How to increase your variants rating (and how to win in hyperbullet)

Hi.

At the time of writing this blog, the difference between my bullet and blitz rating is about 350. So you get a hint.

The lingo: Hyperbullet.
And I'm gonna describe it in detail, don't worry.

Intro

Stuck in variants? I'm @Ayushman_C, and in this blog I'm gonna show you how to get your variants rating to a decent above-1600 level.

Now here's the secret:

• In standard, you have five different time controls. Each one has a separate rating, and and a change in one rating doesn't directly affect the others.
• However, in variants, you have a single rating. That means that if you win at 2+0 Racing kings, you gain rating points, but if you lose at 180+180 Racing Kings, then rating points are deducted from the same rating score.
• Easy solution: Build up your reflexes, play quicker variant time controls, and...win!

The big revelation

Play hyperbullet variants.
No, no. I'm serious. Think about it, it works.

Now here's the hard part:

How to win in hyperbullet

Let us divide our time into roughly six parts.

Part 1 (30-25 sec):

This is the opening phase. Preferably premove your opening. Very carefully try some dirty tricks.
If you're playing as White, I recommend the Nf3-g3-Bg2-0-0 opening, and then improvise as d3-Nd2-e4 or c3-e3-d4 to defend b2 from any kingside fianchetto. Beware of a quick ...Bh3 by Black, which can embarrass you by Bxg2.
If you're playing as Black, I recommend the safe e6-Ne7-g6-Bg7-0-0. If White has a queenside fianchetto, push f6 to cover. If white plays d4 as an opening move, you can do a quick c5-cxd4.

Part 2 (25-20 sec):

Improvise and develop your pieces. Tip: Do NOT play long moves as they waste time.

Part 3 (20-10 sec):

This is the middlegame phase. Move about your pieces. Try not to exchange as these are obvious moves and your opponent may premove the recapture. Instead, retreat your pieces, which may pull down some valuable time from your opponent. This is a crucial phase. Try not to blunder heavily as they are almost always punished in the later phases.

Part 4 (10-5 sec):

Now it's time to exchange. The battlefield is starting to heat up.

Part 5 (5-2 sec):

Here's a simple formula now:
if(opponentstime<mytime)
do rash stuff;
else
don't do rash stuff;

Part 6 (2-0 sec)

Now it's time to let hell loose. Go berserk. Push your king about. (Unless you're in a winning position)

Conclusion

This strategy above has helped me a lot in hyperbullet chess. Use it in variants, and watch as your rating changes like magic.

That's all for this blog. If you like it, do consider giving it a heart! Follow me for regular notifications on my blogs. Thanks for reading!
Yours,
Ayushman_C
(Photo courtesy of unsplash.com, met with the etiquette of lichess.org blog)