One of the most overlooked aspects of playing against computer opponents is clock management. Unlike human players who crack under time pressure, engines like Leela Chess Zero maintain perfect accuracy even with seconds remaining.
This fundamental difference requires a complete rethinking of how you allocate your time during a game. In human vs human chess, saving time for complex endgames is standard practice. Against computers, this strategy fails because the endgame is precisely where engines demonstrate absolute superiority.
The reasoning is straightforward: your best chance to outplay an engine occurs in complex, unbalanced positions where the evaluation is unclear. By investing time early, you can navigate opening traps and create the type of chaotic positions that give engines computational difficulty.
Practical Example
You're playing a 15-minute rapid game against Komodo level 5. Instead of blitzing out your opening moves, spend 3-4 minutes between moves 8-12 to ensure you achieve a favorable pawn structure. This time investment pays dividends because you've steered the game toward positions where the engine's advantage is minimized.
Additionally, recognize when you're in a lost position and adjust your time accordingly. If you're down two pawns entering the endgame, there's no value in burning your remaining minutes. Either resign gracefully or play quickly and hope for a blunder (which won't happen against engines rated above 2000).
Track your games and identify which phase consumes most of your time. If you're spending equal time across all phases, you're misallocating resources and reducing your winning chances against computer opponents.