How to Handle/Accept Pressure
Hey Impressive Chessers!
This blog is all about pressure, and boy, do people have a lot to say on this subject!
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“Pressure is a privilege. It only comes to those who earn it.” — Billie Jean King
Embrace the Challenge
Instead of viewing pressure as a threat, see it as a challenge. This mindset shift helps you stay calm and focused. Every great chess player faces pressure, it’s part of what makes their victories so impressive. Don’t forget that your opponent feels pressure too, and the winner is often the player who handles it better.
“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” — Bruce Lee
Focus on the Process, Not the Result
Worrying about the result only adds pressure. Concentrate on making practical moves and trust your training. When I play in over-the-board (OTB) tournaments, I treat them like study sessions rather than competitions. You can’t recreate tournament pressure at home, so use these moments to learn and improve, just “let it rip!” Play your best so you have valuable material to study later.
“You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.” — Chadwick Boseman
Manage Your Time Wisely
Time pressure is one of the most common stressors in chess. Avoid severe time trouble by managing your clock carefully. Use your time to think during critical moments, but don’t overthink straightforward moves. Consistently avoiding time pressure will help you gain more points in the long run. (This is definitely a “do as I say, not as I do” situation—though I worked on this during my last tournament and only faced worse time pressure in my final game!)
“There is a lot of pressure put on me, but I don't put a lot of pressure on myself. I feel if I play my game, it will take care of itself.” — LeBron James
Stay Calm and Breathe
Steady breathing helps calm your nerves. If your heart races, take a few slow, deep breaths. When your opponent moves and hits the clock, calmly write down their move and the time. This quick action (about 10 seconds) not only calms your mind but also reinforces the position in your brain, allowing you to think with a clear head.
The No Draw Offer/Acceptance Strategy
After about a year of playing tournaments, I started receiving more draw offers from higher-rated players (usually 1800-2300). I’d spend five minutes deciding whether to accept—but now, as a coach, I know how absurd that is. My advice: decline every draw offer and never offer one yourself. Why?
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If your opponent offers a draw, they likely feel insecure about their position.
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If you offer a draw, your opponent will only accept if their position is bad. Otherwise, they’ll know you’re unsure.
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Even if the position is drawn, you’re missing the opportunity to practice holding your ground under pressure. Demonstrating why a position is drawn is invaluable—it’s experience no amount of studying can replicate.
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Being able to take your chances in drawn endgames (remember they are only drawn with best play) is one of the best ways to improve your chess skills but also your rating.
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And finally, if you make a pact with yourself to never accept draws, when your opponent offers one, you won't have to waste any time to politely decline. Also you never have to waste any energy/time worrying about whether it's an appropriate time to offer a draw; it never is!
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My First Tournament as an Original Life Master (OLM)
On Sunday, February 16th, I played in the 2025 SCCF Inter-Club Championship.
I earned the Original Life Master (OLM) title in 2024 after playing 300 rated games above 2200. This title comes with a 2200 ratings floor, meaning I can play OTB games with less pressure since my rating can’t drop below 2200. I hope this freedom will help me follow my own advice, playing with confidence and analyzing my games afterward with no regrets. This mindset helped me become a National Master (NM) in the first place. (Check out my previous blog for more on letting go of pressure to become a NM: www.chess.com/blog/NMChesstoImpress/study-the-classics-openings.)
Full Games Annotated
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3: I had a Bye, No Game
Round 4
Conclusion
Pressure is inevitable in chess, but it doesn’t have to be your downfall. By embracing challenges, focusing on the process, managing your time, treating every move as a chance to calm down, and learning from experience, you can turn pressure into a source of strength; and you’ll surely…
…Stay impressive!
NM Craig C.
linktr.ee/ChessToImpress
