Blogs
Everyday I'm struggling... OTB

Everyday I'm struggling... OTB

Avatar of Bletchlypark
Bletchlypark
| 2

Been a bit over a month since I posted so I guess it's time for an update. 

 

I got my USCF membership and have started to play real OTB rated games. My results have been a bit mixed, I won one game against a nearly 1600 opponent and this last Monday lost all 3 of my games and just couldn't see anything OTB. My provisional rating after 9 games is 996 which isn't terrible to start I guess but surly not where I want to be. 

 

My self diagnosed weakness is the ability to calculate and visualize in rated OTB conditions. I seem to be doing much better when playing online in 2D vs 3D OTB under similar time controls. Naturally part of it is also nerves and the rated game experience. 

 

I have selected two games for this post which I think highlight my online play vs my OTB rated play and I am hoping from being honest about my problems I can improve them. 

 

Game # 1 online:

 

Game #2 OTB rated. 

 

 
So what is going on here? Clearly I see a lot more on the computer screen then OTB. Also I am having a difficult time dealing with the experience of playing live rated games IRL. The only cure I think is to play more OTB and practice OTB! No more tactics on a computer screen I'm setting them up on the real thing. I'm also starting a group at work to play casual games once a week. I am also going to discuss it with my coach and see what he thinks.
 
I also seem to have this addiction problem to playing correspondence games here on chess.com. I enter these tournaments with like 10 games going on at once and it takes away from my productive chess time but maybe I will discuss that in a later blog post.    
Blogs

Road to Improvement

Bletchlypark
Bletchlypark
John
Nashville
All Blogs
Top Bloggers

I write about my experiences trying to go from beginner, to tournament player and maybe someday expert or master. I post many of my own games usually losses I can learn from. I also share my plan to improve at chess.