How Can I Become A Decent OTB Player? - Chess Forums

codexone

Dec 23, 2015

0

#1

Hi everybody!

I've been playing online for years (Previously ICC) and now Chess.com and I'm looking at making the transition to over the board play.

I'm just starting to take chess seriously (as of last week lol) and I'm hoping to play in a tournament over the next few months.

Based on my Chess.com rating and looking at some of my past games is there anyone willing to offer their opinion on where I'd match up USCF-wise?

I'm just starting to learn a few opening lines, JUST starting to work on my tactics, and I'm just starting to listen to the annotated games of various players with styles similar to what I think my "style" is... (Karpov, Botvinnik, Petrosian).

How does one go about really creating their own lesson plan?

Any advice from people who understand how it may be difficult to "slow down" would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers. :)

u0110001101101000

Dec 23, 2015

0

#2

You may be surprised on the "slowing down" part. I played online for years before going to tournaments. Of course in one minute games I could sometimes play whole games averaging less than one second per move, but in tournament play I struggled with playing too slowly - I often got into time trouble.

One thing was not knowing how to think very efficiently. So I might calculate a few things very quickly, but it wasn't so helpful because in a tournament situation it's more important to be accurate than fast, so I'd end up having to recalculate things over and over looking for any errors. I also didn't have experience in judging (and dismissing) general plans, so I had to rely on calculation more.

Also the desire to improve. When you're trying to play well and improve you'll tend to get into time trouble more than the opposite. This may not be true for you, just on average.

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Same sort of answer for estimating your rating. I recently went to a tournament with a guy who had a 1700 blitz rating here (his first tournament). From his blitz, people expected him to be as high as 1800 USCF, but his performance was a few 100 points lower... I think it's just a matter of experience though before he gets there. You may not "underpreform" this way, but don't set your expectations too high too early :)

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Which leads into the last point. Playing in tournaments regularly and analyzing your games is a big part of improvement. I'm not a titled player and you're not a beginner, so I don't think I can be more specific than that. A coach can help you make a study plan.

Oh, but do consider getting a book on something you haven't read about before (IMO don't bother with an opening book though). For example endgames, strategy, or an annotated game collection.

You may also get some general ideas here:

http://www.chess.com/blog/hicetnunc/resources-for-systematic-training

codexone

Dec 23, 2015

0

#3

0110001101101000 wrote:

You may be surprised on the "slowing down" part. I played online for years before going to tournaments. Of course in one minute games I could sometimes play whole games averaging less than one second per move, but in tournament play I struggled with playing too slowly - I often got into time trouble.

One thing was not knowing how to think very efficiently. So I might calculate a few things very quickly, but it wasn't so helpful because in a tournament situation it's more important to be accurate than fast, so I'd end up having to recalculate things over and over looking for any errors. I also didn't have experience in judging (and dismissing) general plans, so I had to rely on calculation more.

Also the desire to improve. When you're trying to play well and improve you'll tend to get into time trouble more than the opposite. This may not be true for you, just on average.

---------

Same sort of answer for estimating your rating. I recently went to a tournament with a guy who had a 1700 blitz rating here (his first tournament). From his blitz, people expected him to be as high as 1800 USCF, but his performance was a few 100 points lower... I think it's just a matter of experience though before he gets there. You may not "underpreform" this way, but don't set your expectations too high too early :)

-----------

Which leads into the last point. Playing in tournaments regularly and analyzing your games is a big part of improvement. I'm not a titled player and you're not a beginner, so I don't think I can be more specific than that. A coach can help you make a study plan.

Oh, but do consider getting a book on something you haven't read about before (IMO don't bother with an opening book though). For example endgames, strategy, or an annotated game collection.

You may also get some general ideas here:

http://www.chess.com/blog/hicetnunc/resources-for-systematic-training

Thank you and noted...

I'm going to work harder on endgame strategy since I know nothing about them and I'm starting to think that a great understanding of the endgame would shape how I look at everything else.

As for expectations, I'm expecting to play in an u1200 or something like that section for my first tourney. That's pretty much all I'm expecting. lol

Diakonia

Dec 23, 2015

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#4

[COMMENT DELETED]

hhnngg1

Dec 23, 2015

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#5

Here is the link to a fairly recent poll for where you USCF rating would be

http://www.chess.com/blog/smarterchess/chesscom-rating-comparison-2015

At 1700 blitz rating here, you will CRUSH 1200s OTB at any time control. Don't believe anyone who says otherwise - it won't even be close. Most 1200 UCSF players can't even play bullet at all (because they're too slow and not good enough) let alone play it at 1800 level.

