Art of Ceoncentration

How do you guys maintain concentration all the way through an opening, you feel you can pretty much play instantly, all the way through to complex middlegames and subtly nuanced Endgames where it feels more natural to spend time?

Do you have any advice for methods to improve concentration?

chess consists of 3 parts. You need to be careful in 3 parts as well. making mistakes in one section will affect other sections. sometimes it is very compact. even when the variants in his mind are starting to mix up, get up and sit down and sit down.

It is difficult for me to keep that attitude of being fully concentrated from move 1 on til the positions where things start to get complicated. Is it just something that comes more naturally for some people?

I tried during my last 2 OTB tournaments to get up and look at other games when I started to feel myself switching off and moving impulsively, although it still damaged me in a couple of games.

You just have to ＤＥＣＩＤＥ to be focused and it will happen! I think I understand your struggle that opening preparation primes you to play moves automatically, which worsens your focus. But when you get to later stages in the game, you can't do that anymore. To fix this, I really think just need to tell yourself "Ok we are out of the opening and the position is complicated now, so I have to sit and think" and then just do it! I mean, don't you want to WIN! To win you have to concentrate on the position and make sure not to make a mistake, come up with a plan to improve your position, look for weaknesses and attacking possibilities, etc! I've also found that taking deep breaths can help your focus. Personally I don't like the idea of standing up to check out other games; true concentration means the game you are playing is your WHOLE WORLD for the duration of it. You know, live IN the game! However, I know some find that standing up for a minute and returning to their game may give them a fresher perspective, which may be useful. But if concentration is your issue I don't think it is good. Hope that is helpful and good luck!

You must stay concentrated from the first move to the last move.
You must focus your thoughts on the game and "forget that you live" - Karpov.
For long games it is necessary to get into good physical shape. Fischer played tennis and did swimming. Aronian has a physical coach.
It is important to drink in time to prevent dehydratation.
It is important to eat to prevent low blood sugar.
Getting up to look at other games is no good. The recommended way is to think about general strategic plans during opponent's turn and to calculate variations only during your own turn.

Thanks for the advice guys. I found that getting up is good to try and physically remind me to slow down at times. I was trying to get up after playing a move and "recentre" myself, but Many times I only realize I am not "Centred" when it is my turn. And I cannot bring myself to leave the table during my turn, as it seems somewhat unsporting.

I find that often I look at ideas on plans during my opponent's turn, but also calculate may of my lines during their turn too. I think this is probably part of the problem as there are occasionally moves which fall outside what I have caulcated during their turn and subtly change things (Or seem irrelevant to my ultimate plan) and I play impulsively and make mistakes which weaken my position.

I used to play a lot of Football but stopped a year ago because Someone broke my foot and I wasn't really enjoying it anymore. I guess I need to find some other physical activity in it's place. I have heard a lot of people reccommending this.

I have no problems sitting at the board the duration of the game, but struggle to zone in for that same duration, I think I need to spend more effort on actually TRYING to concentrate and double check every move.

Thanks for the responses!

@arsenalfanrichi

idk about you, but i had a different problem: using too much time in the opening. ;-)

seriously: It is a very interesting observation of yours, that your attention/interest/focus is vanishing while waiting for the opponent to move. Many things, you could try here (choose an idea, that suits you, must not be one listed here):

- try to understand, what exactly is happening: what kind of external or internal behavior is triggering this movement in you?
- relax physically, maybe also mentally, possibly by including little excercises to make it easier (walking being just an example)
- raise interest and focus by imagining future developments in this game and answering questions that would be relevant in the future (what trades would help, which one should be avoided - as an example)
- keep in touch with the reality, that our conscious minds are only a tool to solve problems, best applied, when the latter appear in your focus. But best play needs other parts of the brain to be trained and used ("default mode network" is how neurologists would call it)
- allow your perception to include observations, that may look unrelated to chess - at first glance - like your attitude, emotions, feelings towards opponent, your assumptions about his motives, you own breath, heartbeat, things like that (do not forget to eat and drink if need be).
- and do not expect immediate success, some things need time to develop (a.k.a. build new circuitry in the brain)
- By now, you may have some ideas of your own (myself used to say: It doesnt matter, HOW you are getting there, as long as you GET there. I preferred making love to my wife while getting there ;-) )

Meditation and breathing exercises helps a lot with concentration. But even what you eat might influence, too much carbs is bad to your brain.
Dont forget that even MC made an ilegal move lately so the rest of us must expect blunders here and there because that's the way it is, I hope I helped cheers!

adderall