Even if I know some of the answers to the question I am not good at following them myself.
I guess a simple answer would be to excercise. I have been told that some GM run a marathon before a big game.
Also drink water even if you are thirsty to prevent the brain from signaling it is thirsty.
meditate is also important.
I need the advice myself so If anybody knows how to improve concentraion please post!
I've been having some success with pre-game preparation. I usually play on a Sunday for the club and I've found that by changing my radio channel, for the drive, that I arrive better able to play. I now listen to "Elaine Paige on Sunday", a mix of show tunes, old crooners and classical music. I drive more slowly, notice other road-users less and arrive in a calmer state of mind.
From a practical standpoint: what disturbs your concentration? It may not be an answer you can determine right away...but try to take notice when it happens. Sounds? Motion? Sex? Stray thoughts?
Answers: wear headphones/earplugs...lean over the board and frame your face with your hands, Kasparov style...take care of business before the tournament...yoga/meditation.
Another thing to take note of: it's often easy to stray off mentally once you let yourself begin in that direction...and that's easiest to do while it's your opponent's move. Solution: don't take mental time off during opponent's moves. That's the time to think strategically. Always have something game-relevant TO think about, and your mind won't find excuses to dig up something ELSE to think about.
From a practical standpoint: what disturbs your concentration? It may not be an answer you can determine right away...but try to take notice when it happens. Sounds? Motion? Sex? Stray thoughts?
Answers: wear headphones/earplugs...lean over the board and frame your face with your hands, Kasparov style...take care of business before the tournament...yoga/meditation.
Another thing to take note of: it's often easy to stray off mentally once you let yourself begin in that direction...and that's easiest to do while it's your opponent's move. Solution: don't take mental time off during opponent's moves. That's the time to think strategically. Always have something game-relevant TO think about, and your mind won't find excuses to dig up something ELSE to think about.
This is interesting. Now I realize that I use to leave my chair during my opponent`s move time. But when my opponent goes to play "blitz" with me (in a standard time game, I mean 60m - 1 hour 30 m per player) that also pertubes me too much. What do you recommend me? Thanks
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Hello. I'm working permanently to improve my chess... studying openings, strategy, endings and training tactics. But at the time to play OTB tournaments, all eforts goes to garbage because I have days of good concentration, and others days of nothing of concentration, playing patzer like a beginner. What do you recommend me to improve concentration during a OTB game/tournament?