According to that poll, you will be about 1856 UCSF. You'll probably end up a little lower than that for a short bit until you get used to the longer time control, but you won't be 1200.

codexone

Dec 23, 2015

0

#6

Diakonia wrote:

After reviewing some of your games I would place you at USCF Class C player.

You drop pieces, so work on tactics.

You lack the ability to develop a middlegame plan - get a good middlegame book. Chess Training for Post-beginners: A Basic Course in Positional Understanding.

Yaroslav Srokovski

Your endgame play needs work, but whos doesnt?

Study tactics....tactics...tactics...

Lay off the speed chess, and get accustomed to longer tournament time controls.

I don't know how to develop plans?

Okay.

lol...

With all due respect, advice from people that are actually stronger than me is probably more appropriate.

codexone

Dec 23, 2015

0

#7

hhnngg1 wrote:

Here is the link to a fairly recent poll for where you USCF rating would be

http://www.chess.com/blog/smarterchess/chesscom-rating-comparison-2015

At 1700 blitz rating here, you will CRUSH 1200s OTB at any time control. Don't believe anyone who says otherwise - it won't even be close. Most 1200 UCSF players can't even play bullet at all (because they're too slow and not good enough) let alone play it at 1800 level.

According to that poll, you will be about 1856 UCSF. You'll probably end up a little lower than that for a short bit until you get used to the longer time control, but you won't be 1200.

that's flattering, but I'm wondering if people play stronger slower and I'm just better at thinking quickly than the average person at my skill level.

Thank you for the share though, that's very interesting...

I should add that I'm not worried about the rating as much as I am learning how to think and improve my game while playing over the board.

I'm starting to feel like I know enough to know that I'm woefully ignorant.

Diakonia

Dec 23, 2015

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#8

[COMMENT DELETED]

codexone

Dec 24, 2015

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#9

Diakonia wrote:

[COMMENT DELETED]

LOL

So you go on this diatribe about how I have an ego too obstinant to learn from you because you're stronger than me?

But, when I look over your games you're getting manhandled by 1200-1500s?

I really wish you didn't delete those comments.

NM Zigwurst

Dec 24, 2015

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#10

You should be at least 1600, so don't play in a u1200. Play more like a u1800 or u2000 and that should be better for you, if there's an option for that.

codexone

Dec 24, 2015

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#11

Zigwurst wrote:

You should be at least 1600, so don't play in a u1200. Play more like a u1800 or u2000 and that should be better for you, if there's an option for that.

What about feeling like I lack fundementals?

I don't know the names of more than (maybe) 10 openings...

I definitely don't know more than 3-5 ending names.

I still haven't bothered to look up the London System after hearing it mentioned a few times in the past days.

Should I even worry about building an opening repitoire, aside from playing my usual 3-5 openings?

Maybe u1200 is too low, but how should one go about going from essentially a haphazard online player to someone with a solid foundation?

I'm considering looking at the game like a beginner and working my way through as many lessons as possible from beginner to expert. Similar to how someone who's experienced in one martial art would still start from the bottom of a ranking system in another.

Robert_New_Alekhine

Dec 24, 2015

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#12

Become A Decent OTB Player.

DrSpudnik

Dec 24, 2015

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#13

Don't drop any pieces!

u0110001101101000

Dec 24, 2015

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#14

codexone wrote:

I'm going to work harder on endgame strategy since I know nothing about them and I'm starting to think that a great understanding of the endgame would shape how I look at everything else.

I keep hearing good things about this book (maybe you've heard of it)
http://www.amazon.com/Endgame-Strategy-Everyman-Mikhail-Shereshevsky/dp/1857440633

I bought it, but haven't read it yet

codexone

Dec 25, 2015

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#15

Lasker1900 wrote:

Don't worry about knowing the names of end games or even openings, they don't really matter that much. Play as carefully and accurately as you can and you will be fine. And don't worry about lacking a Foundation! Everyone below master has a game riddled with weaknesses. I know I do! Some player talk a good game, but if they were really that good, their ratings would show it.

