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So.
I'm setup to play in a OTB tournament for charity (Red Cross) at the university across the street (New College of Florida) this weekend.
Now for my question.
I haven't looked at a REAL chess board in over a year and I haven't played in a tournament or with a clock since high school (over a decade ago).
Anybody out there got some tips/hints/checklists on how to move from RHP (analyze board and lots of time) to the real thing, successfully?
Or does anybody have a scary story of moving from RHP to OTB and getting slaughtered? 🙂 I hope i don't have one of those to add after the weekend.
Tim
sorry, horror srory time; recently joined my local chess club, populated by old men who play the caro kann compulsively (how the FISH do u play attackishly against the caro kann?) and am being consistently beaten in 60 move positional games. i ok on uchess, bt on timed otb iv found im terrible. just to cheer u up 🙂
marcussucrammarcussucrammarcus
Well, I think this rule is international, but maybe not. I know its definitely USCF, the hand you move the piece with is the hand you must use for the clock.
Don't start making notes on your score sheet, as your opponent may cry foul to the TD (one moves & time allowed)
Touch-move applies, you touch the piece you must move it if legally possible, same with opponents pieces (If I remember correctly) Touch it must take it if legally possible. Get uset to saying "Adjust" a lot if you like to keep the board and pieces neatly in order. And say it *before* you touch the piece.
Remember to hit your clock after each move. Basic, but I've seem many players being allowed to burn-up their own time by their opponent because they hadn't hit their clock!
Double-check the results, and post them yourself if you can. An opponent can mark things down incorrectly and cause the TD and you great headaches.
Let's see did I forget anything? Probably. But one more tip, the TD will frown greatly on shouting, singing, dancing, etc., after a particularly difficult win, if there are other games going on. 😉
Hope you have a good time, and enjoy actually picking up some real pieces for a change.
First time with a clock and scoresheet can be difficult. Get into a pattern.
Mine is using my right hand move the piece then hit the clock (using the piece if I captured one) also with the right hand. Then write down my move. When the opponent makes his move I write down his move before I even think about the response (yes, even if there is only one possible or logical response.). Some people prefer to write down their move before making it as a final safeguard. I tried that. I didn't like it.
Also except when you are making a move or adjusting a piece (ja doube) do not have your hands anywhere near the board. I keep them in my lap.
Also don't be afraid to use your time. First game I ever played that was timed was 45 0. I lost having used 5 minutes of my time. Don't do that. Think about this way, if you assume the average game lasts for 60 moves (discounting opening) then you have 45 seconds a move in that time control. It gets better if there is an increment. I played in a tournament with 90 30 time controls. The game next to me had a guy winning with more time on his clock then he started with. He's an exception. Take your time. When there is an increment you never have to worry about playing out an easily won endgame with 10 seconds on your clock (in non-increment games I have finished a rook vs. naked king in 14 seconds but it was slightly lucky) so don't worry if it gets to single digits (minutes that is).
Originally posted by tmetzlerFirst of all - Good Luck in the touney!
So.
I'm setup to play in a OTB tournament for charity (Red Cross) at the university across the street (New College of Florida) this weekend.
Now for my question.
I haven't looked at a REAL chess board in over a year and I haven't ...[text shortened]... I hope i don't have one of those to add after the weekend.
Tim
Everyone's given you good advice so far, but I'll add my checklist anyway. Some of this stuff is gonna sound silly, but if you're a little nervous it's easy to forget the simple things.
Write your move down on your scorecard before you make it (if you want to?). It's perfectly legit where I play. Take one last good look at it before you move.
The hand you move the piece with is the hand you hit the clock with.
When you capture a piece or pawn pick up the captured piece first then move your piece.
When you castle don't move the rook first. Technically that's illegal. I know you know that, but it's easy to forget if you're rushing.
Don't watch that #### clock! Ignore it and play your game.
Think TACTICS first. OTB tactics are the key. Anytime you can make a threat or attack an undefended piece do so. Make certain your opponent can't make a deadlier move in defense of it though. :-) Sieze the initiative OTB and you'll probably never have to give it back.
Try to play an opening you feel comfortable with. OTB is not the time to try something new on move 3. That sounds silly, but because of nerves and or rushing I've done it.
Play the board, not the man (or woman). Ignore your opponent and play chess. Don't chit chat, or try to be funny or tough, just be yourself and relax. And if you happen to be playing an attractive female (or male) for god's sake don't get distracted...
Stay cool. If your opponent blunders their queen on move 3 study the board just as hard as if they were threatening mate. Write your move down first, take one last good look for tactical threats, quietly take the queen, and punch the clock. Don't say a word...
If you should blunder early don't get rattled. You're playing a human after all. Unless you're playing a very high rated player that plays lots of touneys I guarantee you they'll make a mistake later. It's only a matter of time. So fight like h***.
If you need to get up and stretch or walk around that's cool. I've seen people get busted for talking about their game with someone else though after they left the table. So be careful.
I don't know how many matches you'll play this weekend, but you're going to blunder, you're probably going to get checkmated or at the very least make some bad moves. You're also going to win, hopefully a lot. So don't sweat it. You're playing for a great cause and what you're involved in is much bigger than a chess match. Stay cool and have fun! And pleace come back and tell us how you did.
If it's several games with medium to long time controls, you are going to get tired and have an urge to move fast to get it over with. Resist it.
