Literally falling asleep at the board ??

When fatigue strikes me during later rounds and the position is fairly dull I tend to become increasingly sleepy and one thing I know about myself is that I start to make extreme blunders when that tired so one thing I've started trying (most recently at the just passed super nationals) is literally just get some shut eye right there at the board during the game!! I don't really go all the way to sleep, I just burry my head in my arms and close my eyes and while to some it looks like I'm trying to focus on a deep variation closely those who really know me know I'm taking a bit of a snooze (not in time trouble of course) I'll do this for about 10-15 minutes, (meditating or thinking about anything but chess) what's weird is that it's actually has been working! I'll sit back up and feel refresh and make close to no blunders the rest of the game (there's only been 1 time when doing this I've made a blunder anyway and I've tried this a little over 10 times now) anyone else do this !??

That goes without saying it doesn't mean fatigue still won't set in @jpes

You're allowed to get up and move around during a tournament, right?  Try taking a walk, get some exercise.  

At 19, I have to assume that you are not getting proper sleep. Try a normal, scheduled bed time and stick to it.

I see padded chess boards and Nerf chess pieces on the horizon!

During the game, keep slapping yourself in the face.

EricFleet wrote:

chessmaster102 wrote:

When fatigue strikes me during later rounds and the position is fairly dull I tend to become increasingly sleepy and one thing I know about myself is that I start to make extreme blunders when that tired so one thing I've started trying (most recently at the just passed super nationals) is literally just get some shut eye right there at the board during the game!! I don't really go all the way to sleep, I just burry my head in my arms and close my eyes and while to some it looks like I'm trying to focus on a deep variation closely those who really know me know I'm taking a bit of a snooze (not in time trouble of course) I'll do this for about 10-15 minutes, (meditating or thinking about anything but chess) what's weird is that it's actually has been working! I'll sit back up and feel refresh and make close to no blunders the rest of the game (there's only been 1 time when doing this I've made a blunder anyway and I've tried this a little over 10 times now) anyone else do this !??

At 19, I have to assume that you are not getting proper sleep. Try a normal, scheduled bed time and stick to it.

Some tournaments have 3 rounds per day stretching from afternoon to night even when I get 8 or more hours of sleep the day before the 3rd round of the day still seems very tiring.

It is tiring. I would say, though, that one night of sleep doesn't do it... you need to be regular with your sleep pattern. Also, avoid the junk food and caffeine. 

Did you hear the story of the man who died while playing - altho' it appeared as tho' he'd fallen asleep ? What would u do if u were playing against him ? Let his clock run out first to secure the win ?....I mean, you think he's asleep, right ? u don't know he's....gulp....especially if you're lost (reality: he's completely lost !).