Extremely Nervous

I used to abuse red wine. Then one day, after I passed out, it kicked my ass.

Love it!

Again, endorsing the use of (illegal) drugs is counter-productive here.

I don't agree. Any use of a substance for another than it's intended purpose is substance abuse.

Alcohol isn't intended to be used to overcome your fear of juveniles.

You can drink a glass of wine to dinner or even a whole bottle if you so wish. Neither of these is abuse. Quantity is irrelevant as body mass is largely diverse. However, larger quantities consumed especially at higher frequencies are a hint for abuse, and dependence, especially when it comes to said misuse (drinking to overcome fears).

xD

My opinion is unchanged: OP should seek medical (psychiatric) guidance to get him the proper care he deserves and needs.

You Germans and your psychiatry. 

The guy is not imobilized by his fear and it is not causing any negative effects in his life. He is just nervous like someone who might be performing on a stage for the first time.

Cheezboy, It looks like you have some ideas of the source of this fear. And that really is the most important step. Just work to keep telling yourself that these fears are based on things that CANNOT HURT YOU and eventually you will be able to reduce it to something that does not overwhelm you so much.

Now, lets discuss how  much wine Annabella had before she spelled 'diccionary'.

Don't assume their playing strength is represented by their rating.

In the US, I have lost to "kids" whose ratings rose 1000 points in less than 12 months.  Given the rating lags -- when they played me, they were effectively 300-500 points stronger than their current rating.  Whatever.

On the other hand, (and in many cases), their play is unevenly good, or unevenly bad.

But nearly all of them seem to play well in time scrambles.  So be prepared, and don't let your guard down.

Indeed, losing to kids is quite unnerving.  But it goes with the territory, so all you can do is live with it, and work on strengthening your own game, regardless.

Good luck on Saturday.

You are muddling up excitment with nerves.

I think you are going to enjoy this tournament. You will get exhausted and maybe in the last couple of rounds may not play your best chess. But what the hell? As long as its fun that is all good!

Everyone hates playing kids. They move horribly fast so, if you lose, your game is the first one finished and you feel particularly bad and when you win there is not a whole lot of satisfaction (except for the relief). Nothing to do about it except to make sure you are pleasant to your opponent.

Getting out of your comfort zone is not new to you. You thought it was a good idea to enter and it was a good idea.

And if you do well that is a bonus.

No tips to offer.  Except maybe to remember your towel and keep a copy of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in plain view on the playing table.

Nice point.

1. Work on your tactics before the tournament. Kids are sharks.

2. Play openings that you understand.

3. Remember that Karjakin was a GM at age 12. Pretend that you are playing a GM. You'd better do your best!

4. If you have a choice of a complicated middlegame a pawn up, or a simple endgame with a clear advantage, take the endgame. Kids have less experience in these.

5. Wear ear plugs. Good luck!

It's normal to be nervous, take a nice walk before the match to release the butterflies.  And good luck tomorrow!

Where I am, it's already Saturday morning. I have to say, you DO have something to be nervous about!

Sooo... How did it go? Did any kids turn out to be little GMs?

I'm sorry if I ask too early. It's Saturday Morning from where I'm typing this.

"You Germans and your Psychiatry"

+1

Somebody here suggested a strong Psychiatric drug, with side effects such as suicide, murder, heart attacks and permanent nerve damage, aphasia, memory loss, lack of motivation, fattening - but to that person, drinking a glass of wine is abuse, because "this was not the intended use". 

Some people here, really...

What IS the indended use of wine? I cannot really think if any better use than to relax the nerves and brighten the smile.

I know two guys. One is the head coach of a basketball team, the other is his assistant. The head coach is an idiot, a loud mouth, cares more about himself than the kids. The assistant is a quality guy, one of those rare guys in life that truly cares about others and wants the best for the kids, and he is a great motivator. He's a former professional athlete, well known to any NFL or college football fan in the U.S. Yet he's the one getting the kids water, making sure they stretch, giving the kids rides to games, paying for the kids meals, picking up their trash when they're done. But the head guy is still in charge. So one day I ask the assistant, why doesn't he run the team himself? He is a religious man, and told me the verse, "If anyone causes one of these little ones...to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." The fact remains, while he is human and would make mistakes like all of us, I would want him leading my kid and not the other guy.

There is a fact here also. You are worried about some "bad outcome" (in your mind). The fact remains, if you are the better player, then play your best moves and you will win or draw. If you are not the better player, play your best moves and you will lose or draw. Just play your best moves.

Another thing you are doing is focusing too narrowly on this thing. That's the classic thing that is common to almost every thing that causes us stress. Some big project at work consumes our entire life, or some guy we owe money to, or some kids at a chess tournament. If you narrow your focus and all you can see is the one thing, of course you will stress about it. But 5 years from now, you won't look back and think, "I'm really glad I ignored my family for all of 2014 to make that project at work a success". No, you will think, "I'm so glad I left that crummy job 3 years ago".

If that still doesn't help, then you can consider my friend who was in the military during Desert Storm. He said the worst thing he ever had to so was shoot kids. Those kids happened to be carrying AK47s and explosives. So it was him or them. Sorry to be a downer, but he is still with us. The kids you are playing are not kids. When they sit at the board, you have to do your damnedest to crush them like anyone else. It's a competitive endeavor, just like many things in the real world. There are winners and losers.

If that still doesn't help, then my only advice is to get started losing to kids. Just get it over with. Then it will be normal and behind you. Stop thinking about it and put one foot in front of the other and accept whatever the consequences are. Beforehand, think of all the things in life you are thankful for. Then go forward knowing the worst possible outcome at the tournament still leaves you with a pretty good life.

This advice was from another topic about an opponent who made the OP very angry, he was always trying to incite problems with looks and small noises to bother the OP.  Most of the more experienced players always suggested... play the board not the person.  Get deep into the game, stare at the board and pay no attention who is sitting across from you.  The chess board doesn't change even if Kasparov is sitting behind it, though with him you may see colors before long hahaha... but you get the idea!  Good Luck!

     Thank you all so much! I'm leaving for the tpournament right now. I'll let you kinow how it went later tonight.

Oh dear what a topic.  The only answer i have  is in the DNA of the child. Tough coaches sometimes bring out the best in players. Other more timid players may get crushed. If the parents are suppotive I guess the FAMILY and GROUP LOVE will bring a wellspring of HOPE to the player no matter win or lose.  My symathy goes out to your MATE in the forces. We are too sheltered here and truly do not understand the LOAD of emotions these military people have lodged in their minds and hearts.May he find peace

Don't be fooled. She's 44.

Are you kidding? Annabellas a cutie.