I've never entered a real tournament, but when I eventually get good enough I plan to.
At my small little JSS here in Iraq they've held a couple of chess tournaments, who's participants are mostly talented "casual players"
I won both of them. But both times in game 1 I experienced severe nervousness that affected my play. I don't know why I get so nervous because it's not even a serious tournament. In the first one the prize was a rubber ball. In the first one my first game was against a guy I always soundly beat with little effort. But I kept making stupid moves and I got caught being on defense for much of the game.
Last night I struggled in game one but squeeked by with a win. He was a decent player though (compaired to my own skill level). Game two the nerves were gone and I dominated.
Is this normal, and what are the best ways to deal with it?
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperso you could watch all of them fight each other for it?
LOL! That actually made me laugh. I ended up giving it to an Iraqi guy who has five kids.
as for being nervous...I feel your pain. I am the same way but I've kind of taught myself to just take a deep breathe and as soon as I think I have found the move to play I stop, take another breathe and try to find something better or if you find what you think is a good move but you cant calculate it out far enough to see whether you have an adv or equality, then don't make the move.
I know the tourney's I've played in over here in Iraq at the MWR's have not been timed so if it's the same, don't ever feel like you have to make a move.
Originally posted by tmstwrt88Are you deployed, too? Which FOB or JSS are you at?
so you could watch all of them fight each other for it?
as for being nervous...I feel your pain. I am the same way but I've kind of taught myself to just take a deep breathe and as soon as I think I have found the move to play I stop, take another breathe and try to find something better or if you find what you think is a good move but you cant calculat ...[text shortened]... 's have not been timed so if it's the same, don't ever feel like you have to make a move.
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperI eat a package of Rolaids and go to the bathroom about 6 times during every OTB tournament game.
I've never entered a real tournament, but when I eventually get good enough I plan to.
At my small little JSS here in Iraq they've held a couple of chess tournaments, who's participants are mostly talented "casual players"
I won both of them. But both times in game 1 I experienced severe nervousness that affected my play. I don't know why I ere gone and I dominated.
Is this normal, and what are the best ways to deal with it?
- Joined
- 07 Jun 05
- Moves
- 5301
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperI'd say it is normal. And just like everything else, the best thing is practice!
Is this normal, and what are the best ways to deal with it?
Play lots of games OTB, and they stop being so difficult. Play lots of games with
a clock, and you will find yourself reaching for it when you just play a casual match.
The thing I like about chess, is that even after a hard day, if I am playing a serious
game, my mind is 100% on 64 squares, and rarely wanders. I think this helps other
things too.
And then a tournament game becomes just another game.
This is what happens to all tournament newcomers. My advice is to play in as many tournaments as you can (and really, there is no "good enough" level to play tournaments- no matter what you will find opponents around your level, so you should play as soon as you get the chance), and eventually you will get used to the seriousness of it and the experience, and soon you will be much more calm and composed during tournament games.
my advice is to enjoy it, enjoy the occasion, enjoy the challenge, enjoy looking at the board and forming ideas, enjoy being creative, all in all, enjoy it! failing that, get the U.S. Army to make a provision of a neat little bottle of single malt and have a wee dram before the game, not too much that it dulls the senses, but just enough to take the edge off them nerves!
Originally posted by chesskid001Yup this is the bottom line.
This is what happens to all tournament newcomers. My advice is to play in as many tournaments as you can (and really, there is no "good enough" level to play tournaments- no matter what you will find opponents around your level, so you should play as soon as you get the chance), and eventually you will get used to the seriousness of it and the experience, and soon you will be much more calm and composed during tournament games.
I'd only add try to get a sense of perspective. Losing a chess game is not the worst fate that can befall a person. Think about the risks you run every day.
If you lose ... so what? There's always the next round or the next tournament. (I know this is easier to write than think but it's true ultimately).
Dealing with nerves or OTB stress in anyway other than just getting used to it with experience will be counter productive in the long run.
- Joined
- 20 Jan 07
- Moves
- 24603
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperI know the feeling well. Before evening league games i start to get worked up about a day before the game. can't concentrate , loss of appetite and intermittent butterflies in the stomach. It's actually quite unpleasent and i was asking myself for much of last season if it was worth carrying on with the OTB games if that was the effect it was going to have.
I've never entered a real tournament, but when I eventually get good enough I plan to.
At my small little JSS here in Iraq they've held a couple of chess tournaments, who's participants are mostly talented "casual players"
I won both of them. But both times in game 1 I experienced severe nervousness that affected my play. I don't know why I ...[text shortened]... ere gone and I dominated.
Is this normal, and what are the best ways to deal with it?
The thing is once i start to play i'm usually fine after about move 5 or 6 and i really start to concentrate and get in to the game.
I've come to the conclusion that chess is a battle and the body must somehow subconciously respond accordingly almost as if you were about to enter a real fight.
Of course you are a real warrior and in no way am i trying to say that playing a game of chess compares to actually puting your life in danger on the front line but hopefully you appreciate what i'm saying.
It's nice to know i'm not alone. it's quite amusing however to think of a US army killing machine getting nervous about a game of chess!!