user227: Years ago, I was a bullet-chess (1 min. games) addict. I played daily and often. Then I stopped for about 4 years (and played off-and-on). My rating was mediocre - around 1400 on Yahoo Chess.
Recently I started again, 3/0 games and blitz games. I noticed that I play better overall, but I can't pinpoint what it is - I just know I can see combinations better. I wonder about this a lot, because as I age I should be slightly slower mentally (I'm close to 30).

user7657: Supposedly chess improvement comes in plateaus.  This is most likely because as you continue to play, you are accumulating chess knowledge.  At some point this knowledge will begin to exceed that of your less experienced opponents, and you will reach the next plateau.  This is probably akin to what happened to Bobby Fischer when he said that "he just got good" when he was asked as a teenager how he had improved.

user70: Being older doesn't mean inferior.  I'm probably a better computer programmer now at 50 than I have ever been.  The frenetic power of youth does not always yield a superior result in situations where experience and discipline matter.
Regarding 'subconscious' learning and chess... I don't believe there are any shortcuts.

user38: First, saying you "feel" like you're better is does not appear to be very scientific, so keep that in mind when attempting to understand the events you're describing.
Also, I don't believe what you're experiencing is related to the subconscious development of your understanding of chess, but you experiencing the difference between cramming knowledge into your brain, and what's called the "Spacing Effect".
(Let me know if this answer addresses your questions, or if there's something I'm missing.)

user517: Over time, I think that you may expect improvement via the following:

"Forgetting" bad habits
Adding to your experience in non-chess-specific but useful skills, such as reading the opponent, time management, and recognizing your own limitations.
More capable or willing than before of purchasing help (lessons).

Specifically to your question, it's worth noting that 1 0 bullet is a far different game compared with 3 0, or 5 0. Also, sites will differ, and the site you mention (Yahoo) has changed over time. As you probably know, the specifics of each site's implementation has a dramatic effect on optimal strategy. For example, does the site allow premove? If so, is there a minimum amount of time which must come off the clock? So leaving 1 0 bullet four years ago and returning to 3 0 today is a far different game.
For the issue of whether you should be faster mentally at 25 or 30, I don't know if the difference would be discernible. But this is not my field of expertise.

227: <p>Years ago, I was a bullet-chess (1 min. games) addict. I played daily and often. Then I stopped for about 4 years (and played off-and-on). My rating was mediocre - around 1400 on Yahoo Chess.</p>

<p>Recently I started again, 3/0 games and blitz games. I noticed that I play better overall, but I can't pinpoint what it is - I just know I can see combinations better. I wonder about this a lot, because as I age I should be slightly slower mentally (I'm close to 30).</p>
 7657: <p>Supposedly chess improvement comes in plateaus.  This is most likely because as you continue to play, you are accumulating chess knowledge.  At some point this knowledge will begin to exceed that of your less experienced opponents, and you will reach the next plateau.  This is probably akin to what happened to Bobby Fischer when he said that "he just got good" when he was asked as a teenager how he had improved.</p>
 70: <p>Being older doesn't mean inferior.  I'm probably a better computer programmer now at 50 than I have ever been.  The frenetic power of youth does not always yield a superior result in situations where experience and discipline matter.</p>

<p>Regarding 'subconscious' learning and chess... I don't believe there are any shortcuts.</p>
 38: <p>First, saying you "feel" like you're better is does not appear to be very scientific, so keep that in mind when attempting to understand the events you're describing.</p>

<p>Also, I don't believe what you're experiencing is related to the subconscious development of your understanding of chess, but you experiencing the difference between cramming knowledge into your brain, and what's called the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacing_effect">Spacing Effect</a>".</p>

<p>(Let me know if this answer addresses your questions, or if there's something I'm missing.)</p>
 517: <p>Over time, I think that you may expect improvement via the following:</p>

<ol>
<li>"Forgetting" bad habits</li>
<li>Adding to your experience in non-chess-specific but useful skills, such as reading the opponent, time management, and recognizing your own limitations.</li>
<li>More capable or willing than before of purchasing help (lessons).</li>
</ol>

<p>Specifically to your question, it's worth noting that 1 0 bullet is a far different game compared with 3 0, or 5 0. Also, sites will differ, and the site you mention (Yahoo) has changed over time. As you probably know, the specifics of each site's implementation has a dramatic effect on optimal strategy. For example, does the site allow premove? If so, is there a minimum amount of time which must come off the clock? So leaving 1 0 bullet four years ago and returning to 3 0 today is a far different game.</p>

<p>For the issue of whether you should be faster mentally at 25 or 30, I don't know if the difference would be discernible. But this is not my field of expertise.</p>
