Advice for OTB

Hello everyone on July 10th I'm most likely going to play in my first OTB tournament and was wondering if anyone had any advice?

That's actually pretty good advice imo

Hi @ricorat, that sounds fun, all the best! I wouldn't mind playing some 10+5 games with you for practice! What's the time control for your tournament?

If you happen to know your opponent's chess.com/lichess.org username, you can use OpeningTree to look at their most-played moves. It really helps!

G/45 is the time control. The good thing is that I play a lot of 30|0 so I'm used to longer time controls. Also I would love to play some training games! Maybe tomorrow though as I have a headache right now.

Get some rest before the OTB event.  The brain can tire out a bit as the game(s) go on --- rest and exercise are the best ways to remain fully alert throughout.

That is a great idea! The only problem is this tournament is 4 games in 1 day so I don't know how much time I will have in between rounds but, if I have time I will do some prep

Sure, just let me know!

Hope your headache gets better soon.

I see, that's quite a tough schedule. Don't stress out too much, just play your best, and I wish you all the best in getting your NM title! (Your chess.com status, haha)

Yes I will need a good night of sleep and maybe get some exercise (like pushups)  before the tournament.

Lol I would be very lucky if I got NM in my first tournament. I figure this will be a practice tournament to see how I like OTB and I will try not to stress to much!

What kind of OTB tournament? What time control? How many rounds?
Up to July 9th play everyday a training game with the same time control.

It’s a USCF rated tournament at the park. The time control is G/45. The tournament consists of 4 rounds. Round 1 is at 10:00 AM, round 2 is at 12:00 AM, round 3 is at 03:00 PM, and round 4 is at 05:00 PM. It is taking place in coeur d'alene idaho

I recommend just having fun and trying to take in the experience of the OTB atmosphere

It takes a while to adjust to OTB, but it can be fun once you get used to it (might take a month or so though)

#15
"It’s a USCF rated tournament at the park. The time control is G/45. The tournament consists of 4 rounds. Round 1 is at 10:00 AM, round 2 is at 12:00 AM, round 3 is at 03:00 PM, and round 4 is at 05:00 PM. "

Then play each day a training game G/45.
Arrange for a light meal after game 2. Drink between round. Are there toilet facilities at the park?
Pushups will not help you. Chess needs no muscle. However, running, cycling, swimming, tennis may help growing stamina to keep up concentration throughout the day.
Preparation is useless. 4 games means 2 white and 2 black, presumably 1 e4 and 1 d4.

lets play one game daily if you want. 9am phillipines time.

I think that OTB chess is much more brutal. I have had opponents stare me down after I have declined a draw, slamming pieces down when they are attacking, resign by swiping their arm across the board and walking away etc., If anything untoward happens, you have to laugh it off.

The main things that online players suffer from initially coming to OTB chess are filling in scoresheets (move list) which is compulsory, and operating the clock because these things are done for you online. Definitely practice these with someone before hand.

If you forget to press your clock after a move, your opponent is unlikely to make you aware, he will sit there for an inordinately long time until you realise and then pretend to look surprised when you eventually do.

It is also worth reading through the FIDE rules for example:

- If you touch a piece, you are obliged to move it if you can do so legally (you have to announce "j'adoube" if you want to tidy a piece on its square)

- If you touch an opponent's piece, you are obliged to capture it if you can legally do so.

- If you castle by moving the rook first, your opponent has every right to deny you moving the king and will likely do so.

- You can be penalised time by moving incorrectly, which includes things like not using the same hand to press the clock that you moved the piece with.

etc.

The upside is that it is a massively more rewarding form of chess and you will never look back.

Good luck.

Get a good night's sleep before you go, eat a decent breakfast and make sure you're hydrated - it helps with concentration. Brush up on some tactics the morning of the event and, most of all, enjoy yourself.