "winning position".

For example, the stronger side may have an extra Queen on the board and be 3 moves from delivering mate, but only have 2 seconds remaining which is generally not enough time to execute a three move checkmate. This is fair as time is a critical resource and if you only have 2 second to your opponent's full minute or 60 seconds, the perhaps you deserved to lose.



Such was the case with Kaspivarov of Brazil playing the white side of a French Defense Opening. Black ahead on time placed his Rook on d3 next to White's King on e2 for sleazy, disruptive and time consuming reasons. White ran out of time at this point never capturing the rook at d3.

One might speculate that White had already "pre-moved" his King to either e3 or f3 all of which would be illegal moves and not allowed by the Blitzen interface! How can you blame somebody for not doing this if they have accumulated a substantial time advantage and the other side has grossly mismanaged their time?!

Ask any ICC blitz addict what pre-move is and how it is a double edged sword.