I have the same condition, but with a minor change in details, I unintentionally put my fist in the face of unintentionally smirking opponents.
Unintentional Smirking
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Don't feel self concious about your nervous tics. Every time I move I drop a piece! 20+ years ago I played at a club where smoking was allowed. That could be annoying.
electricpawn wrote:
Don't feel self concious about your nervous tics. Every time I move I drop a piece! 20+ years ago I played at a club where smoking was allowed. That could be annoying.
Smoking bans are ruining clubs !
Atos wrote:
electricpawn wrote:
Don't feel self concious about your nervous tics. Every time I move I drop a piece! 20+ years ago I played at a club where smoking was allowed. That could be annoying.
Smoking bans are ruining clubs !
smoking f--s are ruining lungs ...
Lots of people make faces while thinking at classical OTB games. The late IM Rich Delaune used to look like he was in agony almost every move, contorting his face as if in pain. It was entirely subconcious, it was just what he did while deep in thought.
GM Browne and the late SM Charles Powell had similar affectations when in time trouble - trembling, running hands through their hair, taking deep and audible breaths, looking at the clock and gasping aloud. It could be quite entertaining to watch (if you weren't the opponent).
The bottom line is you shouldn't even be noticing what your opponent does, just play the board.
Last year I played a man in a library, a stranger to me, that mumbled to himself. At first I thought he was making comments to me. Fortunately, I played most of my early OTB games in noisy environments with lots of distractions, so I just ignored his mumblings as far as distracting me. But it was entertaining to hear some of his remarks, such as, "That wouldn't be very exciting." "That won't work." "Too slow." "Dull." I never said anything. I just sat there like a stone statue.
He won all four games we played, but not because of his continual mumblings, but because his ability and knowledge of the endgames were superior to mine. I truly enjoyed watching him play the endgames, and I admired his ability. Unfortunately, I did not record the games.
It was a just chance meeting in a library other than city in which I live, and we will probably never meet again. I enjoy playing total strangers with no knowledge of their ability.