Are you scared of OTB Chess?

No offense but are you antisocial o.o?

If not...

How was it intimidating exactly?

You just have to let go of all these misconceptions and just play. Tune everything else out. Try to minimize the psychological impact by just thinking about the board. Get up from the board and walk around if you have to...

From rural area I find it kind of strange myself. Here of people talking about all the difference computers have made but to me its really the only way to play and seems strange otherwise.

Too many hackers, in my opinion.

Even Sony gets hacked big-time.

Back to the question:

Scared? No

Antsy and unable to see any tactics at all? Yes.

Play friends. Look at the board.  Go for a walk during the game.  99.9% of your otb opponents won't cheat.  And confrontation is not a scary thing, not at all, in fact, it can be a great pleasure.

To the OP...your anxiety is normal.

I just wish more people in my life played chess. Playing against a live person is what chess is really all about. Computer chess is OK...but the real-life drama is missing.

In person, chess is a humiliating game for everyone starting out. But so is golf, tennis, billiards, etc. That's why some people attempt these endeavors and drop out...forever. They can't stand losing or looking foolish.

We just need to "suck it up" and vow to study and practice to get better. What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger...old pithy.

You are not alone you've got plenty of company all those teflon players online with 2900-4560 ratings nothing sticks to have a big phobia of face to face chess too.

give youre opponent a good glare, not a stare where you dont blink but a glare where you stare vaugely just beyond thier eyes and if you blunder over exagerate, i managed to act a guy out of making the mating move in this meathod even though he had his hands about to touch the pieces, i later won

@ Fezzik I can see how it would be stressful and all at your level seeing that your an Expert/2000+...

But at the OP's level im not sure. You don't have to prepare many lines or anything. Just have to play, train tactics.

When I play John, he often looks at me as if he hates me, and so he does because I create problems for his fantasy of winning every game. After the game, we go back to being friends even when he talks about how stupid his play was when he loses.

I wish I could play more OTB.  Online chess makes me kinda sad.

Therein lies the difference between casual and tournament games; Stress makes it all the more intense, exciting, fun. Intimidation? Pile it on. Fear? Breathe it in. Dizziness? All the better. Embrace the flow of blood, adrenaline, insanity through your brain and play the game; Focus. Chess is a fight; Fight.

There comes that moment when I know that I'm winning and I can feel my heart trying to beat its way through my ribcage. I keep the defibrillator handy for such moments.

I feel sorry for people who only play online and not otb just as I do people who only have sex online or " phone sex "...... they are cheating themselves out of a far greater experience with the " real thing" !  ( not talking about coca-cola here )  

There is no comparison where the fun/rush factor is concerned... its OTB that I get more fun/rush/satisfaction out of. Its very difficult for me to take online chess seriously for many reasons, reasons which do not exist in otb chess. I probably play a higher quality game in online turn based chess because I can take so much time and use books and databases and such.... but so do my opponents ! I simply cannot beat the guys online that are using Rybka/Shredder/Fritz and other strong engines either so since I never know for certain who is , or isnt, using them I don't take online chess seriously.... only OTB chess is " real " for me. 

Another thing is the social factor...... in my life I have met hundreds , maybe thousands of people that I never would have met thanks to otb chess/tournaments and a few have become close, lifelong friends. This is something else missing from online play. Its also fun/interesting to socialise with other chess players...... people who share my " addiction " ! So much of this is missing from online play that online play is far less appealing, at least for me. If I had to give up either otb chess or online play for some reason , the choice wouldnt be difficult for me. 

Playing OTB, is what Chess is about, t'is you & your opponent, it's a friggin' war, one gets one hell of an adrenaline rush, but there's always that wee question mark in yar head, " am I able " yo!

my dad as got social phobia and anxiety he plays me and my brother otb but cannot play any one out side how house. he as trouble entering buildings to he dont like people standing near or around him. he as ad treatment for this and been put on medication for this he just cannot cope with hes panic attacks this is why he as never got any better at chess.

Second the motion. I also suggest that if this is not your only problem in dealing with people in person you talk to a family doctor or psychologist if you can afford to. If you can relate to people in person away from the chessboard concentrate on playing online and/or via email and try solving this problem gradually - or just forget about OTB chess.