If you don't think chess is a full-contact sport,

you haven't played speed chess.

Do yourself a favor: go to an on-line chess site and play a two-minute game.

This means that you and your opponent each have two minutes to make all of your moves.

If you run out of time, you lose.

Suddenly, you're no longer playing the leisurely fireside pastime of yesteryear.

Now you're competing against THE CLOCK

just as much as the other player.

You are forced to move quickly,

so inevitably there are blunders resulting from a slip of the mouse.

The exhilaration that accompanies an actual mate in such hurried games,

though, makes it all worthwhile.

The whole thing is kind of like training your chess reflexes -

you won't sweat quite as much, but what a workout.