Premove (online chess) — Premoves in blitz and bullet
Premove
Definition
A premove is a feature of online-only chess platforms that allows a player to enter their next move while it is still their opponent’s turn. Once the opponent completes their move, the server instantly checks the legality of the pre-entered move in the new position. • If the premove is legal, it is executed automatically in a fraction of a second, costing virtually no time on the player’s clock. • If it is illegal (e.g., because the anticipated square is now occupied by a different piece or one’s own king is left in check), the premove is simply cancelled and the player must move normally.
How Premove Is Used
Premoves are most common in fast time controls—blitz (3-5 minutes) and especially bullet (1 minute or less)—where every tenth of a second matters.
- Single-move premove: The default on virtually all servers; you queue one move.
- Multi-move or “move stack” premove: Some sites allow a sequence of moves to be queued (e.g., pre-capturing a series of checks in a known forced line).
- Safety premove: Certain interfaces let users limit premoves to captures and checks only, reducing blunders.
Strategic Significance
Because a premove executes nearly instantaneously, it can be decisive in extreme time scrambles (“flagging” situations).
- Saving time: In a 1-second vs. 1-second bullet finish, a single premove can literally double the amount of thinking time you get.
- Psychology: Rapid replies can rattle opponents who suddenly see their own clock ticking again.
- Risk–reward trade-off: A reckless premove can drop a piece or even allow a checkmate if the opponent plays an unexpected intermezzo.
Historical Context
Premoving has no over-the-board (OTB) equivalent; it emerged in the late 1990s with the Internet Chess Club (ICC) and early graphical interfaces like WinBoard. As broadband internet and mobile apps became ubiquitous, premove mechanics evolved into the smooth, server-side implementations seen on modern platforms such as Chess.com and Lichess. The concept has subtly reshaped endgame theory for online bullet, where “flagging” skills are valued alongside traditional technique.
Illustrative Examples
Example 1: Simple Recapture
Position: Black just played 30…Bxe4 in a blitz game. White, confident that recapturing is forced, premoves 31. Nxe4. If Black instead tries a zwischenzug like 30…Qh4!+, the premove would be illegal (the knight can no longer recapture) and would be cancelled, avoiding disaster.
Example 2: Flagging Race in Bullet
Both players have under one second.
White has a king on g1 and a pawn on h6 ready to queen; Black has a king on g8.
White premoves 1. h7+, expecting 1…Kh8 2. g6, etc.
The instant execution buys the crucial milliseconds needed to
promote the pawn before Black’s clock runs out.
Common Situations for Premoving
- Forced recaptures: When an opponent’s last move created only one sensible reply.
- Increment time controls: Even with a 1-second increment, players premove easy replies to build up a time “bank.”
- Pre-queening: Queuing the move h7-h8=Q, then immediately premoving Qxh8# if the opponent’s reply is forced.
Risks and Famous Blunders
• IM Eric Rosen once premoved 1…Qxg2# in a bullet stream,
only to watch his opponent sidestep with 1. Kd2!, making the premove illegal and
winning on time.
• Numerous high-rated speed specialists have lost queens by premoving an automatic
recapture after overlooking an en passant possibility.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The world’s fastest bullet specialists (“hyper-bullet,” 30-second chess) train specialized mouse or touch gestures to input premoves with minimal cursor travel.
- Some platforms allow you to disable premove in tournaments to simulate OTB conditions more closely.
- A quirky sub-culture of “staircase mate” videos exists, showing streams of 10–15 consecutive premoves delivering forced mate in pre-calculated patterns.
Best Practices for Players
- Use premove primarily in forced positions; otherwise, keep your hand off the trigger.
- Combine premoves with pre-highlighted arrows to double-check tactical details.
- Remember that premove never beats check: if you are in check after the opponent’s move, your premove is void.
Conclusion
Premoving is a uniquely digital skill that blends quick calculation, anticipation, and hand–eye coordination. Mastering it can add precious seconds—and many extra half-points—to your online blitz and bullet results, but reckless use is a recipe for spectacular self-mate. As with all chess tools, the key is moderation and good judgment.