Premoves: definition, usage, and tips
Premoves
Definition
A premove is a feature found on most online chess platforms that allows a player to enter their next move while it is still their opponent’s turn. When the opponent finally makes a move, the server instantly checks the stored move for legality in the resulting position; if it is still legal, it is executed automatically and usually consumes no or a negligible amount of clock time (often 0.1 seconds or less). Should the intended move be illegal in the new position, the premove is simply canceled and the player must move normally.
How Premoves Are Used
- Time-saving weapon: In ultra-fast time controls such as bullet (1+0, 2+1) or hyper-bullet (30 seconds per side), the ability to chain several premoves can single-handedly decide games on the clock.
- Forced sequences: If a line is tactically forced—for example, an automatic recapture or a series of checks—players will often premove those replies to speed things up.
- Psychological pressure: Rapid replies can rattle an opponent, making them feel they are always low on time even when the clocks are equal.
- Streaming flair: Content creators often showcase long premove chains for entertainment, e.g., GM Magnus Carlsen premoving an entire checkmate net on stream.
Strategic Considerations & Practical Tips
- Identify forced moves: Only premove when the reply is virtually guaranteed (e.g., 1. … Qxd4; 2. Nxd4 premoves Qxd4).
- Use “safe” premoves: Some sites offer a “safe premove” option that refuses suicidal moves (e.g., hanging the queen) even if legal.
- Chain wisely: Multiple premoves can be chained, but each link increases the cumulative risk of an unexpected refutation.
- Never premove in increment games without a need: With increments (e.g., 3+2) you often have enough time to think after every move; reckless premoves may blunder away winning positions.
Illustrative Examples
Example 1: Simple recapture
Position after 20…Bxf3 (Black takes the white knight on f3). White, playing bullet, can safely premove 21. gxf3 because no matter what Black does next, the pawn on g2 will still be able to capture the bishop on f3.
Example 2: The peril of optimistic premoves
Consider a king-and-pawn ending where you premove 50…h2, expecting 51. Kxh2, and then premove 51…Kxf2. If your opponent instead plays 51. Kh1, your pawn advance becomes illegal and is canceled. You lose precious time and perhaps the game.
Historical Notes
Premoves first appeared on Internet Chess Server (ICS) derivatives in the late 1990s but gained mainstream popularity with the rise of ICC and Playchess in the early 2000s. Modern sites such as Lichess and Chess.com refined the mechanism, introducing options like “move confirmation” and “safe premoves.” The cultural acceptance of premoves has grown alongside the bullet boom—a trend illustrated by events like Titled Arena where elite GMs premove entire openings.
Famous Anecdotes
- During the Bullet Chess Championship 2020, GM Hikaru Nakamura won a must-win game against GM Alireza Firouzja chiefly by 19 consecutive premoves, finishing the game with 0.1 seconds on his clock.
- In a casual Magnus Carlsen vs. Daniel Naroditsky bullet duel on stream, Carlsen premoved a stalemate trap that Naroditsky walked into, demonstrating the tactical layers premoves can add.
Common Pitfalls
The most notorious premove blunders involve hanging the queen or walking into “spite checks” that turn a winning position into an immediate loss. For example, premoving 35…Qxh2+?? in a mating net can be punished if the opponent instead interposes a piece, making the premove illegal and leaving you to face a sudden counter-attack with no time on the clock.
Interesting Facts
- The Guinness-style “longest premove chain” on record is 72 moves, executed on Lichess in a prearranged K-K dead-draw position purely for demonstration.
- Some engines in engine vs. engine bullet matches implement the equivalent of premoves to conserve computation time, though technically they always move instantly.
- Premoves have no counterpart in over-the-board chess, making them one of the few concepts unique to the online era.
Quick Reference
When to premove: Forced recaptures, obvious checks, or when down to under 1 second. When not to premove: Complicated positions, increment games, or when an unexpected zwischenzug is possible.