How do you not get fatigued during long OTB time controls?

Hey guys, I'll be doing my first FIDE-rated tournament in a few weeks. It features G90;+30 (which is a relatively long time compared to what I usually play, G30;+5) and I feel like I may get burnt out or just mentally numb in the middle of the game. I find it hard to concentrate for  a long period of time on chess, and I always need something to think of to keep me moving. How should I prepare in advance? Also, if anyone has tips on actually training before the tournament would be greatly appreciated

you are more rated than me

can you help m e get my uscf rating up?

its now 794

If its only a few weeks out it might be too late. Burnout in longer times is a big issue and like a marathon, you need to start prepping well in advance. I guess my recommendation is to not prep too hard the week going in, because the fatigue will wear on you more if you do.

As a 1800 USCF OTB, the strategy is to bring foods with lots of potassium or calcium like bananas or chocolate milk, as these boost your energy level. If you can't or are not allowed too, you could take breaks during the game to wash your face with water if you think you won't need all 90 minutes, which you probably won't since you are used to 30 +5.

You don't need to spend all your time thinking; 90 minutes is a lot of time, especially for someone who isn't used to playing games that long. You can walk around, idly look at other games, or just zone out at the board. Staying invested in the game is more important than being 100% efficient with your time, so don't force yourself to concentrate the whole time. Think when necessary, relax when it's not.

Would you reccommend caffeinated foods in the morning? Otherwise I’ll probably just have a K/Ca heavy breakfast.

Thanks for the replies! I’m still quite unsure of whether to literally study everyday, or just keep my normal chess routine leading up to the event. Just wanna do good in the tournament and come out satisfied

IDK about the caffeine because I am 12, and another Typewriter did make a good point, but you probably should not look at other peoples games because it might cause you to start to think about their game instead of yours.

I think caffain makes you sleepy

I played in the National Open in Las Vegas this summer. Time controls were G90 + 15 secs. 7 games in 4 days. You should occasionally take a break. Get up and walk around a bit. Go get a glass of water or go to the bathroom if you need to do so. After the tournament, I returned home but it took me a week or more to recover from the mental fatigue.

Caffeine does not make you sleepy. It is a stimulant so it will help you if you have a cup of coffee before your game or even during your game. It is also a diuretic and will cause you to go to the bathroom more frequently, so keep that in mind.

me personally, i drink lots of water during the tournament games, so i have to go to the bathroom a lot, which then makes me energized because i usually have to run to the bathrooms. But in all seriousness, I usually bring chocolate to the game in case i get hungry or tired, but if you are just really tired, hoenstly, take a small break and lay your head down on the table for 5-10 minutes while ur opponent is thinking, definitely helps me.

wait, if it makes you sleepy then why would you drink it in the morning to wake you up?(assumption, I think caffein is disgusting, no offense)

bro? as a 2100 uscf player this does not work

My strategy is to just walk around a good amount. Glance at other games while your opponent is taking his turn. This has always helped me as sometimes you can get jittery just sitting there. Do NOT drink coffee before a game, as I've seen people get more jittery doing this. Water is the best drink you can have before a game because it will calm you down and it is healthy. Never eat a big meal as it is proven that can make you tired.

Also like a breakfast bar will help you

General tips like getting good sleep, taking occasional breaks to walk around the room, and drinking water should help. In truth, it's not easy. Building that stamina and mental discipline takes a lot of hard work and experience, but you should get better at it the more you play (and it's good for you too in other areas).

The only thing that will help with OTB fatigue is regular cardiovascular exercise.

I try to minimize caloric intake.... specifically sugar. Probably different for different folks but I seem to get brain fog after a meal..... being slightly hungry seems to help my cognitive ability. But I've only played in 2 tournaments and the longest one was 45 mins per side.

As far as preparation, I myself like puzzles/tactics. Like the ones in Calculation and Carlsen Hansens chess tactics books. Both of those books are challenging and gets the brain thinking.

i usually chug water and have to go to to the restroom a lot. also having a snack in the middle of the game and a morning run works well too

Am I allowed to eat while playing in USCF?