Alekhine played many tournaments and matches drunk. During their two matches, Euwe constantly complained about his opponent's whiskey breath, even to the extent of suggesting to the arbiter that Alekhine gargle between moves. When this message was relayed to the great master, he flew into a rage and called all Dutch chessplayers--"sissies" would be the most tactful way of translating it. Once in the Baden-Baden Tournament of 1926 Alekhine insisted his private bartender be paid as his second before he would make a move. After a period of negotiation the tournmanent director, the Sultan Khan, agreed as long as Alekhine could produce a doctor's prescription for alcohol to settle the high-strung grandmaster's nerves. This was produced on the spot, as Alekhine was a doctor and carried a pad of prescriptions everywhere he went. This is all true--you could look it up.
When i play for my club i always make sure i drink lot's of water duaring the day when i'm due to play. I prepare a good meal (lot's of vegetables if i have them) and eat a couple of hours before so as not to feel dozey at the board. I try to get a good sleep as well but i work nights so it's not always possible to be fully alert on match day. The water definately works though, i find i can hold my concentration for much longer when fully hydrated 🙂
Originally posted by buddy2Excellent! Cheers for that little anecdote buddy 😀
Alekhine played many tournaments and matches drunk. During their two matches, Euwe constantly complained about his opponent's whiskey breath, even to the extent of suggesting to the arbiter that Alekhine gargle between moves. When this message was relayed to the great master, he flew into a rage and called all Dutch chessplayers--"sissies" would be the m ...[text shortened]... and carried a pad of prescriptions everywhere he went. This is all true--you could look it up.
Originally posted by GrandmousterI don't, for the most part.
Im doing some research on focusing at the board. What do you do to maintain a good brain for chess? Excercise, vitamins, diet, etc. Or do you just concentrate on studing and getting better that way?
I know Bobby Fischer made a point to exercise. I think I've heard other players do the same.
My friend once almost beat a player who should have been significantly better than him after drinking Sparks, which has caffeine, alcohol and maybe vitamins.
I know Red Bull contains B vitamins and taurine which might help.
Caffeine improves some kind of intelligence. It was suggested to me by a biologist I know that eating sugar before tests helps.
I was told once that being a little bit hungry helps. Possibly this had to do with the way blood rushes out of the brain to the stomach (food coma!!!) when you eat.
tactics help, of course. But if your brains too tired from low blood sugar, or malnurished, then you could miss even the simpliest tactics. I know, as i would come home from work and drop 200 rating points playing blitz online because i thought i had enough energy to play.
I was wondering if taking some of those natural drugs, like ginko, dmae, gingsing, etc has helped anyones game.
[b]On what is apparantly Fischer's official website there is a link to a study that suggests one alcoholic beverage a day helps maintain mental sharpness. His complaint is that, in the Japanese detention centre he is currently held in, alcohol is strictly forbidden. Cigarettes however, pure poison, are freely available.
I know Bobby Fischer made a point to exercise...
b]