Get good rest the night before. Take some water or juice with you (there may be coffee or something at the tournament, too).
Don't eat a heavy breakfast, but don't go hungry.
When you start getting tired, force yourself to stay alert, and remember that your opponent is probably tired too.
Many good points made by wib. However I would like to point out there is a little uncertainty about what happens if you write down a move on your scoresheet then change your mind. Reading the rules as written (FIDE rules that is) this isn't allowed but I don't think any TD's are going to be forfeiting you for doing so. Still doesn't hurt to be safe right?
Also where I play my tournaments there is a room for the games, a lounge area with toilets and a kitchen for during the games and an analysis room. During a round the game room is silent. It's not written down that's it's no talking it just is. If you want to talk and your game has ended then you go to one of the other rooms. If your game has ended and you want to play there are boards in the analysis room. If your game has ended and you want to analyse it then it's pretty obvious where you go. You could also anaylse positions that are on the boards still being played. Of course this means that no one whose game is still going goes into the analysis room. Also analysing or even discussing the games in progress in the lounge is frowned upon. Of course the environment where you play might be different but I just thought I'd give my experiences.
Originally posted by wibIs that a rule? I admit I haven't played an OTB tournament since 1966, but I recall the others. I don't think I've ever heard of this as a requirement though. If it's just a personal preference, I can understand that (though I'm not sure it's my own). If it's a rule, do you have a citation for it? I just went looking and found http://www.fide.com/official/handbook.asp?level=EE101 where section 4.3, about touching a piece and being required to move (or capture) it is discussed. That section does not appear to me to have the implication that you must touch the piece to be captured before the capturing piece.
When you capture a piece or pawn pick up the captured piece first then move your piece.
Any enlightenment to offer?
Thanks,
Paul
Originally posted by prnYou know now that you mention it I'm not sure it's a rule either. I've just always done it that way. And the only reason I capture that way is because everyone else seems to do it that way.
Is that a rule? I admit I haven't played an OTB tournament since 1966, but I recall the others. I don't think I've ever heard of this as a requirement though. If it's just a personal preference, I can understand that (though I'm not sure it's my own). If it's a rule, do you have a citation for it? I just went looking and found http://www.fide.com/officia ...[text shortened]... e to be captured before the capturing piece.
Any enlightenment to offer?
Thanks,
Paul
So maybe it used to be a rule, but no longer, or it's just one of those unwritten things people have picked up and passed down throughout the years.
Anyone know?
Originally posted by XanthosNZAnother interesting observation, but I can't find anything that applies to this in the FIDE rules I can find. See http://www.fide.com/official/handbook.asp?level=EE101 Article 8 applies to "The recording of the moves" and I can't see anything that says that a move, once recorded can't be changed. I see that you have to record moves, that you have to record each move before you make the next, etc. but I don't see anything about erasures or the like. Do you have a different set of FIDE rules that you could point this out in?
However I would like to point out there is a little uncertainty about what happens if you write down a move on your scoresheet then change your mind. Reading the rules as written (FIDE rules that is) this isn't allowed but I don't think any TD's are going to be forfeiting you for doing so. Still doesn't hurt to be safe right?
Thanks,
Paul
Originally posted by wibFair enough. I don't know for sure and I've always done it the opposite way, typically picking up my piece, moving it to the destination square and picking up the captured piece with the same hand as I put down mine. I know it sounds strange that way, but I have the full complement of fingers and it seems to work. 🙂
You know now that you mention it I'm not sure it's a rule either. I've just always done it that way. And the only reason I capture that way is because everyone else seems to do it that way.
I keep thinking that I ought to get back to OTB play, now that I have taken up chess again and if I do, I want to break any illegal habits before they get me into trouble.
Thanks,
Paul
Originally posted by XanthosNZWrite the move down with one hand and hide it from your opponent with the other. :-)
Many good points made by wib. However I would like to point out there is a little uncertainty about what happens if you write down a move on your scoresheet then change your mind. Reading the rules as written (FIDE rules that is) this isn't allowed
Honestly, and sad to say, I don't know what the USCF rules say about that, but I write my move first and see other players do it almost all of the time on every move unless they're really rushed for time. It becomes a habit.
But Xanthos is right. Maybe you should check with the TD (or an Arbiter) before you start.
Sorry Tim, I didn't mean to bombard you with all of this! :-)
Originally posted by prnAs for the changing of recorded moves , I've done that and I've never had anyone complain. But again, I really don't know the official ruling on that.
Another interesting observation, but I can't find anything that applies to this in the FIDE rules I can find. See http://www.fide.com/official/handbook.asp?level=EE101 Article 8 applies to "The recording of the moves" and I can't see anything that says that a move, once recorded can't be changed. I see that you have to record moves, that you have to record ...[text shortened]... . Do you have a different set of FIDE rules that you could point this out in?
Thanks,
Paul
Maybe I should buy a rule book! :-)
You don't HAVE to pick up the captured piece first,that's just how most people do it.It makes sense,to frre the square for your own piece,before putting it there.
Writing down moves before you make them is forbidden.It's considered making notes,which is not allowed.Though I've never seen anyone complain about it.
There is nothing in the fide rules about changing moves on scoresheets,simply because you can't,if you follow the rules,you must write down the correct move after you've moved.
I didn't look this up,it's how I was thaught to play.Maybe it's not all true 🙂
Sir Lot.