For my first OTB tournament in over a year, I can’t complain about the result. But when I got home and reviewed my games, I found the quality of my play was uneven. I found some good moves in key moments, but also had some head-scratching misses. I’m also thinking ahead to my next tournament. For my first tournament back, I decided to play in the ALTO (at least twenty one) tournament in Charlotte because it has a looser social vibe. But for my next tournament, I’ll likely choose a conventional open tournament. And let’s be honest: things are going to get tougher once the kids get involved. With all that in mind, here are the three biggest things I’m going to change after my OTB tournament.
Kind words much appreciated Nate. Excellent idea to stop 30 minutes before the round. I'd say that on average, people under-estimate the level of relaxation needed between games and the level on intensity needed during the game. Some people also sacrifice sleep for prep, that can be a problem, but also not preparing is anxiogenic! But one hour of sleep >>>> one hour of prep
I’m convinced when playing OTB there’s some kind of mental connection between the two players. I get a feel for what they might play and somehow that limits the options I consider. When you looked back at your games do you think your “head scratchers” were due to something like that?
What to do when opponents are taking a very long time to think is a really good question: "I wasn’t sure what to do – walk around, sit at the board, try to calculate, daydream?"
I settled on "walk around" + "daydream". I used to feel slightly guilty for not using every available second to calculate, then got annoyed when opponents played something I hadn't considered as a candidate move and I'd spent all that energy for nothing. After googling this dilemma, I found many strong players might briefly look for positional aspects like possible pawn configurations in the endgame, but apart from that they just chill and take a break.
That worked well for me in my recent tournaments and league games; I just walk around and get a bit of fresh air if possible. It seems I'm much more relaxed and focused than my opponents who seldom leave the board, particularly in long games.
You do have to be ready to readjust though if your opponent is of the opposite type (i.e., makes their move quickly and then glares at you).
You see? I told you to play the Gruenfeld and you chose the Shankland Semi-Slav.
For this you won the tournament :D
BTW, someone knows something about Sam Shankland? With all this fuzz of prodigies upsetting the Elite there is no news of him. I guess he will show up in the US Champ.
I also am getting ready to resume OTB tourney play after about a year off. I’ve bought your 1.Nf3 Chessable course, I’m warming up with Chess960 games, doing failure analysis on tactical puzzles I didn’t solve, and trying to become a more prophylactic player a la Karpov/Kramnik.
Maybe some day I will play in another open tournament here in the US. They are truly exhausting so I need to get in better physical shape. Nice to read your experiences. BTW, I came close to beating Graham Horobetz once in an open tournament. It was a closed Ruy Lopez... Breyer-like from an Anti-Marshal-ish kind of thingy
Kind words much appreciated Nate. Excellent idea to stop 30 minutes before the round. I'd say that on average, people under-estimate the level of relaxation needed between games and the level on intensity needed during the game. Some people also sacrifice sleep for prep, that can be a problem, but also not preparing is anxiogenic! But one hour of sleep >>>> one hour of prep
I’m convinced when playing OTB there’s some kind of mental connection between the two players. I get a feel for what they might play and somehow that limits the options I consider. When you looked back at your games do you think your “head scratchers” were due to something like that?
What to do when opponents are taking a very long time to think is a really good question: "I wasn’t sure what to do – walk around, sit at the board, try to calculate, daydream?"
I settled on "walk around" + "daydream". I used to feel slightly guilty for not using every available second to calculate, then got annoyed when opponents played something I hadn't considered as a candidate move and I'd spent all that energy for nothing. After googling this dilemma, I found many strong players might briefly look for positional aspects like possible pawn configurations in the endgame, but apart from that they just chill and take a break.
That worked well for me in my recent tournaments and league games; I just walk around and get a bit of fresh air if possible. It seems I'm much more relaxed and focused than my opponents who seldom leave the board, particularly in long games.
You do have to be ready to readjust though if your opponent is of the opposite type (i.e., makes their move quickly and then glares at you).
You see? I told you to play the Gruenfeld and you chose the Shankland Semi-Slav.
For this you won the tournament :D
BTW, someone knows something about Sam Shankland? With all this fuzz of prodigies upsetting the Elite there is no news of him. I guess he will show up in the US Champ.
I also am getting ready to resume OTB tourney play after about a year off. I’ve bought your 1.Nf3 Chessable course, I’m warming up with Chess960 games, doing failure analysis on tactical puzzles I didn’t solve, and trying to become a more prophylactic player a la Karpov/Kramnik.
Maybe some day I will play in another open tournament here in the US. They are truly exhausting so I need to get in better physical shape. Nice to read your experiences. BTW, I came close to beating Graham Horobetz once in an open tournament. It was a closed Ruy Lopez... Breyer-like from an Anti-Marshal-ish kind of thingy
Event "Pawn Power Open 14"]
[Site "Memphis Chess Club"]
[Date "2017.04.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Horobetz, Graham"]
[Black "Price, Tyrin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2286"]
[BlackElo "1791"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.h3 d6 9.c3 Nb8 10.a4 Bb7 11.d3 Nbd7 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Qxa8 17.Ng5 d5 18.Qe2 h6 19.Nf3 c5 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 22.Nd2 Bg7 23.Nge4 Re6 24.c4 Qc6 25.b3 b4 26.Bb2 Nh5 27.Nf3 f5 28.Ned2 Nf4 29.Qf1 Qd6 30.Re3 Kf7 31.g3 Nh5 32.Qd1 Nb8 33.Nh4 Nf6 34.Ng2 Nc6 35.Qa1 Nd4 36.Bxd4 exd4 37.Rxe6 Qxe6 38.Nf4 Qe7 39.Kf1 g5 40.Ng2 Nd7 41.Qa8 Ne5 42.Ne1 g4 43.hxg4 Nxg4 44.Ndf3 Bf6 45.Ng2 Bg5 46.Qd5+ Kg6 47.Ngh4+ Kh5 48.Qxf5 Qf6 49.Qxc5 1-0