How do you improve in classical chess?

I have a fairly important OTB tournament in a week, and the time control is somewhere around 2 hours (I'm not 100% sure yet). I was wondering if any of you have some tips on how to improve at such a long time control. Thanks!

Okay. Thanks!

Thanks

Good Luck!

I don't have much experience with long time controls, but my tip is obvious: Take your time with every move, to prevent any chance of blunders. Take your time with even a seemingly normal positions.

Agreed. 

Good luck!

The way you improve in classical chess is by studying the classics. Looking at games of masters with their notes and what they were thinking and how they treat the position after the opening and their plans and strategies.

Learn notation if you don't know, take your sweet time before every move, don't touch your piece unless you're 100% sure of your move. After your opponent moves, before even thinking about what you want to do,  try to understand why they just moved that piece. 

When you find a good move, look for a better one (sup lasker)

Look for checks, captures and threats, have a mental checklist if nothing is hanging etc etc before every move. I never really played but I'm assuming it goes something like that lol you know the usual we tell people when they're starting, but I guess you already know that cuz you're pretty high-rated so just don't rush and try and prep something in the opening if you know who you're playing

Good luck

Don't play much online. Rather focus on on-board preparation.

I think online is very important though.

Playing blitz and bullet is good for sharpening your tactics, but to improve your strategy (which gets more important with longer time controls), you should study master games that feature openings in your repertoire and try to understand the midgame plans, pawn structures, and piece dynamics, important squares to control, etc.

Also, work on endgames! Think about it this way - after a 3 or 4 hour game of finding difficult moves and doing a lot of calculation, the last thing your brain wants to do is think more in the endgame (so it's a good idea to know some general ideas and patterns which would allow you to play somewhat in "auto pilot", which is especially helpful when you're low on time - which happens a lot in endgames). A lot of players blunder in endgames in tournaments simply because they're tired of having to think so much already!

First—make sure you fully understand the time controls (first & second controls) as they may change over the course of the tournament.

Don’t worry about 40/120 control, especially If you are used to playing OTB 40/60 or 40/90 controls, as you will have plenty of time to make your moves.  Just remember to make them carefully.  Continue your normal preparation for any tournament, longer controls do not require anything special.

With longer controls, you will need to maintain focus, so get up, stretch, hydrate, etc. during the game.  Good luck. 

I hope you have been using a real board and pieces lately because the switch from online 2 dimensional pieces to a real board and pieces can throw you off for a little while.

Your stats are bullet > blitz > rapid > daily. It seems you usually win by moving fast and benefit your opponents time troubles. I see you lose to 1200 players in daily. Hmm, well.. this actually is very known situation for last generation players.

Only thing i can suggest you play more classic games. When you find a good move don't play it right away.. increase your depth of calculation. But i'm not sure those can fit into a week

Classic is boring but it maybe the best timecontrol to play chess carefully. I think i got some issues too..my impatience ruins my classical chess. In the other hand i often miss shortest wins and am unaware of simple traps in speed chess

I think that these tips will help your body.
I used them when I did tests in the college.
As we know tips about the game are not needed to you.
You are a good player, with a high ELO.

Player must make use of all advantage possibles. 
Try these, and first of all, prepare for the event.

1. pay attention in the weather forecast. Go to the tournment with a bottle of water, especially if it's too hot. You can drink it during the game. To not be distracted use a straw.

2. wear light clothes. Not too tight, nor too loose 

3. in the night before, go sleep early

4. prepare all things you need 3 or 2 day before.

5. in the day of the event, eat just the sufficiente, avoid things that can cause you some tummy ache. Soft driks can cause excess of gases. 

6. don't drink alchool beverage in the days before the event.

7. carry with you and wear  a mask, remember that covid is still killing:-(

8. don't forget your glasses, if you wear.

9. if you need to travel to a long distance, arrive in the city at least one day before.

10. The biggest problem seems to resist 2 hours. Go to the game well fed.

#1
"I have a fairly important OTB tournament in a week" ++ There is not much you can do in 1 week
"the time control is somewhere around 2 hours (I'm not 100% sure yet)." ++ find out
"I was wondering if any of you have some tips on how to improve at such a long time control. " ++ play training games of the same time control

Sit on your hands.

That little tip added at least 150 points to my OTB rating.

Jeeze... I would have told him:

6. Get good and drunk the night before. A hangover will put an edge on your competitive spirit.

... of course, I'm from Canada.