Bullet chess is when you have less than 3 minutes of clock time to play your entire game. The typical time controls are 2+1 (2 minutes for your game plus 1 second per move) or 1+0 (one minute on the clock to play your whole game).
I'm awful at bullet, because I can't keep track of time; my flag often falls when I'm winning on the board! I play relatively better the longer the time control, so I do best against other people at 2 hours per 40 moves.
My current bullet rating on lichess is 2165, which is better than 92% of the bullet players on the site, but it will probably fall...
Just about every game has some interesting tactics in it. Here are some tactics from my bullet games.
Bxh7+! +- Kxh7 / Ng5+ Kg6 / Qg4 Qd7? (...f6 / ef +-) / Ne6+ Kh7 / Qxg7++ 1-0
Ra3! traps Black's queen Qxa3 / ba +-
e4! +- Nxe4 / Bb5 Bc5? / Bxd7+ Kxd7 / Nxe4 Bxe4 / Qa4+ Kd6 / Qxe4 Resigns 1-0
...Bxd3!! / Qxd3 c4+ / Qe3 Bc5 / Nd4 Nxd4 / cd Bxd4 / Re1 Nf5! / Qxd4 Qxd4+ / Kh2 -+
...Rxf3! / gf Nf4 / Qxc7 Qh3 / Nd3?? (Qc4+ d5 / Qf1 =) Qxf3! -+ Qxd7 / Nh3+ 0-1
Ba6! Na5 (only move was ...Qd6 / Bxb7+ Kd7 +/=) / Qxa5 +- Resigns 1-0
Rh8+ Kxh8 / Qh2+ Kg8 / Qh7++ 1-0
1....Nf4+! = 2.gf (2.Kf3 Qe4+ 3.Kg4 Qg6+ 4.Kf3 = because if the BN is taken, Black loses 4.Kxf4? Qe4+ 5.Kg5 Qf5+ 6.Kh4 g5+ 7.Kh5 g4+ 8.Kh4 Kg6! and ...Qh5++) Qg4+ 3.Kh2 Qh4+ 4.Kg2 Qg4+ = and Black repeats moves
Ncxe5! / de Nxe5 / Rh1? (Nxe5 Qxe5+ / f4 only move Qe2 -+) Nd3+! / Kg2 Qf4! / Nf1 Qxg4+ / Ng3 Nf4+ / Kf1 Rxh1+ / Nxh1 Qg2+ -+
... Ba3! / Qg5 Bxb2+ / Kd2 Qb4+ / c3 Qxc3++ 0-1
c6!! Rxc6 / Rxc6 Qxc6 / d7! Nxd7 / Rxd7! The rook is untouchable due to the back-row mate threat. Qc1+ / Kh2 +-
e6! cd?? (Black had to play ...Rd2+ / Kg1 Re2 =) / e7 Rd2+ / Kg1 1-0
If ...Nd6 / Rf8++. If ...Nf6 / Rxf6 and queens.
Rd7 Rxd7 / cd Resigns 1-0
Rxg7+ Kh8 / Rxf7+ Kg8 / Rg7+ Kh8 / Rc7+ (Re7 mates one move quicker) Kg8 / Rg1+ Resigns 1-0
...c4! (otherwise White plays c4) -+ The game continued: Rb1 (Bxc4 Rbc8) Rdc8 / Bg2 Kd6 / Rb5 Rc5 / Rb2 Rxe5!? / Bxe5 Kxe5 / Re2 b5 / ab Rxb5 -+
e5! Nxe5 / Nxe5! Bxe5 / Bxf7+!! Kxf7 / Qd5+ Kf6 / Ne4 (Bg5+) Kf5? / g4+ Kxg4 / Qxe5 Nf6 / Qg5+ Kf3 / Nd2++ 1-0
... Nh5! / Nxh4? Qxh4 / Bxh5 Bd4+ 0-1
... Rxd2! Bxd2 / Bxg1 -+
Bxd6! Bxa1? (...a6 / Rb1 +-) / Bb5+ +-
e7!! Re8 / Qe6+ Kh8 / Qxh6+ Kg8 / Qg6+ Kh8 / Qxe8+ Kg7 / Qg6+ Kh8 / e8=Q 1-0
Nd1! (intending Nd1-e3-f5+) Na4 / Ne3 Rc1+ / Rf1 (or Kh2!) Rxf1+ / Kxf1 Kf8 / Nf5!! gf / Qg7+ Ke7 / Qxh8 +-
The game concluded ...Qxc5 / Qxe5+ Kd7 / Kxf5+ Kc7 / Rc2 Nc3 / Rxc3 1-0
f5! Bxc4 / fg+ fg / Rxc4!! Rxc4 / Qd3! Qc8 / Qxg6+ with forced mate Kg8 / Bxh6 Rxg4+ / hg Qxg4+ / Qxg4 1-0
Nxc6!! only move Rxd6? (...Bxc6 =) / Ne7+ Kh8 / Nxc8 Rc6 / Nd6 +-
...Rxg3! / Nd8+! Kh8!! (not allowing Qxc7+ with check) / Qxc7 (Qa4+ Kg8 / Nc6+ Qxc6! wins the WQ as Qxc6 / Rg2+ still mates) Rg2+ / Kh1 Rg7++
Nc5 Qe7 / Nxb7 Qxb7 ./ Rxc3! Nxc3 / Rxc3 +-
f4! +- not just getting rid of a defender of c6, but readying f5! trapping the bishop. Stockfish says Black had nothing better than ...Be4 giving up a piece immediately.
