It's my last year in High School, so it is also my last to year to be eligible for a local, free entry, cash prize tournament. I've been doing about 20 minutes of tactic work a night, and 20 minutes through Jeremy Silman's "Ameture's Mind" book. I'm decently comfortble with my opening choices and I know I theoretically can beat everyone at the tournament (I have beatten all of them about half of the time this year). I'm very confident in my endgames...
so what should I be doing to prepare for this tournament?
Originally posted by c guy1Figuring out what openings your opponents use and coming up with an unsound sac that they won't find the proper defense for in those openings and then pound them into dust 🙂 Seriously, you should just focus on chess and life and fun...worrying about a tourney beforehand is the easiest way to badly at said tourney.
It's my last year in High School, so it is also my last to year to be eligible for a local, free entry, cash prize tournament. I've been doing about 20 minutes of tactic work a night, and 20 minutes through Jeremy Silman's "Ameture's Mind" book. I'm decently comfortble with my opening choices and I know I theoretically can beat everyone at the tournament (I ...[text shortened]... y confident in my endgames...
so what should I be doing to prepare for this tournament?
Originally posted by c guy1Don't forget to turn in your entry to the tournament. 🙂
It's my last year in High School, so it is also my last to year to be eligible for a local, free entry, cash prize tournament. I've been doing about 20 minutes of tactic work a night, and 20 minutes through Jeremy Silman's "Ameture's Mind" book. I'm decently comfortble with my opening choices and I know I theoretically can beat everyone at the tournament (I ...[text shortened]... y confident in my endgames...
so what should I be doing to prepare for this tournament?
When's the tournament?
Originally posted by tomtom232hehe...your probably right...its just that $1200 prize would be helpful for college and stuff...
Figuring out what openings your opponents use and coming up with an unsound sac that they won't find the proper defense for in those openings and then pound them into dust 🙂 Seriously, you should just focus on chess and life and fun...worrying about a tourney beforehand is the easiest way to badly at said tourney.
Originally posted by Mad Rookummm, it's the 28th and 29th of March, but it's actually a scholastic tourny only for people who attend the local high school (some lady died 40 years back with a lot of money and a very giving heart and a will to match!)
Don't forget to turn in your entry to the tournament. 🙂
When's the tournament?
but yeah...note to self: Don't forget to enter!
Originally posted by c guy1I only asked so that the other posters would have an idea as to whether they should give you long-range or short range advice.
ummm, it's the 28th and 29th of March, but it's actually a scholastic tourny only for people who attend the local high school (some lady died 40 years back with a lot of money and a very giving heart and a will to match!)
but yeah...note to self: Don't forget to enter!
Just make sure you get plenty of sleep going into the tourney. Other than that, I'm sure the other people's advice will be better than what I could come up with.
Edit - Well, shut my mouth. I guess it would help if I paid attention to the title of the thread. I think I'll just go and read a book now or something. 😞
Edit 2 - And I can't even claim ADD or anything. Maybe senility?
Originally posted by c guy1The typical advice for one week out is to get decent sleep and exercise, and don't try to do too much chess stuff leading up to the tournament. Some games and tactical puzzles would be OK, but don't go overboard. It might be a good idea to play some games at the same time control as the tournament time control so you can brush up on your time management skills. Maybe review some of the openings that you expect you might play, just to refresh your memory. But at this point, I wouldn't try to learn any heavy theory. Good luck, and have fun!
It's my last year in High School, so it is also my last to year to be eligible for a local, free entry, cash prize tournament. I've been doing about 20 minutes of tactic work a night, and 20 minutes through Jeremy Silman's "Ameture's Mind" book. I'm decently comfortble with my opening choices and I know I theoretically can beat everyone at the tournament (I ...[text shortened]... y confident in my endgames...
so what should I be doing to prepare for this tournament?
Originally posted by vipiueven better - prepare only for the first person you play in the tourney if you know who it is and have their games..I say only the first person you play because I think that you have time between games to prepare for the next opponent(unless this is all in the same day which would be wierd 😕 ) and it allows for a more thorough preparation thus greater chance for victory.
in this week:
prepare one day for your specific opponents openings(if you hae their games)
do not touch chess for the rest of the week!!! (it will help)
Originally posted by tomtom232hmmm...all sound pretty good. I don't know who I'm playing first round, and the lay out is 1 game on friday, 4 on saturday ( g30 i think) with Swiss Paring System.
even better - prepare only for the first person you play in the tourney if you know who it is and have their games..I say only the first person you play because I think that you have time between games to prepare for the next opponent(unless this is all in the same day which would be wierd 😕 ) and it allows for a more thorough preparation thus greater chance for victory.
Originally posted by c guy1Good luck. Just do your 20 minutes of tactics puzzles every day but Thursday and sleep well. Make sure you're wide awake for your games. good luck.
hmmm...all sound pretty good. I don't know who I'm playing first round, and the lay out is 1 game on friday, 4 on saturday ( g30 i think) with Swiss Paring System.
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Originally posted by zebanoi agree with the above poster --- you're well prepared. you should continue your daily chess routine and relax too. Don't think openings are too important unless you're playing the advanced players ( expert level USCF rating ). At any level below, you will find opportunities plentiful, especially since you are well conditioned with your daily tactics. Just remember, you are sharp and well prepared --- you can outplay all your opponents because they haven't prepared as much as you.
Good luck. Just do your 20 minutes of tactics puzzles every day but Thursday and sleep well. Make sure you're wide awake for your games. good luck.
I played 18-20 major tournaments a year every year while I was in high school. I found that you can't cram like it was a final exam. You should be comfortable in your game by now. If you know who your opponents are going to be, take a look at their habits. If one opponent uses their queen predominantly, look to trade queens early and get them out of their game. If they are strong in the openings, but weak on their end games, start swapping off pieces to get to the end game. If their end game is strong and their openings are weak, refrain from trading and try to beat them early.
Second, get plenty of rest the day or two leading up to the tournament. Depending on what your time settings are, you could spend 2-3 hours per match which can be gruelling if you play 6 matches in two-three days.
Third, be prepared for trickery. I had one opponent who I had beaten 5 straight times. When we were going to be matched for a sixth time, he went and ate two cloves of raw garlic right before our match. When our match started, he would lean into the board and exhale in my direction. The smell was horrible. He wouldn't stop after me repeatedly asking him to do so, so I called the tournament director over and protested. The TD made made him go brush his teeth and threatened to forfeit the match if he persisted. The main point I am trying to make is don't get rattled and maintain your focus and you will be fine.
The last thing is eat a good breakfast and carry some decent snack food for quick energy if you start to feel weak or hungry. Also drink plenty of fluid (water would be best to avoid the sugar rushes).
Good luck to you.
Originally posted by shortcircuitwow, I can't believe how pathetic can people get. that's unbelievable.
Third, be prepared for trickery. I had one opponent who I had beaten 5 straight times. When we were going to be matched for a sixth time, he went and ate two cloves of raw garlic right before our match. When our match started, he would lean into the board and exhale in my direction. The smell was horrible. He wouldn't stop after me repeatedly asking him ...[text shortened]... point I am trying to make is don't get rattled and maintain your focus and you will be fine.