Above all, think of you first OTB tournament as just that--your first. One of the reasons you're playing is to get a sense of where you are in your chess development,and what you need to work on. If you do horribly,so what? You will have many opportunities to do better.

And have fun!

Very true... thanks for the reply

codexone

Dec 25, 2015

0

#16

MorraMeister wrote:

slow OTB time controls are very different.

The type of crappy trappy stuff that works on here will get you crushed in slow OTB chess. (For example the Nxf7 sacs, or the stuff like the Englund Gambit 1. d4 e5 and other crap).

Before playing at the club, I would try to get a few practice games at slower controls on here as well. Here is how I would do it, I would set up a full size board for the purposes of playing your games. Then try a game/60 or game/90 time control on chess.com. study the position on the large board and move the pieces on it. then copy the move on your computer. Get used to looking at a large three dimensional board.

There are a couple of reasons for this 1) if you have played primarily blitz you will find yourself tense with the slow pace. you might get impatient and move too quickly. YOu need to train yourself to slow way down. 2) the reason for playing on a full size board is you need to train your mind's eye, and your peripheral vision to see a larger board.

Playing on this webiste, your eye gets used to focusing and being able to take in nearly the whole board at a glance. you will be surprised playing a full sized tournament board. Your eye cannot take in the whole board with just the center of your eye. You will find yourself looking around from the center to the corners, etc. Be very aware of missing tactics on the long diagnoals in particular.

Just my two cents worth. GOOD LUCK!

Very interesting, I should start playing as much skittles as I can to work on my board vision.

codexone

Dec 25, 2015

0

#17

0110001101101000 wrote:

codexone wrote:

I'm going to work harder on endgame strategy since I know nothing about them and I'm starting to think that a great understanding of the endgame would shape how I look at everything else.

I keep hearing good things about this book (maybe you've heard of it)
http://www.amazon.com/Endgame-Strategy-Everyman-Mikhail-Shereshevsky/dp/1857440633

I bought it, but haven't read it yet

Thank you, I may have to check that out. :)

Ziryab

Dec 25, 2015

0

#18

My peak USCF is just under 2000. I'm not certain that I could explain the London system without reference materials, but I can name and show you the critical lines in a dozen variations of the French Defense. There are 1400ish OTB players who can name every obscure opening, but their positional sense proves inadequate for finding the correct moves. There are 1900ish OTB players who can be equal against a master 25 moves deep in their pet opening, but will falter in an elementary rook ending.

You will find the OTB players drop pieces and open themselves to simple two move tactics far less often than your online blitz opponents.

You'll do okay, but you likely will make egregious blunders that will have you kicking yourself. Blame blitz when it happens. The thinking process in slow OTB chess is more positional. I recommend a good middlegame book if you want to prepare yourself. Romanovsky, or Keres and Kotov, or Stean.

There's no reliable way to predict your skill level from your blitz rating here. 1700 here translates to anything 1300-2000 OTB. It depends on several factors.

Jenium

Dec 25, 2015

0

#19

Having a 1700 blitz rating here means that your OTB strength would be around 1900 USCF ... maybe a bit lower because you are not used to the slow time control and 3D boards... So you are already a decent OTB player.

Anyway, sooner or later every chess game is being decided around move 30 in time trouble ;)

codexone

Dec 25, 2015

0

#20

Ziryab wrote:

My peak USCF is just under 2000. I'm not certain that I could explain the London system without reference materials, but I can name and show you the critical lines in a dozen variations of the French Defense. There are 1400ish OTB players who can name every obscure opening, but their positional sense proves inadequate for finding the correct moves. There are 1900ish OTB players who can be equal against a master 25 moves deep in their pet opening, but will falter in an elementary rook ending.

You will find the OTB players drop pieces and open themselves to simple two move tactics far less often than your online blitz opponents.

You'll do okay, but you likely will make egregious blunders that will have you kicking yourself. Blame blitz when it happens. The thinking process in slow OTB chess is more positional. I recommend a good middlegame book if you want to prepare yourself. Romanovsky, or Keres and Kotov, or Stean.

There's no reliable way to predict your skill level from your blitz rating here. 1700 here translates to anything 1300-2000 OTB. It depends on several factors.

Thank you, I'm noting all of that. I'm going to try and only play complete games w/ a real board from now on...