Nxf7!! Kxf7 (...Qxf7 / Rd8+ +-) / Rd7+ Kg6 (... Kf6 / Qf3+ +-) Qxe6 +-
... Qg4! (pinning White's bishop and threatening to win a piece in two different ways with Qxd4 and Qe2+) / Nf3 Nf4 -+
Qc8+! Kh7 / Qc6! +-
... gh+ / Kh1 Qg4! / Rg1 hg=Q with forced mate
...Bxd2! / Nxc6 Bxg5 (conveniently this protects e7) / hg Nxc6 -+
... Nh4! (the only winning move) / Nxh4 Qxh4 / Rxe4 de / Rxe4 (d5 Rxg2+ mates) Qg5! / f3 Qg3+ / Kh1 Rxe4 / fe f3 / Nc5 f2 / e5 Qxg2++
Na5+! Kxd6 (if ...Kb5 / d7! Bg5 / Nb7 +- wins the bishop; if ...Kd7 / Nc4! Na8 / Nxe5+ Kxd6 / Nf7+ +- wins the bishop) / Nc4+! Nxc4 / a8=Q +-
... Qxe4 / Nxe4 f5! / Nc3 f4 -+ won the bishop
Don't ruin your pawn structure.
Qxf3 Qxd4?? / Bxf7+ Resigns 1-0
Black just played ... Nd7-e5 / f3-f4? Nf3+! / Kh1?
Now came ...Qc8! (threatening Qh3 and Qxh2++) / Rg1 Nxg1 -+
Here is the game. 94.4%
Rxg7! Rxg7 / Qxh6+ Rh7 / Bxh7 Nxh7 / Qg7++ 1-0
e4! dxe4 / Ne5 +- opened up the WB without spending a tempo ...Rb8 / Qxa6 Rxb2?! / Bb5 +-
Here is the game. 95.3%
All checks: c3+ Kc5 (lasting slightly longer is ... Kb5 / Re5+ Ka6 / Rd6+ Kb7 / Rb5+ Ka7 / Ra5+ Kb7 / Rb6+ Kc8 / Ra8+ Kc7 / Ra7+ Kc8 / Nd6+ Kd8 / Rb8++) / Re5+ Kc6 / Rd6+ Kc7 / Rc5+ Kb7 / Rb6+ Ka5 / Ra5++ 1-0
... Rg4+ / Kh3 Qh6++ 0-1
This game took 15 seconds on my clock because the entire game was in my preparation.
exf6 dxc3 / Qe2+! Kd7 / Bg5 gxf6 / O-O-O+! Bd6 / Bf4! +- which continued ...Kc8 / Rxd6 Qa5 / Qe7! (also g3!) cxb2+ / Kb1 Qxa5?
Easy one. Rd8+! Rxd8 / Qc7++ 1-0
Here is the game. 94.1%
... Kd7! / Kh3 Rg6 / Bg5 Rh8+ / Bh4 Ncxd4 (...Rxh4+ is faster) / Nxd4? Rxh4++ 0-1
Note that I'm ahead a Q for R so just need to convert.
Bxc4 Bxd6 / Rxd6 +- simplifies things
White just played Bxh6 hg. Now Ng5! (only move) Kg7 / Rxh6+!! (with a mating attack even faster than Ne6+!) Qe8 (...Kxh6 / Rh1+ mates quickly) / Rd1f1 1-0
... Bxd4 / Bxd4 Qxd4 / Qxd4 Nf3 / Kf2 Nxd4 -+
e4! Qxa2?? / Bc4 +- trapped the queen. I made the moves without seeing that, because the moves were obvious regardless. The game continued ...Bg4 / Bxa2 Bxd1 / Qxd1 Rac8 / O-O Rfd8 / Qf3 Resigns 1-0
Ng5!! Qb6+?! / Kh1 Nf2+? / Rxf2 Qxf2 / Nce4 Qb6 / Nxd6 Rf8 / Bxc4 h6 / Ngxf7! Rxf7 / Nxf7 d6+ / Kf8? Qd5 with forced mate / Qf2 Qc7++ 1-0
Nxd7! (only move) Rxf3? (best is ...Rxc1 / Nxf8 Rxd1 / Qxd1 Qxf3+ / Qxf3 Nxf3 / Kxf3 Kxf8 / Kf4 +-) / Rxc8+ Kf7 / Rf8+ Ke7 / Rxf3 Qxd7 / Qxd4 Resigns 1-0
The game had just gone d5! exd5 / e5! d4??. Now came exf6! +- dxc3 / Qe2+! (this is the point) Be7 / fxe7 Qa5 / O-O! Resigns 1-0
Standard sacrifice Bxh7+ Kxh7 / Ng5+ Kg8 / Qh5 Nc8 +- White then played Qh5xf7-h5 and Ra1-f1xc8 to checkmate.
... Re1+ / Kh2 Be4 -+ White's queen is trapped and he lost.
Black had just played Qd8-a5? / Nfg5 Nxa2? ignoring his kingside.
Now came: Qh5 (Nf6+ also works) h6 / Nf6+! Bxf6 / ef c4 / fg hg / Qh8++ 1-0
Rxh6+ +- gf / Qg6+ Kh1 / Qxf7 Rd8 / Qxh5 Qd2+ / Kb1 Qd3+ / Bc2 Qf1+ / Rxf1 1-0
Nxe5 Bxe5 / Bf6! +- and Black's bishop cannot escape. ...Bxb2 (...Bd4+ / Bxd4 cd / Nf6+) / Bxb2 1-0
Nxe7+ Kg7 / Nxc6 Bxa1 / e7! 1-0 The pawn can't be stopped.
Nc4+! +- / dc? Rd8+ / Kc1 Qxe1++ 0-1
Rg1+ (Qg1+ also works) / Rxg1 Nf2++ 0-1
Nxg5! -+ / hg Qxg5+ / Kh1 Rf3 / Qe8+ Kg7 / Qe5+ Kh6 and Black quickly mated
Bh6+! Kxh6 / Qxh5+ 1-0
1.Rc2! +/- and Black has no squares where his queen won't get harrassed. The game continued 1...Ne5? 2.Nd5 +-
Bxe4 / Qxe4 Rf5 / Qe3 Rxh5 -+
Nxe3! / fe Qxe3+ / Kg2 Rd2 -+
e5! de (...Bxe5 / Qxf7++; ...Nxe5 / Qxf6) / Nge4 1-0 as White wins a piece.
Bxg6 fg / Rxg6+ Kxg6 / Qg5+ Kf7 / Qxh5+ Kg7 / Qh7++
Nice to set up stuff in bullet that actually works.
Qd3+ / Kg1 Ne2+ / Kf1 Ng3+ / Kg1 Qf1+ / Rxf1 Ne2#
Qxb2+ Kd2 / Qxc3+ Kxc3 / Ne4#
After Nxe4 attacking the d6 rook.
Obvious move, but the follow-up comes together perfectly:
1.b6+ Kb8 (1...Ka6 2.Rxf6 gf 3.Ra1+ Kxb6 4.Rxa8) 2.Nxe5! threatening Nd7++ but 2...Bxe5 Rd8++
1.dxe5 Bxe5? 2.Nxe5 Bxd1 3.Qxd1 as per plan and then he must have realized that he couldn't play 3...dxe5 because of 4.Qh5 and he lost quickly.
Be4! d4 / Bb5
(Technically blitz instead of bullet)
1...h5 2.fe hg 3.Qg2 Bh2+ 4.Kf2 g3+ 5. Kf3 de+ 0-1
Nice how things turn out.
Objectively Qe2 is just as good, but I like the move I played here which was Rc2! He played Bd2 and I took his d4 pawn.
1...Bd6 2.Bf4 Nh5 3.Nxc6?? (Qxg4 is only move)
Two white pieces en prise, but 3...Qh4! with forced mate, threatening Qh1+ 4.f3 Bxf4 5. f3 (about the best move) Bxf4 etc.
When you sacrifice a piece in 1-minute for nothing because you feel like it
I sacrificed 2 pieces to get his king from g1 to here, then the game finished 1.Rh4+ / 2.Kg5 Be7+ / 3.Kg6 Rh6+ / 4.Kxg7 Bf8+ / 5.Kg8 Qh3 / 6.Bxe6 Rh8++
Great place to mate the king
1... Bb5!! -+ (threatening Qh2++; In the game I played 1... f5 = and eventually won) 2. Bxe4+ g6 3. c4 Bxc4 4. Rd3 -+ as the WQ is overloaded and can't play 4. Qxc4 while WB is overloaded and can't play 4. Bd3.
I immediately played the obvious 1...Re8 and eventually won, but Stockfish showed the opportunity was 1... Bxf3!! 2. Bxf8 Bxf8 3.gf Nh5 intending Qh4. Basically, Bxf3 goes ideally with getting rid of Black's bishop to dominate the dark squares in front of White's King and he is lost. Thought it was cool.
I played 1. Bxa6 ba / 2. Qxa6+ but the amazing follow-up I missed was 2.e6!!